’scape magazine #4 / 2025

Large urban parks /
New directions for the green lungs

The new special edition of ’scape explores the design of large urban parks in all their beauty and diversity. From classical, symmetrical layouts and romantic landscapes to innovative experimental parks emerging across Europe today, urban parks have become some of the most significant spaces in today’s culture. Through a wide range of examples, this issue explores different typologies, trends and movements, while examining the role of urban parks today, their successes, challenges and future potential.

The issue takes readers on a journey through unique park projects across Europe, from historic landscapes reimagined for current needs to new parks responding to climate challenges. The romantic Máximapark in Utrecht and the industrial Park am Gleisdreieck in Berlin show how history and design can create distinctive identities. Starachowice Urban Forest Park demonstrates how minimal intervention can invite people into a natural landscape, while Parc de les Glòries in Barcelona transforms a former traffic junction into a welcoming green public space. Projects in Scandinavia highlight experimentation, ecology and participation, including Naturpark Amager and Grønningen-Bispeparken in Copenhagen, and Gothenburg’s Jubileumsparken, where temporary prototypes help shape the park of the future. Parco Reggio di Rivalta in Italy shows how contemporary design can blend with historical traces.

Alongside these projects, the issue features articles exploring the many dimensions of park design: from renewing classic city parks and creating inclusive spaces to strengthening ecological resilience and social well-being. Questions around participation, giving agency to nature and the future position of the designer become ever more relevant. While no single overview can capture the full diversity of park design, this issue brings together a rich collection of perspectives on what may be the most cherished spaces in our cities.

Please note that this issue is also available as a book edition with dust jacket. More information can be found here.

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Contributors to this issue:

Rob Aben, Paul Achterberg, Jeroen Bosch, Daphne de Bruijn, Marleen Doré, Annemiek Fontein, Harry Harsema, Shanna Koppejan, Karin Laarakker, Lilli 

Lička, Eleni Mente, Narcís Sastre, Linn Stevensson, Andy Tarrant, Mijke Tonnon
With thanks to: Martin Allik, Kerstin Bergendal, Marcin Brataniec, Urszula Forczek-Brataniec, 

Martí Franch Batllori, Adriaan Geuze, David Gough, Kristoffer Holm Pedersen, Jack Petch, Olivier Philippe, Dominika Tihanyi and all the offices and designers in this issue 

Designers in this issue:

Atelier Loidl, West 8, MARELD, atelier le balto, Raumlabor, Esencial, Lytt Architecture, ADEPT, Apropos en eng, Kerstin Bergendal, HOFOR, Niras, Efterland, Ebbe Dalsgaard, eM4 Pracownia 

Architektury Brataniec, Openfabric, UTE: Agence TER, Ana Coello, Meta Engineering.