New Hoog Catharijne

Developer: Corio
Architect: Altoon + Porter Architects Status: Definitive design
Number of apartments: 76
Floor space: 15.000m2 (8.000m2 in current situation)

The well-functioning, but dated Hoog Catharijne shopping mall needs a thorough revitalisation. The city of Utrecht is growing rapidly, but the shopping facilities in the centre are not growing at the same pace. On Saturdays people already get jammed on the Oude Gracht and in the Radboud traverse.

The link with the city centre forms an important criterion in the planned redevelopment. The design of New Hoog Catharijne provides for a full integration of the shopping mall with the city centre. Two axes will connect the city from the Vredenburg square via the shopping mall to the station. This will enable visitors to easily and comfortably walk back and forth. The green and water of the Catharijnesingel will also play an important role in this integration. This can be seen in the transparent designs, in which glass, high ceilings, and outlook create a spacious effect. This also creates a better link with the public space around the shopping mall.

At the location of the present Peek & Cloppenburg building (Vredenburg square), Hoog Catharijne will be given a new Entrance building with two spacious entrances and pedestrian routes to Station Square East. Above the shop section of the Entrance building, 130 apartments will be built. This building will ensure a smooth transition between the level of the old city and that of Hoog Catharijne.

The current traverse at shop level over the Catharijneroad will be demolished and will be replaced by a low crossing at street level across the restored Catharijnecanal, the so-called Catharijne hub. The Catharijne hub will not have any shops and will turn into the Poort (Gate) building. This is a new middle building with room for shops, apartments, a museum and possibly meeting facilities. The bridge across the road along the canal will create a smooth transition to the Radboud quarter. From Vredenburg square, two main routes will provide clear connections to Station Square East. The elevated ceilings and the straight routes will create a completely different atmosphere.

More information on the New Hoog Catharijne can found on www.nieuwhooghcatharijne.nl