Developed in a rural area on the edge of Hengelo, in the East of the Netherlands, Square Westermaat was realised as a new concept to make out-of-town shopping an enjoyable experience. The 65,000m2 retail park is encircled by a number of important transport arteries and a small residential district.
Within the framework of the aesthetics of mobility, a lot of attention has been given to the park as a whole. The individual buildings are not isolated, but fit logically within a total conceptual narrative, seamlessly connecting both spaces and infrastructure.
The shopping park is themed with a ribbon of timber slats varying in height and density, which connect the buildings with each other like an expressive second skin. The existing open green spaces are retained as much as possible. The existing tree canopy on the site is enhanced and expanded with strategic planting.
Important locations on the terrain, such as the entrances to the shops and bus stops, are marked by towers which are inspired by the region’s historic salt towers. These towers not only function as focal points of recognition for visitors, but also make the retail park characteristically visible from the motorway.