Architectural practice Mecanoo has unveiled a design for a group of two towers in The Hague,
Netherlands, which has been approved by The Hague Municipal Council to begin construction.
Design Features
The complex called The Grace consists of two residential towers,
one of 150 meters and the other of 180 meters on a seven-storey plinth.
When completed, Grace Towers will become the tallest high-rise building in The Hague.
The towers include 1,400 residences, comprising 30% of social housing,
20% of medium-term housing and 50% of rented properties for the free sector.
The project stems from the growing demand for affordable housing and aims to enhance a sense of community.
Besides the residential units, the project includes a wide range of public facilities,
offices with an area of 6000 square meters, commercial functions of 2500 square meters,
bicycle storage with shared bikes and 50 shared cars.
Grace is being built in Rijswijkseweg near the city center and overlooks the Trekvliet Canal,
which will be transformed into a waterfront park for pedestrians and cyclists in the coming years.
The Velostrada bicycle motorway is also being built, which will connect The Hague with the surrounding municipalities.
The project also links the downtown districts of Binckhorst and Laakhavens,
and the combination of living and work spaces connects up-and-coming entrepreneurs with the residents.
The population of The Hague will grow exponentially in the next 20 years from 525,000 residents to more than 625,000.
To meet this challenge, the municipality is encouraging the densification of the inner city within the Central Innovation District (CID), a triangular area bound by the city’s three districts.
The intensification will begin in three priority areas within the CID.
These areas are clustered around train stations, according to guidance in the 2018 Eyeline Skyline High-rise City Report.
With the aim of meeting the needs in the region,
the Dutch real estate company has commissioned Real Estate Movement and the Van Deursen Mecanoo Group to develop two apartment towers within one of the CID priority areas,
a stone’s throw from Hollands spur station and the center of The Hague.
Design shape
Mecanoo designs buildings in a harmonious combination with subtle differences in open and closed facade elements, transparent and circular angles, texture and color.
Residents can enjoy views of the city and beyond to the sea.
The commercial functions, restaurant and workspaces are designed at the base located on the ground floor,
while the upper levels contain residences, offices and public facilities.
Walkways on either side of the complex provide protection from wind and rain,
and provide sheltered spaces for restaurant customers and shoppers.
The base opens onto the Schipperskwartier district and the new waterfront promenade along the Trekvliet Canal in the form of a green rooftop
elevated garden providing space for the resident community for all kinds of activities.
The transparent atrium forms the vibrant heart of the complex.
It provides work and gathering areas for residents, a reception desk for visitors,
and an overview of activities in the surrounding coworking spaces.
The community is enhanced by communal plazas, roof gardens,
a communal kitchen, sports facilities, and a movie theater.
Additionally, the building supports an emerging sustainable subculture,
providing residents with shared electric bikes and cars.
The Grace offers attractive community facilities that connect residents, making it a unique place to live.
Founded in 1984 by Francine Houben, the clinic designs buildings of various sizes,
scope and types regardless of geography, including urban planning, landscaping, and interior design.
Mecanoo’s major projects include the Birmingham Library in the UK,
the La Llotja Theater and Convention Center in Lleida, Spain,
the Longgang Cultural Center in Shenzhen, and the Kaohsiung National Arts Center in Taiwan.
The company recently completed Unilever’s Benelux headquarters in Rotterdam and Heungkuk Tower Busan in China.
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De gemeente Den Haag heeft groen licht gegeven voor hoogbouwproject The Grace bij station Hollands Spoor: https://t.co/wvvHDVDiz1 @mecanoo_
— Architectenweb (@architectenweb) August 4, 2022
