Foto: Eric de Vries, courtesy Stroom Den Haag
Nils Norman: 'Edible Park'
Long-term project 2010 - 2011
Location: Various locations within The Hague (see below)
The British artist Nils Norman has created the art project Edible Park as part of the multi-year program Foodprint. It consists of two gardens, a sustainable pavilion, and a series of activities. Through this project, Norman aims to practically test what an ecological design method like permaculture can mean for a city like The Hague. Edible Park is a long-term project, carried out in close collaboration with the Hague-based organization Eetbaar Park.
Locations of Edible Park
The gardens of Edible Park are located in the Escamp district of The Hague, specifically in Zuiderpark (at the Herweijerhoeve city farm, Anna Polakweg 7, on the grounds of Nature and Environmental Education) and on the grounds of the Amateur Gardeners’ Association Nut en Genoegen (Meppelweg 882).
Both locations serve a public function: they are designed as information points for permaculture and sustainability, but people who want to actively help can directly get involved. At the Herweijerhoeve city farm location, this can be done every Saturday between 11 AM and 3 PM. Both locations regularly host activities such as workshops, presentations, or a picnic. For opening hours, see:
website Nut en Genoegen
website Eetbaar Park
Edible Park, Zuiderpark Location, Herweijerhoeve City Farm
The garden in Zuiderpark covers about 800m². The land is provided by the Municipality of The Hague's Nature and Environmental Education Department. A standout feature of the garden is the sustainable pavilion, designed by architect Michel Post from ORIO architects under the direction of Nils Norman. This temporary structure has walls made of clay and straw, with a foundation of paving stones. The building's construction is unique and rarely used in the Netherlands, but thanks to calculations by Ingenieursbureau Den Haag, it was made possible. A green roof crowns the structure. For more information about green roofs, see Binder Daktuinen. The pavilion is intended for storage of garden materials, as a shelter for volunteers maintaining the garden, and as a reception area for school classes and groups, as well as an information point for interested visitors.
Since the spring of 2010, the garden has been operational and has yielded a plentiful harvest in its first season. A number of vocational school students helped as part of their social internship. The garden's design was created in a workshop with experienced permaculture students, and the installation was carried out by participants in the year-long training and basic permaculture course from G'Aarde Gezonde Gronden.
Edible Park, Nut en Genoegen Amateur Gardeners’ Association Location
Diagonally opposite the Nut en Genoegen clubhouse, directly to the left upon entering the complex, a previously unused piece of land is being transformed into a public garden. Members of Nut en Genoegen are creating a pond and butterfly garden here. Additionally, a permaculture garden will be developed as part of Edible Park, with a central meeting place in the form of a picnic table. Once again, students and volunteers from Gezonde Gronden will assist with the creation and maintenance of the garden, working closely with the members of Nut en Genoegen. Groundwork and the planting of trees and shrubs began in October 2010, and the garden is expected to be fully operational by 2011.
Program:
Friday 22 October 2010
Symposium and official opening of Edible Park
Saturday 3 October 232010
Workshops led by G'Aarde Gezonde Gronden
Edible Park is made possible thanks to the following organizations:
Municipality of The Hague, Natuur- en Milieueducatie, Fonds Burgerschap, Amateurtuindersvereniging Nut en Genoegen, Binder Daktuinen, Stichting DOEN, Fonds 1818, G'Aarde Gezonde Gronden, Ingenieursbureau Den Haag, Mondriaan Stichting, Ontop BV, ORIO architecten, Stimuleringsfonds voor Architectuur.