Custom-made street furniture for historic Square '44

The reconstruction plan envisioned a lively square with restaurants, stores, a cinema and parking. Over the years, however, Plein '44 had become a natural dividing line between the city center and the adjacent bus station. For years, attempts were made to brighten up the square, but this did not lead to the desired results. On the contrary, Square '44 had devalued into an empty, sunken bin: a place shunned by shoppers. Even the monument to the lost soldier stood soulless.

The intimacy of the square has been enhanced by creating edges around it. A head building now splits the former large open space into a green main square and a small bus square, connected by a passage. The multifunctional program of living and shopping, hospitality and cinema creates a vibrant lively environment.
The design of the square is not only geared to this, but also creates the conditions for it. Square '44 is a true meeting square. As the city's living room, it invites people to read the newspaper, eat there or just sit in the sun or shade. The wooden sustainable furniture is specially designed for this purpose. Small seating elements and long city tables are interspersed with podiums, city and bar tables. Playful water elements have been placed here and there. The lost soldier has also regained a reverent place.
Street Furniture by Grijsen made the custom trash receptacles, long city benches and other seating elements for this project. Planters and tree grates from Grijsen were also included in the design. The design was done in collaboration with Buro Lubbers. In this, Grijsen was also involved in advising and installing the litter bins, the planters and the ductile iron tree grates. The seating surfaces of the elements consist of durable Iroko wood with frames of powder-coated hot-dip galvanized steel.