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Landschap in Perspectief:
Sphinxpark

In collaboration with NAiM/Bureau Europa, REcentre, Belvédère Development Group, the Province of Limburg and the Municipality of Maastricht.

In collaboration with NAiM/Bureau Europa and REcentre, platform for sustainable design in the Meuse-Rhine Euregion, Marres Projects realizes a temporary park in the inner city of Maastricht in 2011 and 2012.

The temporary park, which is open to the public from Sunday, March 25 onwards, is situated on a vacant terrain of the former ceramics factory of the Sphinx. The area is part of the so-called ‘Belvédère Plan’, a master plan for the redevelopment of a large part of Maastricht. In 1999, the architect Frits Palmboom presented the plans for a new residential area on the Sphinx terrain and their realization started in 2004. However, due to the economic crisis, many urban development projects have encountered delays and postponement. The Belvédère terrain in Maastricht is also facing these problems, with the consequence that various plans are either delayed or subject to a reassessment. Amongst others, this has led to a situation in which an already serviced plot will remain undeveloped for years to come. Behind the historic walls of this former industrial area, a desolate wilderness has emerged over the past two years, creating the ideal conditions to address the question of the park of the future. Centrally situated, enclosed and featuring a rugged beauty, this walled area presents the ideal environment for a temporary park; the Sphinxpark.

The Municipality of Maastricht and WOM Belvédère have given permission to programme the Sphinxpark for at least one year. During this period, the partners want to transform the vacant area into a temporary park, where various questions concerning the development of city in relation to the countryside can be addressed. Amongst others, these issues include population decline, urban agriculture, social cohesion and social engagement. In addition to these issues, the project also explores the question of temporality.

This temporary free haven for innovation aspires to be exemplary for the manner in which the Euregion might deal with the interim in times of population decline and economic crisis.

http://www.landschapinperspectief.nl/en/sphinxpark/