Redesign of the Ymere Haarlem complex garden

Green, structure and experience

The existing complex garden on Italiëlaan in Haarlem was heavily paved and outdated. Housing corporation Ymere wanted to green this outdoor space, increase biodiversity, and reduce the amount of paved surface. Commissioned by Ymere, Buro Mien Ruys translated these wishes into an attractive, future-proof, and biodiverse outdoor space where quality and experience come together.

The result is a green and inviting garden with a clear spatial layout. The new design brings structure and tranquility without compromising openness. Hedges at the entrances provide shelter, and the subtle narrowing of the access gives the garden a more secluded character. This creates a pleasant balance between public and private. While the courtyards are open to the public, the hedges create a sense of security. Combined with the narrowed entrances, it feels as if you are almost stepping into a private, enclosed garden.

The garden is accessed via a staggered path structure that guides visitors through the space in a natural way. This layout creates a varied route and enhances the experience of the greenery. The main path is over two meters wide and is widened in some places to improve flow and create additional spaciousness.

Reuse existing materials

In the design, a deliberate choice was made to reuse existing materials and reduce paving. The existing 30 by 30 centimeter tiles have been reused in a block pattern, and where possible, paving has been removed. This creates more space for greenery and gives the garden a softer appearance, particularly along the facades.

The planting consists of a varied mix of perennials, hedges, a lawn with flower bulbs, and shrubs. This combination creates contrast between open and closed, low and high, and offers an attractive appearance year-round. The hedges provide shelter and structure, the lawn keeps the space open and usable, while perennials and shrubs provide dynamism and a seasonal experience.

The garden thus forms a cohesive whole that contributes to biodiversity and simultaneously offers a pleasant and recognizable place for residents.

From gray to green

Customization played a key role during the execution of the project. In practice, circumstances often deviate from what was envisioned beforehand. By actively responding to this and adjusting choices where necessary, an outdoor space is created that is not only well-designed but also works perfectly.

This project shows how a paved outdoor space can be transformed into a green and future-proof living environment, where use, experience, and ecology come together.