West 8 to transform Dutch royal palace into leisure and innovation hub
Dutch landscape architects West 8 are to develop a 17th century Dutch country estate and royal residence in Soestdijk, it has been announced today (9 June).
The Netherlands’ minister of the interior, Roland Plasterk, has revealed that business consortium Made in Holland have succeeded in the bidding war to purchase and redevelop the palace and gardens of Soestdijk Palace.
The group wants to transform the historic site into “a platform for innovation and excellent entrepreneurship, with exhibitions and events for a wide audience.”
It’s vision has been selected ahead of an alternative plan to create a garden-filled Eden Project affiliate, designed by architects Mecanoo, in and around the palace and its extensive grounds.
West 8 will lead the masterplan the project and lead the landscape integration, which involves both restoration of key historical landscape elements as well as additions that support the new identity and programme of the estate.
A video showcasing their initial designs can be viewed below:
The other architects, designers and engineers collaborating on the scheme are Tom Postma Design, Tinker Imagineers, Natuurmonumenten, Staatsbosbeheer, Horwath HTL, Motivaction, Goudappel Coffeng and 4Building.
Responding to the news, the Eden Soestdijk Foundation, which was behind the rejected plan, said it is “keen to continue with the plan, hoping to realise it elsewhere.”
West 8 have a busy pipeline of projects, including an enormous park in central Seoul, a 120 acre botanic garden in Houston, and a dune-filled new seafront in The Hague.
West 8 Netherlands landscape architecture design Soestdijk Palace Eden Project Roland Plasterk'Forbidden land' to become public park as West 8 unveil vision for vacated military base in Seoul
West 8 unveil plans to revamp The Hague's seafront by building new dunes
Mecanoo propose Eden Project-style eco-attraction for the Netherlands' Soestdijk Palace
West 8 complete hilly transformation of New York's Governors Island
Houston Botanic Garden: Landscape architects West 8 masterplan stunning natural attraction for Texas
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Designing an eco hotel for the Galapagos Islands that allowed the stunning natural surroundings to take centre stage while minimising its impact on the land presented its own unique set of challenges, Ecuadorian architect Humberto Plaza tells Kathryn Hudson