04 Mar 2019
Mecanoo's plans for largest man-made natural park in the world gather tempo
BY Andrew Manns
The government of Flevoland has approved a master plan devised by Dutch architects Mecanoo to transform Nationaal park Nieuw Land into the largest man-made natural park in the world.
Mecanoo's intervention will see the 29,000-hectare polder – which comprises four loosely connected areas of wetlands near greater Amsterdam – combined into one contiguous attraction with bike and walking trails, a parkway, sightseeing towers, and bird reserves.
The architects will also oversee the creation of a "nature station", a train terminal that will serve as a centralised transport link between Nieuw Land, Amsterdam, and other cities.
Speaking on the project, Francine Houben, founder and principal at Mecanoo, commented: "Nieuw Land will be a new kind of national park, one in which visitor experience is central. The park will be an attractive and educational experience for all generations and will bring the city and nature closer together."
Michiel Rijsberman, Provincial Executive of Flevoland, said: "Nieuw Land is already attracting 900,000 visitors a year. In the coming years, we want to further strengthen nature and make the area more palatable for visitors, so that the qualities of the area come into their own even better."
The completed park is projected to draw in more than two million people annually.
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