Winner of the European Prize for Urban Public Space: “The Recovery of The Catharijnesingel”

The restoration of the Catharijnesingel canal in Utrecht, by OKRA landschapsarchitecten, declared winner of the 2022 European Prize for Urban Public Space.

An international jury has awarded the 2022 European Prize for Urban Public Space to the restoration of the Catharijnesingel canal in Utrecht (Netherlands), a project by the Dutch studio OKRA landschapsarchitecten. The jury considers that the reconstruction of the canal, as well as the recovery of a linear park running along its banks, is an exemplary intervention for the survival of our cities in this new climate era.

The 11th edition of the European Prize for Urban Public Space, an initiative of the Barcelona Contemporary Culture Centre (CCCB), has seen a record number of entrants and widespread representation: 326 projects were submitted, from 35 different countries. The works presented for this edition highlight the problems shared by distinct European cities, and some of the solutions that have been proposed to try to deal with them. This is particularly relevant in the present, post-pandemic context: urban projects must address climate change and aim to make cities more liveable places, something that has become a central issue.

The European Prize for Urban Public Space is a biennial, honorific award which, since 2000, has recognised the best projects in terms of the creation, transformation and recovery of public spaces in European cities.

The international jury, presided by Teresa Galí-Izard, landscape designer, engineer and professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich, awarded first prize to the restoration of the Catharijnesingel canal in Utrecht (Netherlands), by the Dutch studio OKRA landschapsarchitecten. It was selected from a total of 326 projects, from 35 different countries.

The jury considers that the reconstruction of the canal, as well as the recovery of a linear park running along its banks, is an exemplary intervention for the survival of our cities in this new climate era. The canal is crucial for building urban resilience in the city: it is increasing Utrecht’s capacity to deal with extreme heat, storms and flooding, and the recovery of water and plant life helps capture carbon and reduce pollution. The canal has become a desirable and playful place to be, for the city’s residents, and it has also created new habitats for other living beings.

The jury appreciates the fact that this intervention is part of a larger urban transformation, which looks to the future by bringing back elements from the city’s past. The canal has been returned to its original state, after having been replaced, for more than fifty years, by a large highway. This project not only diminishes motorised traffic, but, and more importantly, it prioritises pedestrian mobility and social interaction, as well as porous surfaces and a rich biodiversity. These aspects are what make our cities healthy, sustainable and enjoyable. With this prize, the jury commends and congratulates the client, teams and stakeholders: this project could inspire a new standard for sustainable urban regeneration.

About Catharijnesingel

The restoration of the Catharijnesingel removes vehicular traffic that occupied this street and brings back water to rewild a new public space for the city and make it accessible for cyclists and pedestrians. This project is an excellent example of revitalising the qualities of the city by means of recovering water and its biodiversity.

Inspired by the environment, all the elements, including trees, vegetation, paving materials, and street furniture have been meticulously selected and envisaged how nature will evolve in future. It introduces a new, natural, and healthy microclimate that will play an important role in the present situation of global climate crisis.

Catharijnesingel

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