Springboard to an even more ambitious vision of urban green space

"The Green Cape is a project that, although completed several years ago, still remains current and alive," Pleijster says. He explains that the project continues to evolve and produce new stories. "It is nice to see that every year new groups of people come to admire the project, both from home and abroad. For example, recently there were visitors from Finland and Austria," he says.

The development of De Groene Kaap began in 2017, after LOLA Landscape Architects won the contract through a tender process. "We wanted to bring something extra to win the contract, and at that time we focused heavily on nature inclusivity," Pleijster explains. This concept was still relatively new at the time, but appealed greatly to both the developer and the landlord. "It was not only about biodiversity, but also about creating an attractive and healthy living environment, where people feel more connected to their environment," Pleijster said.

The project's architecture, designed by Koos Kok of Bureau Massa, played a crucial role in interweaving the green elements into the design. "Kok had a visionary plan in which four blocks of residential towers were connected via green roof gardens and walkways. These gardens are not only green, but also provide space for recreation and meeting in an urban environment," Pleijster says.

What makes The Green Cape truly special is the way the project is connected to both the city's social and slow traffic network. Pleijster explains: "We wanted not only to create a nature-inclusive project, but also to create a place that has a strong connection to the city and its residents. That's why we chose to make the gardens accessible via a public route, which doesn't just go back and forth, but runs as a complete lap through the project."

This route allows both residents and visitors to walk through greenery, offering a unique experience in an urban environment. "The idea was to connect not only to the city's natural network, but also to its social network. Creating this continuous route helps integrate the Green Cape into the urban fabric, making it a part of the city's daily life," Pleijster said.

An important aspect of The Green Cape's success is the technical foundation that lies beneath the project. "The green elements are not only an aesthetic addition, but also require a solid technical foundation," Pleijster explains. "It's not just about
to drawing a green color on a map, but also to the third dimension: the subsurface."

Pleijster stresses the importance of good soil structure, water buffering and the right substrates to ensure that planting is sustainable. "Creating a roof garden is a technical story. It's not just a matter of planting, but also making sure that there is enough soil, that there is good water buffering, and that the right substrate is used to support the planting," he explains.

In the early days of roof gardens, these aspects were often overlooked. This sometimes led to problems. "Now we know that a roof garden should be able to withstand a 70-day drought," says Pleijster. Although De Groene Kaap was a forerunner in many ways, it still lacks a fully integrated water buffer system. "In the case of De Groene Kaap, water delivery is still done with tap water, which we consider a waste today. Now we would do that differently," Pleijster admits.

The landscape architect emphasizes that projects such as The Green Cape are only the beginning of a much larger movement toward greening cities. "The city is far too stony, too harsh, and too hot. We desperately need more greenery to address these problems," he states. "Urban greening is not just a matter of aesthetics, but an essential step to improve the livability and health of urban environments. Green spaces not only help reduce heat stress, but also help retain water, improve air quality, and promote biodiversity. In addition, people are happier and healthier there."

Pleijster, meanwhile, has taken a new step in his vision of urban development. He wants to go beyond nature-inclusive building and is now advocating what he calls "Urban Rewilding." This concept goes one step further in greening the city by allowing nature to take its course as much as possible. "We are now trying to implement projects where we design urban landscapes as natural as possible, with minimal management costs and maximum biodiversity," Pleijster explains. This means less management and intervention in green spaces, allowing nature to develop more freely.

"It's about designing the city in a more sustainable and natural way," Pleijster said. A new project in the Spoorzone in Zwolle is currently putting this vision into practice, designing the urban space in a way that stays as close as possible to its natural state.

This makes De Groene Kaap not only a success story for Rotterdam, but also an inspiring example of how urban development and nature inclusiveness can go hand in hand. The project shows what is possible when architecture and landscape are harmoniously integrated into the urban environment. It also provides a springboard to an even more ambitious vision for the greening of cities. In which Urban Rewilding, in Peijster's view, may come to define the future of urban development.