LILA 2025 Jury Prize
The park operates as a life-catcher, drawing in both human and non-human agencies. It is conceived as a public space whose primary function is ecological, where human presence is invited yet not prioritized. Through a subtle modulation of topography, the park amplifies the temporal rhythms of tidal fluctuations, transforming a gently graded surface into a dynamic substrate for biodiversity and spontaneous development.
While introducing softness to the pragmatism of an urban harbour environment, the design employs a sober formal language – orthogonal gabions and descending stair-like structures serve as deliberate counterpoints to the unpredictability and apparent disorder of non-human life processes. In this clear interplay between geometric precision and biological contingency, the park stages an ongoing negotiation between control and emergence, order and flux. It becomes not only a site of encounter but also a quiet manifesto on the coexistence of human intention and ecological autonomy.
– from the award statements
See all LILA recognitions or visit LILA websiteTidal Park Keilehaven
De Urbanisten: The Keilehaven Tidal Park in Rotterdam is a pioneering example of how sustainable urban development and rewilding can go hand in hand. The project combines the creation of a city park with the reintroduction of a natural estuarine system in an urban setting. This results in an innovative public space where the delta’s tidal landscape becomes visible and tangible.
Integrated approach
What makes the park unique is its integrated approach: combining reuse of urban materials, nature-sensitive design, and climate adaptation, while allowing space for spontaneous nature. The result is a dynamic urban landscape where people and nature coexist. As a pilot, Keilehaven Tidal Park offers a scalable, innovative model for other delta cities facing challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and the circular transition.
Experience nature
The tidal park seeks a regenerative balance between cultural use and natural processes. The tidal movement plays a central role: parts of the park are accessible at low tide but not at high tide. This makes it a unique place where urban dwellers can truly experience nature. Where else in the city can you spot a Kingfisher or see Spider Marigold in bloom?
Citywide strategy
The Keilehaven Tidal Park is part of the broader urban strategy The River as a Tidal Park, which strengthens the river and its banks as ecological infrastructure. Gradually, the river is being transformed into an attractive living environment for humans and wildlife alike. The park also marks the beginning of redevelopment in the surrounding M4H port area. It offers recreational space while enhancing local biodiversity. Through a mix of wet-dry and deep-shallow gradients, the area attracts a wide variety of plants and animals. This makes the river more valuable as a migration corridor and as a place for animals to feed, rest, and reproduce.
Water and soil first
The foundation of the tidal park lies in the 3D design of soil and water. The harbor basin was made shallower to support bottom-dwelling organisms. Underwater structures offer anchorage for plants and shellfish. Terraces at varying heights and flood frequencies develop distinct flora, with only minimal planting (some willows, alders, and rushes), allowing for spontaneous natural growth.
A circular park
The park uses recycled materials from other public works in Rotterdam, such as quay and paving stones to fill gabions. To shallow the basin, bio-based materials like willow bundles and harbour ballast were used. Nature transplantation—a method of moving existing vegetation—was applied to give the park a mature look from day one and enrich the soil ecosystem. This supports a sustainable, biodiversity-focused design approach. The harbour’s cultural history thus becomes the foundation for new nature and a strong sense of place.
Landscape architecture: De Urbanisten
Year completed: 2024
Photo credits: De Urbanisten
