Koningswei Hoogwachter

Back to the hinge of the town

Where once the city and landscape met, Koningsplein long served as a hinge point for trade and access to the harbor. But that openness was lost from the 1970s onwards. With Koningswei, that function is restored: the meadow and the passage between the residential buildings provide openness and create a direct connection to the Piushaven.

Spatial balance

The new buildings replace a long, recently demolished block along Piusstraat. De Hoogwachter aligns with the existing line and height profile of the adjacent Katterug by Van den Broek and Bakema from 1975. Together with the adjacent existing buildings and De Weidewachter, three height accents are created along the Koningswei. Both De Hoogwachter and De Weidewachter embrace a shared garden for residents with a low-rise section.  

Square becomes meadow

The design by ZUS for the public space transforms the paved square into a ‘meadow’, a new city park on top of the existing parking garage. Thus, Koningswei becomes a place where you not only live but where the whole neighborhood comes together in greenery. The new buildings are situated on the meadow, completely immersed in greenery as symbolic shepherds of the square. The steel pergola by architect Jo Coenen is preserved and transformed into a green and blooming pergola and play structure.

Optimistic residential building

De Hoogwachter is executed in light yellow brick and white concrete bands, giving it a fresh and optimistic appearance. The façade design by LEVS is characterized by a harmonious combination of horizontal and vertical divisions. The white bands in the façade emphasize the length of the building, while robust masonry dams provide vertical accents. Floor-to-ceiling window frames and open corners in the tower create a light and transparent whole. 

Connection with the surrounding buildings

In the connection between De Hoogwachter and the existing buildings, there will be an open passage for pedestrians and cyclists to the new Koningswei. This creates an additional connection between the new city park and the surrounding buildings. The building is partly situated on the existing underground parking garage, and the entrance has become part of the façade.

Water transition

With Koningswei, a special step is also taken in the water transition. The buildings will feature an innovative greywater system for drinking water conservation. By reusing greywater (including shower water), the drinking water usage per resident will significantly be reduced, while residents will hardly notice it in their daily use. The system will serve as an example for other locations in the city.