LOLA

Superbloei takes over the city

The Arnhem (NL) city council presented an ambitious vision for a radical greening of the city. Commissioned by the municipality, LOLA Landscape Architects studied the area of the south-east canal of Arnhem, at the height of Eusebuisk Church and Stadskantoor, and made several proposals for greening this area and for steps to achieve an overarching green structure.

One of the proposals is ‘Superbloei’ (Super Blossom), a project that aims to remove the pavement and increase the biodiversity in the area around the Prinsenhof. For the design of the site next to the Provinciehuis (the provincial government building) in Arnhem, LOLA teamed up with Arjan Boekel of Coöperatie Bloeimeesters.

What started as a temporary garden to showcase the city’s green ambitions, became a ‘growing garden’ with a colourful explosion of flowers in the first year, and evolved into a permanent garden that is connected to the local ecology. The planting has a second layer of bulbs, which bloom profusely during the Second World War commemorations held at the foot of the John Frost Bridge.

For Superbloei, LOLA and Arjan Boekel created a temporary planting scheme that evolves from a lush field of flowers to a robust ecological border. Initially, perennials are planted to attract immediate attention, followed by flowering annuals the following season. Over the years, the flowering gradually diminishes to make way for the perennials growing in the background.