The water square combines water storage with the improvement of the quality of urban public space. The water square can be understood as a twofold strategy. It makes money invested in water storage facilities visible and enjoyable. It also generates opportunities to create environmental quality and identity to central spaces in neighborhoods. Most of the time the water square will be dry and in use as a recreational space. It took six years from the idea and concept, to typologies, to policy, to spatial design. Already well published as a concept, in 2011 we finally got to design a real pilot that now has been completed in Rotterdam.

In an intense trajectory with all parties around the place, we jointly conceived ideas about the square: students and teachers of Zadkine college and Graphic Lyceum; members of the adjacent church, youth theatre and David Lloyd gym; inhabitants of the Agniese neighborhood, all took part. In three workshops we discussed possible uses, desired atmospheres and how the storm water can influence the square. All agreed: the water square should be a dynamic place for young people, lots of space for play and lingering, but also nice, green intimate places. And the water had to be excitingly visible while running over the square: detours obligatory! The enthusiasm of the participants helped us to make a very positive design.  

We invented the typology of the water square in 2005 for the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR) “The Flood”. A typological research by design on water squares was carried out by us in 2006-2007. The water square became official policy on an urban scale in the “Rotterdam Waterplan 2” in 2007. A pilot study was carried out in 2008-2009. In 2010 our graphic novel “De Urbanisten and the Wondrous Water square” was published by 010, Rotterdam.  In 2011 the preliminary design for the Benthemsquare has been made. In 2012 we finished the final design and construction started. On December 4th 2013 the water square has been officially opened.