Aanleidingen tot zitten en ontmoeten (reasons to sit and meet), Veldhoven
Seating elements for a future park
Commissioned by the City of Veldhoven, closed competition
BTL designed a new park for the city of Veldhoven. Its most important element is the Gender river, which was central to the town's first industry such as washing factories. The park is a long strip on both sides of a four lane main road.
Veldhoven is known for the company ASML (the largest supplier in the world of photolithography systems for the semiconductor industry). Many of the people working at ASML take a walk during lunch, as they sit behind their desks most of the day. They cross the main road and walk in a more quiet neighbourhood.
Most companies surrounding the future park do not produce high-tech products. The workers at these companies walk and stand most of the day. During lunch they want to sit. To go to the park they would have to walk to the nearest bridge over the river. Since their break is not very long they do not even consider this.
The men and women working in the factories along the Gender river will lose their view of the river and the park due to a wall that is part of the park's design. I proposed sitting platforms behind this wall. For the other side of the river I proposed a bench above the river. The bench gives the best view of the river Gender.
Both types of benches are placed opposite each other. During lunch interaction can take place between two groups who normally do not meet each other.
The seating elements do not only offer a place to sit, they offer a view, a reason to sit.
