Facade gardens, Amsterdam, NL
A community initiative
Bankastraat is a beautiful street with historic facades and beautiful mature trees, but it could be even more beautiful and better! With the departure of major construction work and the arrival of many new residents, the time was ripe to significantly improve the quality of the street. In consultation with the Zeeburg district, a number of small private initiatives had been started to improve the facade gardens in the street.
‘Facade gardens stimulate mutual contact’ – Article Wereldwijkkrant (2006): AnneMarie Bloemhoff
“Bankastraat looks wonderfully green, now that more than seventeen residents have created a facade garden.
The wisteria is already shooting up and the roses are blooming beautifully. Initiator Patrick Mc Cabe is enthusiastic. ‘We organized a garden day on June 3. I have designed a number of example gardens, all different in composition and color. Everyone could make a request and choose a package of plants on the garden day. I asked in advance via a flyer whether there was interest in this initiative. Residents responded positively. A team of landscape architects, including myself, and gardeners were on hand to help people plant the gardens. The garden day has encouraged other residents to still submit an application. The Zeeburg district has created the gardens; the plants were financed by the district and the Alliance. A garden group has now been set up to monitor whether the facade gardens are doing well. I provide tips and advice about management and maintenance via an e-mail newsletter. You see that people are regularly busy with their garden and spend more time on the street, which stimulates mutual contact.’
“Facade gardens make the street more beautiful and attractive,” says Ivonne Jentink. Her facade garden is a true plant paradise with, among other things, a fig tree, a grape and a lilac. There is a magnolia in a large container. ‘I now sit on the street more easily, so you get to know more neighbors. There are many small children in the street, who can now play outside more safely because you keep an eye on them. More greenery increases safety.”
Team: Bewoners I.s.m. Stadsdeel Zeeburg