cultural heart in historical innercity
With the expansion of the Museum of North Brabant and the realisation of the new construction for the Stedelijk Museum (SM), a new cultural heart is being brought about in the inner city of ’s-Hertogenbosch. The ambition is to provide this museum quarter with a strong identity, which suitably fits within the historical inner city. In this the entrance plazas form the links with the networks of public space. In January of 2006 MTD landschapsarchitecten was given commissioned by the Province of North Brabant to draw up a development plan for the inner gardens, entrance plazas and surrounding environment of both museums. In collaboration with Henket & Partners, the firm who developed the architectural plans for the expansion and new construction of the museums, an integrated design was created. With the realisation of the plans for the museum quarter, ’s-Hertogenbosch is actually being put on the map as an historical culture city.

the design
The entrance plaza of the Museum of North Brabant along Verwerstraat will largely remain unaltered. However, in matching up with the architecture, the main entrance will be given more of a symmetrical layout with centrally positioned stairs and ramps on both sides. It is proposed, as is the case on the southern side of the square, to excavate the Binnendieze on the northern side all the way from Waterstraat, with mooring possibilities for little boats.
The new entrance plaza of the SM is situated along Mortel, on the other side of the museum quarter. As is the case with the new construction, the idea in the development plan is to give this square an own identity and a contemporary look.
The heart of the museum quarter and an important link between the Museum of North Brabant and the SM, forms the centrally situated museum garden. The plan's intention is to preserve the image-determining elements of the original design (MTD landschapsarchitecten; 1997), being the undulating turf, the vaulted field of ivy and the most important element, the impressive trees that are present. In addition, the terrace at the restaurant will be maintained. From here there are beautiful views onto the collection of statues scattered amongst the greenery. A pathway leads to a sculptural bench on the other side of the garden, which is cut into the undulation.
A new aspect for the museum garden is that in the latest plans, this will be bordered on four sides by museum buildings; the glazed connecting corridor between the Museum of North Brabant and the SM is thus an architectural response to the transparent balcony on the opposite side.
In the evenings the courtyard is illuminated via these glazed walls. To compliment this, a number of trees in the garden will be subtly lit with ground spots.