De Pier – Scheveningen - Scheveningen

De Pier and Pierplein transform together into one continuous public coastal landscape, reconnecting the city with the sea. From the boulevard, a continuous route unfolds across the square and onto the roof of De Pier, where walking, meeting, staying and views come together in one coherent experience.

Een nieuwe toekomst voor een historisch icoon aan zee

From boulevard to horizon

Pierplein forms the connecting link between Scheveningen and the sea. At the foot of the renewed Pier building, a recognisable place for arrival, meeting and orientation takes shape. Generous routes and open sightlines connect the Palace Promenade, Kurhaus, boulevard, beach and De Pier.

From the square, the public landscape continues across the approximately 250-metre-long roof of De Pier. The transition from city to sea becomes part of the experience: from the energy of the boulevard, across the beach, towards the open landscape of wind, water and horizon. Rather than the building or programme taking centre stage, it is the landscape that connects all elements into one continuous whole.

Flaneren op de Wilhelminapier: historische allure als inspiratie voor de toekomst.
Een golvend verblijfslandschap tussen horizon, zee en wind
Duinbeplanting als drager van een verbonden kustlandschap

The dune as a connecting landscape

The flowing forms of both the square and the rooftop landscape are rooted in the coastal setting. Gently undulating dune islands, robust planting and flowing routes weave the landscape of the Scheveningen dunes into the boulevard and De Pier.

Topography guides movement, creates sheltered places to stay and allows paving, planting and seating to merge seamlessly. On the roof, surface, level changes and furniture form one continuous groundscape. The result is not a traditional square with a building attached, but a coherent coastal landscape stretching from the city towards the horizon.

“De Pier and Pierplein together form one public landscape, shaped by the experience of coast, wind and horizon.”

– Roy Straathof

Moving and staying by the sea

The landscape gradually changes in character. The lively and accessible spaces of Pierplein transition into greener, more sheltered places around the entrance to De Pier. Further out above the sea, the landscape opens up and views towards the beach, coastline and horizon become increasingly defining.

Routes emerge from topography, sightlines and use, inviting people to walk, wander and explore. Quiet places to stay, spaces for play and encounter, and more dynamic areas for events coexist within the landscape. At the far end, the Sea Island forms a recognisable destination where views, wind, openness and activity come together.

One system for people and nature

De Pier and Pierplein are conceived as one integrated system in which public space, architecture, landscape and ecology are closely connected. Robust materials and coastal planting make the landscape resilient to wind, salt and intensive use, while creating space for natural processes and seasonal change.

Ecological value is strengthened across the square, above the sea and below the water. In this way, the site evolves into a nature-inclusive and future-proof destination that offers space for residents, visitors and entrepreneurs throughout the year.

Location
Scheveningen
Client
RE-BORN. Gemeente Den Haag
Together with
UNStudio. T-Concepts. Royal HaskoningDHV
Image
ZOA