Kop Boulevard Masterplan Enschede
Redevelopment of a city centre - residential development, offices, retail & hospitality
Kop Boulevard is an area of more than 3 hectares on the west side of Enschede city centre. This unattractive, empty space dominated by infrastructure is not a suitable showpiece for an important gateway into the city centre. On this spot, POLO Architects is developing a vibrant new neighbourhood that creates a connection between the inner city of Enschede to the east and the city campus to the west. The integral area development is a response to the growing need for urban living and is one of the last major inner-city development locations of Enschede.
FOUR PILLARS
The urban development plan relies on four pillars resulting in an ambitious plan with a strong base. First of all, the project area will establish a unified connection between various parts of the city. Increased passability will allow public spaces to intertwine and the fragmented area to melt together into a place with a strong identity.
The second pillar ensures a smooth implantation of the project area into its urban surroundings. Through the creation of a dialogue with the buildings around the project area, the quality of life in the city is increased. This is achieved, among other things, by the implementation of sightlines offering interesting perspectives.
Housing blocks with a striking accentuated height and communal green gardens define the essence of the third pillar. The buildings form a unique hybrid between the small-grained city centre and the large-grained city campus. Furthermore, a variety of housing types caters to the various target groups’ different wishes and needs.
Finally, the green Stadskamer (council chamber) square is being developed as an intimate yet vibrant heart for the neighbourhood, a place for encounters. The project also foresees communal gardens, where visitors can enjoy the greenery in a more intimate atmosphere.
RADICAL TRANSFORMATION
In order to accomplish the ambitions for Kop Boulevard, it is necessary to look beyond the project boundaries. After all, a radical intervention is needed to transform the area and piece the infrastructural puzzle together in a new way. This transformation starts with the city structures.
To create space for the construction of new homes, the traffic infrastructure must be reorganised. For an long time, Boulevard 1945 was the main east-west connection, but nowadays, the wide road no longer corresponds with the boulevard’s limited traffic function. Along the boulevard’s axis, the new plan foresees an elegant crossing for cyclists and pedestrians. The existing roundabout is replaced by an intersection with extra attention for cyclists; motorised traffic will be limited or even banned around Kop Boulevard
ENSEMBLE OF BUILDING BLOCKS
The visual quality plan builds on the development plan and forms an assessment framework with guidelines for the project area’s future architecture.
Kop Boulevard will be an ensemble of buildings and building blocks. The cohesion of colour, materiality and green accents gives the whole project area a light and dynamic identity. Within the ensemble, a few iconic buildings will assume a prominent role in defining the new image of Enschede’s skyline. These striking towers exhibit their own individual architecture and, at the same time, manage to blend into the ensemble.
images: POLO Architects








Location
Kop Boulevard, Enschede
Surface Area
63.500 m² - 50.000 m² new developments & 13.500 m² public + collective space
Client
L.I.F.E - Township Enschede
More projects

Leisure Complex Waasmunster

Leisure Centre Interior Waasmunster

Quartz offices Brussels

Campus West Offices Antwerp

Silos and Van Orshoven mills Leuven

Center of excellence hockey topsportcentrum Antwerpen

Barefoot Luxury Masterplan + Villas Cabo Verde

Internaat Hasselt

Red Cross Care Hotel Zuienkerke

Yust Flexible Housing Antwerp

Louise Marie Housing Antwerp

Hanoi Medical University & Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Vietnam

Cadiz Housing Antwerp

Minerve Housing Edegem

Diagonal Besòs Student Residence Barcelona

De Koolputten Waasmunster

Kortrijk Business Park

Gallait Campus Schaarbeek

Toison D'Or Masterplan Brussels

De Smidse Fresh Market Leuven

Elysiapark Edegem

Parkzicht Antwerpen

House A Spain

Flemish Administrative Centre Ghent

Gasthuisberg Outpatient Care Centre Leuven

Mobility Hub Mechelen

Rode-Kruisplein Housing Mechelen

KAVA Conference Centre Antwerp

Kasterlinden School & Rehabilitation Centre Sint-Agatha-Berchem

Xaverianen Community Centre Bruges

Prins Kavelhof Service Residence Brasschaat

Eksterlaer Masterplan Deurne

Schelde-Eiland Housing Oudenaarde

Red Cross Blood Centre Mechelen

Red Cross Blood Centre Mechelen

Artesis Plantijn University College Antwerp

Artesis Plantijn University College Antwerp

Koch Sports Hall Gooreind

De Vesten Student Accommodation Leuven

Campus Coppens Brasschaat

Burchtstraat Social Housing Leuven

Kanaalstraat Masterplan Herentals

Clarenhof Housing Mechelen

Drijhoek Social Housing Geel

Gandhilaan Housing Hoboken

Hemixveer Housing Antwerp

De Koninck Brewery Antwerp

India-Natie Housing + Offices Antwerp

Kaai Nieuw Zuid Housing Antwerp

Grand Yard Housing Antwerp

Luchtbal Towers Social Housing Antwerp

Swimming Pool Site Masterplan Hasselt

Manchesterlaan Social Housing Antwerp

Napoleonkaai Housing Antwerp

Rabot Social Housing Ghent

Cultural Centres Antwerp

Cultural Centre Gravenhof Hoboken

Cultural Centre De Schelde Zandvliet

Loft B

Telenet headquarters Mechelen

Burcht Singelberg Business Centre Kallo

Inbev Headquarters Leuven

MAVA Offices Steenokkerzeel

Telenet Headquarters Mechelen

LUCA School of Arts Brussels

Quadrivium KU Leuven

Arenberg cluster B Leuven

Inbev Technical Centre Leuven

Thor Science Park Genk-Waterschei

Bruul Mechelen

Businesspark 16 Melsele

Bavière Liège

Nieuw Zuid Masterplan Antwerp

Inbev Masterplan Leuven

Helix Antwerp

KAVA Conference Centre Antwerp
