Published on 17-06-2023

National Architecture Day

Guided tours through edible neighborhood Rijnvliet

Did you know that you can eat off the street in Rijnvliet? That arugula just grows between the tiles? That you can make a very tasty salad with the flowers of the Judas tree and the leaves of the Lime tree? The Edible Neighborhood Rijnvliet is a unique concept that is not only inspiring and edible for people, but also contributes to a sustainable urban future for people, animals and nature together. How do you design a new neighborhood in such a way that it meets the challenges we now face?

During this guided tour, you will walk through the streets of this special neighborhood in 60 minutes, along the Boomkronenpad and through the central food forest. Learn everything about the landscape design, the design process and the various edible plants, shrubs and trees.

I want to join

Participating neighborhood

In Rijnvliet, the public space has been designed as an edible, educational landscape at the initiative of local residents. The layout of the area does not form a green backdrop, but is made to be used, so that as a resident you can literally reap the benefits of the neighborhood. The design, based on the principles of food forestry, was created in a participatory co-design procedure with residents, experts and the municipality of Utrecht. More than 1000 (fruit) trees and 220 different types of edible shrubs, plants and herbs have been planted in the district.

The integral design strives for the ultimate balance between people and nature and helps residents to reconnect with each other and to enter into a relationship with nature through food in an accessible way. Based on the increased involvement of residents, a number of educational, recreational and (nature) inclusive initiatives have been set up, such as wild picking expeditions and the summer outdoor school. Cultural ecological breeding ground Metaalkathedraal and Kindercentrum Rijnvliet play an important role in this.

Besides the social – gather walnuts together! – and ecological benefits – biodiversity – that the food forest concept offers, it also strengthens ecosystem services such as water management, heat reduction and nature education. As a form of urban agriculture, Rijnvliet thus realizes a sustainable urban future for people, animals and nature together.

Designers

The master plan was developed by De Zwarte Hond. Felixx and Xavier San Giorgi designed the public space as an integral edible, educational landscape for all ages. The principles of the food forest have been used and developed in close collaboration with residents and the municipality of Utrecht. Rijnvliet received the Innovation in Politics Award for this unique and successful collaboration. In addition, the project reached the final of the A+Architizer Award 2023 in the Sustainable Landscape / Project Planning category.

Join us on June 17 - National Architecture Day - on a guided tour with landscape designer Robert-Jan van der Linden and food forest expert Xavier San Giorgi through the new Edible Residential Area Rijnvliet. A unique neighborhood where all greenery is edible for humans or animals. Did you know that you can eat off the street in Rijnvliet? That arugula just grows between the tiles? That you can make a very tasty salad with the flowers of the Judas tree and the leaves of the Lime tree? The Edible Neighborhood Rijnvliet is a unique concept that is not only inspiring and edible for people, but also contributes to a sustainable urban future for people, animals and nature together. How do you design a new neighborhood in such a way that it meets the challenges we now face? During this guided tour, you will walk through the streets of this special neighborhood in 60 minutes, along the Boomkronenpad and through the central food forest. Learn everything about the landscape design, the design process and the various edible plants, shrubs and trees. I want to join Participating neighborhood In Rijnvliet, the public space has been designed as an edible, educational landscape at the initiative of local residents. The layout of the area does not form a green backdrop, but is made to be used, so that as a resident you can literally reap the benefits of the neighborhood. The design, based on the principles of food forestry, was created in a participatory co-design procedure with residents, experts and the municipality of Utrecht. More than 1000 (fruit) trees and 220 different types of edible shrubs, plants and herbs have been planted in the district. The integral design strives for the ultimate balance between people and nature and helps residents to reconnect with each other and to enter into a relationship with nature through food in an accessible way. Based on the increased involvement of residents, a number of educational, recreational and (nature) inclusive initiatives have been set up, such as wild picking expeditions and the summer outdoor school. Cultural ecological breeding ground Metaalkathedraal and Kindercentrum Rijnvliet play an important role in this. Besides the social – gather walnuts together! – and ecological benefits – biodiversity – that the food forest concept offers, it also strengthens ecosystem services such as water management, heat reduction and nature education. As a form of urban agriculture, Rijnvliet thus realizes a sustainable urban future for people, animals and nature together. Designers The master plan was developed by De Zwarte Hond. Felixx and Xavier San Giorgi designed the public space as an integral edible, educational landscape for all ages. The principles of the food forest have been used and developed in close collaboration with residents and the municipality of Utrecht. Rijnvliet received the Innovation in Politics Award for this unique and successful collaboration. In addition, the project reached the final of the A+Architizer Award 2023 in the Sustainable Landscape / Project Planning category.