Exciting New Plans for Dronten

BDP’s Dutch studio has won the masterplan for the city of Dronten, in the Netherlands, its first urban design project won via an open European tendering procedure. BDP Khandekar was chosen from a shortlist of five leading practices, after a first round of more than 70 candidates.

Dronten was established as a new-town about 50 years ago in the reclaimed polders of the province of Flevoland. After an initial slow growth, the city has expanded steadily in recent years, parts of which were designed by renowned Belgian architect Bob van Reeth.

The new masterplan involves the regeneration of more than 50 hectares between the city centre and the new railway station to the north. The station is set to become the major gateway to Dronten when it opens in 2012, and the main axis joining it to the centre will also be redesigned.

The proposals for the former industrial and harbour area are for an urban mixed-use development including housing, leisure, large-scale retail and schools and colleges.