Calm returns to Molenstraat in Zundert

The firm of architects Delacourt Van Beek was commissioned to design the Molenstraat and three adjacent squares. Ton van Beek, one of the founders of the firm and originally from Zundert, outlines the situation: "The connecting road between Amsterdam and Brussels used to run through the village. That meant a lot of traffic every day, including a lot of trucks. The construction of a ring road created an opportunity for Zundert. There will be room for terraces, strolling, and the quality of use will improve."

Van Beek and his colleagues started with the following assignment: make the three cultural pillars of Zundert visible in the design. "Firstly, the cultivation of trees, which occupies an important position in the region. Secondly, Zundert has the largest flower parade in the world and the painter Vincent van Gogh was born here."

More than enough inspiration for a beautiful design. The traffic design served as a basis. There are three squares along the Molenstraat, each of which has been given its character: the Church Square with its green appearance, the more formal Market Square with the Town Hall, and the Vincent van Gogh Square, the village's living room with the cultural center.

The vision for the village was developed together with the cultural parties and the shopkeepers of Zundert. "Participation is becoming increasingly important," Van Beek knows. "We have also noticed that the residents are taking ownership of the new center and that is a relief. At first, there was some resistance to the fact that cars would largely disappear from the streetscape and that Molenstraat would become more of a bicycle street and one-way traffic. Now there is even talk of car-free weekends.

The showpiece of the redesign is the gigantic mosaic of Vincent van Gogh that has been installed on the Market Square. Although not visible when walking on the square, the iconic image of the painter is visible from the air. The mosaic consists of black, grey, red, and yellow bricks. "We printed the images on giant rolls of paper. Laying the bricks can be compared to painting by number," Van Beek explains. The other squares have more room for greenery, which contributes to Zundert's climate objectives.

Each square has its character, with the Molenstraat as the connecting factor. To make this connection visual as well, Van Beek chose a family of street furniture that returns to the whole area. A large tree container was the starting point for the choice of furniture. "To make Zundert's tree cultivation visible, we wanted to plant trees, of course. However, the available space was not very big, the street is quite narrow. Moreover, since a large flower parade has to pass through here every year, we opted for tree planters. We were looking for a planter with a friendly appearance, so you soon end up with wood."

In this case, wood is combined with powder-coated steel. In addition to the tree planters, planters, seating elements, tree benches, a podium, poufs, a picnic set, a village table, litter bins, bicycle racks, bollards, and tree grids have been placed. The village table in particular is a favorite of Ton van Beek, as is the podium. "The residents were not afraid to use it, the furniture is immediately put to good use. For example, there were performances during Kings Day and the stage was recently used at the prize-giving of a sports competition."

The new heart of Zundert is characterized by three squares, each with its character. By placing furniture with the same appearance in all locations and the Molenstraat, unity is still created. Landscape architect Delacourt Van Beek used sketches and renderings to determine which appearance had to be achieved. The supplier Grijsen park & street design was invited to check whether the project was technically feasible. After the green light was given, the project was further developed, with contractor Krinkels being responsible for the execution. Grijsen was again involved in the project. The company took care of the development of all technical components. This also led to Grijsen being allowed to manufacture and install the products.
A combination of sitting and green characterizes the overall style of the project. All elements have the same wood-steel combination that creates unity and calm. The products made of metal are powder coated in the same RAL color for a univocal color policy. The wood is also applied in the same style in all products. All this is to create a recognizable street image of Zundert.
The combination of wood and steel gives the outdoor space a fresh and modern look. Cumaru wood has been chosen. This type of wood is extremely durable and therefore belongs to sustainability class 1. Because of its characteristic pattern and warm color, this material is very popular among architects. In addition, the wood has few cracks and is very suitable for gluing. These properties ensure that Grijsen regularly uses this type of wood. In addition to street furniture, this type of wood is also used for decking. Finally, Cumaru wood is very maintenance-friendly and is delivered untreated. Over time the wood will age naturally.

Many different trees are exhibited in the Molenstraat. All special trees were grown by growers from the area of Zundert, which is known for its many tree nurseries. To show visitors and residents of Zundert what trees are available, a wide variety was planted in fifty tree boxes. It is a showpiece for the local tree growers. The trees and other plants were planted by Zoontjens Boomprojecten.
The use of tree tubs makes for a mobile layout of the public space: every tree tub can be easily moved at any time using lifting eyes and/or spoon holes. Grijsen's tree tubs consist of a removable inner container with separate panels. As soon as the tree is too big for the container, the container can be easily dismantled and the tree placed in the full ground. A new tree is then placed in the container. The panels of the tree trough are also exchangeable. In the event of collision damage, one panel can simply be replaced, instead of replacing the entire trough. The planter is equipped with a computer-controlled watering system. Everything has been thought of to allow the tree to function optimally in the planter.
Architect Ton van Beek is enthusiastic about the final result, including the family of street furniture. "We are very happy with it. What we expected of it and how we intended it, that's how it turned out. The furniture is special because it's bespoke. It's not standard and doesn't come from a catalog. If then the drawings that were made beforehand turn out in practice exactly as intended, that's very nice.""
It will take some getting used to for the inhabitants of Zundert. The Molenstraat has been transformed from a busy traffic artery into a bicycle street where the car is a guest. With plenty of room for greenery and recreation, the quality of use of the street has been greatly improved. The unique core values of the village give Zundert character and ensure that visitors enjoy stopping in the village, rather than racing through it.