'Sharing knowledge and expertise toward the market'

Twelve companies form knowledge platform together

It launched its own website this month, but the collaboration predates 2017. Twelve companies with different products and services in and for public space then joined forces to act together during the Public Space Trade Fair. They christened that collaboration "The Square. Five editions later, Het Plein has become an enduring knowledge platform for and about public space.

First-time participant is Martijn Smulders of EcoDynamic, a company that supplies sustainable and ecological hardeners. "The first cooperation dates back to before 2017. Back then, some of us were already at the Public Space Trade Fair in Houten. When that fair moved to the Jaarbeurs and grew considerably in size, we figured that we would stand out much more together than each of us alone in our own stand. Moreover, it turned out that we often worked on the same projects without knowing it. On the exhibition floor, we could show what we are capable of together." 

For the first edition of the Vakbeurs Openbare Ruimte in the Utrecht Jaarbeurs, a landscape architect designed a spectacular square where visitors could visit and talk to the designers. From advice to street furniture, from paving forms to water elements: most elements for the design of a public space are represented in Het Plein. In which the starting point is still to use only sustainable and high-quality materials. 

In the years that followed, several companies joined The Square. Meanwhile, twelve furnishers are participating. Including FURNS Street Furniture. "Meanwhile, Het Plein is more than just an eye-catching booth at the trade fair," states Oscar Gathier of FURNS. It has grown into a platform where anyone looking for inspiration or advice on the design of public spaces can go. Since this month with its own place on the Internet: hetorplein.nl." 

Preview

"Every year, The Square at the Trade Fair causes us quite a bit of stress," Smulders says. "It is so immensely hard work for all of us to build up and also tear down such a square in a few days. But at the same time, it's also a party. And we always have a lot of fun beforehand; it starts with choosing the landscape architect who will design it." 

At the same time, more and more participants realized that they had much more to tell and offer each other and the outside world than just the two days at the fair. "For that reason, we started thinking about whether we couldn't make The Square a permanent knowledge platform," Gathier states. 

"Because each of us has our own expertise and experience that clients can use to their advantage," Smulders continues. "With a dozen of us, we really are an ecosystem for public space." 

No consortium

In addition to sharing knowledge and skills, the participants in Het Plein also help each other with various projects. "We have no intention of using Het Plein to bring in joint work," Smulders says. "There are already enough consortia." 

"But there is so much overlap in certain projects in public space that you still run into each other and can help very well," Gathier believes. "Towards clients, it is nice to offer knowledge as one bundle. And when Het Plein becomes better known as a knowledge and information platform, you become more accessible to clients. And some of the projects we work on together can also serve as inspiration for knowledge sessions we organize as Het Plein." 

The Square continues to return annually at the Vakbeurs Openbare Ruimte (Public Space Trade Fair), but now also organizes a field trip twice a year. The first took place on April 12 at the AFAS Experience Center in Leusden. Landscape architects Steven Delta and Bart Hoes provided a lecture there for an audience of landscape architects and green space professionals on "The New Way of Working" and greening the workplace. "The goal is to challenge the 80-plus invited guests and get them thinking about the challenges we have in designing our country," Smulders explained. "In addition to these field trips, we were also at the National Climate Expo in Houten with a few members of The Square. And we plan to organize a Plein Trip once every two years." 

"With the aim of jointly coming out more with our knowledge, expertise and inspiration," concludes Gathier. "For the benefit of the realization of high-quality public spaces that meet the conditions of livability, safety, circularity and climate (neutral) objectives."  

In addition to FURNS Street Furniture and EcoDynamic, Het Plein consists of the following furnishers: Steenbakkerij Vande Moortel, Metten Stein+Design, Rots Maatwerk, Drain Design Construct, de Enk Groen & Golf, Boot & Dart Boomkwekerijen, SmitsRinsma, TreeBuilders, Zorgeloos Groen and Selux.