Changing public space

The designers for both buildings and public space were selected in 1997. Rijnboutt
(Architectengroep, former Chief Government Architect) became responsible for the renovation
of the V&D, which began in December 1999. The city store formula was used, which implied that
the V&D retracted to the core of the building, thereby creating a ring of smaller shops around
the department store each with its own shop window and entrance on the ground floor. Rijnboutt
was responsible for the new design of the V&D (and later also the Gevulde Gracht), but also
acted as supervisor of the total redevelopment of the Statenplein. The construction of the new
building (Nieuwe Blok) started in March 2000. Initially, it would consist of two buildings; one
designed by the Belgian architect Vandenhove and one by Rudy Uytenhaak from Amsterdam.
However, Uytenhaak left the project after a new plan was made to construct only one building.
The Nieuwe Blok has shops at the ground floor and housing units on the upper floors. The
building needed to function as landmark of the city, but the city council was afraid it would
become too high, and consequently one floor was left out of the design. It was officially opened
in September 2001 (Bouman, 2007). The Gevulde Gracht was also part of the redevelopment
plans of the Statenplein. However, developer Multi had great difficulties to acquire the property
from its owner. Achmea Global Investors already owned the Drievriendenhof and would acquire
the property of the Nieuwe Blok after completion. When Achmea made a bid in a later stage of
the redevelopment process, the owner changed his mind and sold his property to Achmea. The
purchase of the Gevulde Gracht by Achmea enabled the major renovation of the building. In
April 2002, the building was stripped and rebuilt after a design by Kees Rijnboutt.
The redevelopment of the public space also took place in 2002. Landscape agency MTD –
which had also successfully designed the renewed Spuiboulevard – outlined a relatively empty
square because obstacles would hamper the market. The intensive use of the market on Fridays
and Saturdays also required a pavement of good quality to avoid damage and filthiness. Moreover,
electricity hubs, hook-ups, and drainage were necessary to facilitate the market. MTD choose a
pavement of Chinese granite, complemented with eight classicist granite pillars as lampposts
(see Figure 6.9). The square has a downward slope because of natural differences in height. To
facilitate the market, MTD wanted to keep the square as flat as possible and to solve the height
differences by means of a number of steps at the northern side of the square. Multi disliked the
idea, because they were afraid these steps would form a barrier to the shops behind them. The
compromise was the construction of one single step covered by a long wooden bench to prevent
people from stumbling. MTD also designed a fountain in front of the Nieuwe Blok. After an
investment in public space of 10 million euro, the Statenplein was officially opened in September
2002. The redevelopment project was completed in 2006, when shopping centre Drievriendenhof
was also reconstructed.
The opinions concerning the redeveloped Statenplein have in general been very positive.
Similar to the Beurstraverse, it won the annual award of the Dutch council of shopping centres
(NRW) in 2003. According to the jury, the Statenplein has been a successful transformation
from an outdated urban area to a modern and lively retail location. A year later, it was proclaimed
market of the year by the merchant association (CVAH). More recently, the Statenplein project
has been praised in a report of the Court of Audit (Rekenkamer) of Dordrecht. The Court
evaluated three large economic projects in the city: the redevelopment of the Statenplein, the
construction of the new Prince Willem-Alexander wharf, and the foundation of business park
Amstelwijck (Hindriks, 2006). The report indicates that the Statenplein is the only project
that has brought the promised economic resurgence for the city centre. The Court attributes its
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