4-Buiten is an initiative launched following the merger of Wellantcollege, Citaverde, and Helicon. Four major outdoor locations, all with overdue maintenance, have been redesigned into attractive and recognizable learning environments. These spaces now feature innovative design elements and a strong focus on greening and sustainability. The locations in Aalsmeer, Dordrecht, Houten, and Rijswijk embody Yuverta’s strategic goals and ambitions. The YU-Park is part of a civic service initiative, jointly developed by the Municipality of Aalsmeer and Yuverta, to transform a green strip adjacent to the school into a public park for local residents.
In 2021, MTD landscape architects were commissioned to redevelop two of the 4-Buiten locations and were awarded a framework contract to provide spatial design expertise and advisory support for greening and sustainability. MTD’s added value in these projects lies in creativity, collaboration, and participatory design. This has resulted in redesign plans for Yuverta Rijswijk (formerly Huis te Lande), the new Yuverta Amsterdam campus, and the greening of the Yuverta Aalsmeer site (Linnaeuslaan). MTD is currently working on the plans for Yuverta Gouda.
In addition to the enjoyable collaboration with staff and the organization, we at MTD greatly appreciate Yuverta’s commitment to greening, innovation, and working together with teachers, students, businesses, and governments. These projects reconnect us with the foundations of our profession, and we are proud to contribute to the educational mission.
For the Aalsmeer site, key objectives included creating a knowledge square, developing trial and cutting gardens for ornamental horticulture, establishing training spaces for landscaping students, making animal enclosures more sustainable, and improving the overall outdoor experience with green elements, seating areas, climate-adaptive gardens, and a green perimeter designed to enhance biodiversity.
