Residential towers in The Hague are steadily moving forward
Provast is developing two residential towers in the centre of The Hague, offering 655 rental apartments (20% of them social rental properties), retail outlets and underground parking. Implementation of the Grotius project is in the hands of the consortium of construction companies BESIX and J.P. van Eesteren.
Most of the work on the project started at the beginning of this year and has so far been underground. The construction pit is just a few metres away from several buildings, including the Royal Library. Sheet piling and foundation piles have gone into the ground within spitting distance of the Netherlands' most important book collection, which includes international masterpieces.
Low-noise approach
The sheet piling forms the basis for the construction pit. On the Royal Library side the sheet pile walls were pressed into the ground. Elsewhere they were vibrated into the ground with a high-frequency vibrator. The foundation piles too were drilled into the ground and not driven. The concrete work on the foundation is now in full swing and is progressing well.
What already appears above ground are the three tower cranes; the first set up in early August, the second to be erected in the first week of September, followed by the third in mid-October.
Design with spectacular top
The residential towers were designed in The Hague style by Winy Maas of the MVRDV architecture firm. The sustainable buildings, respectively 100 and 120 metres high, rise out of a transparent base, which includes catering and other services. A special feature of the buildings is the spectacular top with beautiful outdoor spaces with views over the city and the sea.
The two residential towers form the starting point for the complete make-over of the area to the east of the Central Station. The new towers are important for The Hague's city entrance and will visibly contribute to the city's impressive skyline. The Grotiusplaats, in the dynamic station district, forms an important link between Den Haag Centraal station, Bezuidenhout and the Beatrixkwartier.
Collaboration
Since the end of 2016, construction companies J.P. van Eesteren and BESIX have been working in close collaboration with Provast on developing the Grotius project. In view of its size and complexity, they have combined forces. In December 2018, the parties signed the Engineer & Build agreement.
Stijn van de Sande, Commercial Director Buildings at BESIX Netherlands: "We are proud that we, together with J.P. van Eesteren, can contribute to housing construction in the centre of The Hague. As a high-rise specialist, we provide the necessary added value for this. In this project too, we are committed to ensuring the sustainable character of urban renewal in line with our vision."
Marco Peppel, director of J.P. van Eesteren: "There's a clear click between the two organizations. Starting each from its own working method, we together come up with the optimum solution for the client. Our teams already cooperate closely and will do so even more as we enter the implementation phase."
