Climate-proof square Schilderswijk
The former Marnixschool from 1909 has been home to various neighbourhood initiatives for several years now. For example, Art-S-Cool organises art lessons for young people and Next projects and Stichting Wijkz have been working on the development of young people here since 2017.
In recent years, young people and their parents have been working together on a safe and liveable neighbourhood. Various groups meet every week and young people and residents can go there with questions and for support. They also felt that the former schoolyard needed to be renewed and there was a need to be able to meet each other in a green environment, to do something with art and nature and to be able to do sports with a low threshold.
The Climate-proof Community Garden
In collaboration with the municipality and users of the Talentenhuis, visual artist Annechien Meier has realised the design and creation of the Climate-proof Community Garden through a number of brainstorming sessions with the users. An important aspect of the design is that the community garden complies with self-regulation, is sustainable and climate-proof. In order to cool down in the summer, 1700 paving stones have been removed and 300 paving stones have been replaced by a 'runner' of semi-hardened surface. A picnic table with a green roof has been made from the former sandbox and rainwater is led to the flower and vegetable beds via rain columns and small rivers. There is even a vertical garden ('Hypergarden', Jonathan Looman) for Art-S-Cool where plants are grown to make paint, for example. A multi-applicability of the garden where nature and art are combined, as well as learning to appreciate and deal with the nature around us. There is a garden on the square for every organisation and an opportunity to meet each other. The opening of the square took place on Wednesday 31 May 2023; Alderman Arjen Kapteijns (Sustainability) and two young residents planted a pear tree.
Visit: Ferdinand Bolstr 33, entrance gate schoolyard Frans Halsstraat
With thanks to; Municipality of The Hague, Art-S-Cool Foundation, Next Projects, WijkZ Foundation, Mothers and Daughters Foundation, Aasra Foundation and Haagbouw Foundation.
