Subarea 7, Dorpsstraat

The origins of Dorpsstraat date back to the 13th century. The houses were built on a thick layer of peat and the area is bounded and well recognized. It is surrounded by high water (the Buurvaart, the Grote and Kleine Dobbe and a small piece of Leidsewallenwetering).

It shows outwardly as a green edge formed by the gardens and yards behind the buildings. Within this is a linear, inward-facing building structure in the form of a cross of axes. The level difference of the buildings on the old peat is clearly recognizable. This gives the Dorpsstraat the character of a mound. The Dorpsstraat has a unique position in the city center, it is the oldest and most authentic part. With its strong identity, it provides a unique addition to the predominantly post-war planned city center.

The main spatial structure consists of 3 carriers: the axis cross, the green edge and the water belt. Characteristic of the stone cross is the linear structure interrupted here and there by squares (former schoolyards) and alleys to the back yards, the so-called gates. New built developments within the Dorpsstraat are small-scale. They arise primarily as demolition-new construction projects at the building level. Special attention is paid to the face-defining new development on the corner with Hoogvliet. It is important that the authentic village character returns here in size, scale and architecture of the new development.

The public spaces will be landscaped with more high quality together with business owners, through trees, street furniture and repaving. The area Dorpsstraat and Wilhelmina Park have been designated as a municipal protected cityscape. This means that the policy is aimed at preserving and strengthening the existing structure and building image. A further elaboration of this can be found 'Protected cityscape with Image Quality Framework Dorpsstraat' (2013).

Building Blocks

As a basis for all new construction, changes and reuse of existing buildings, 8 spatial-programmatic building blocks have been described. These building blocks aim to provide a spatial and programmatic framework. By using these building blocks, quality is guarded and new developments become fixed in their surroundings. The building blocks can always be used but points of attention may be different for each subarea or project.

  1. New development always fits into the village fabric.
  2. The distinctive facades on the surrounding public space.
  3. Urban plinth at the Dorpsstraat.
  4. Category 1 (up to 12 meters).
  5. Village street as an important carrier designed as an attractive residential area. To Dorpsstraat a number of squares and places .
  6. Greening of the stony Dorpsstraat by espaliers, squares and places as green as possible with existing and new trees and greenery.
  7. Exploit opportunities for (small-scale) roof gardens and solar panels.
  8. Merge climate adaptation into developments, promote and facilitate energy transition (at the building level).

For more information on the subareas, see the Inner City Vision 2040.