ROOT Eindhoven

In collaboration with LEVS Architecten, BOOM Landscape designed the outdoor space for ROOT: a nature-inclusive residential building in the Eindhoven neighbourhood of Mensfort.

Green Extension of Mensfortpark
ROOT is centrally located within the neighbourhood, at the intersection of three local routes. As an extension of Mensfortpark, the building borders the green heart of the community. The site formerly accommodated a school, surrounded by a significant number of valuable mature trees. ROOT owes its distinctive U-shape to this context: the building was designed around the existing tree structure.

The landscape design consists of two distinct worlds. A spacious yet intimate collective courtyard garden serves the residents. Along the outer edge of the building lies a public urban park that begins at the front door. Walking paths connect the park seamlessly to the surrounding neighbourhood.

Urban Park
On the exterior side of ROOT, Mensfortpark extends right up to the façade, forming the ideal starting point for a morning run or leisurely stroll. A semi-paved path runs around the building, guiding visitors past a variety of programmatic elements. There is a playground for young children, while neighbours gather at picnic tables in the meeting meadow. The mown sports lawn offers fitness equipment for all ages and space for yoga or boot camps.
Beneath the verandas, the terrain subtly rises via a gentle slope towards the building. This creates a natural transition from public to private space and allows the semi-sunken parking garage beneath the building to be fully integrated into the landscape.

Preservation of Valuable Trees
ROOT preserves valuable and native trees while strengthening the existing green structure and enhancing biodiversity. The previously overgrown understory within the park area has been replaced by species-rich grassland, complemented by multi-stemmed shrubs and perennial planting. Together with the new pathways, this creates an open and accessible park structure for local residents.

Intimate Forest Garden
Within the collective courtyard garden, residents can quietly immerse themselves in nature. Here, living among the tree canopies, one is surrounded by a rich diversity of birds, butterflies, trees, plants and flowers. New planting is installed directly in open soil and designed as a richly layered composition. The understory includes ferns and nectar- and host-plants for butterflies and bees, flowering climbers such as wisteria wrapping around the columns, berry-bearing shrubs for birds, and a native tree layer.
The result is a sheltered, woodland-like inner garden where both people and wildlife can retreat. A concrete terrace at seating height connects the ground-floor gallery to the garden. Steps integrated into the terrace make the forest garden accessible from all sides.

Climate-Resilient
By maximising greenery and minimising hard surfaces, ROOT contributes to a climate-resilient city. The courtyard garden, composed of open soil and layered planting, provides ample opportunity for rainwater infiltration. Through subtle changes in elevation, rainwater collects in the lowest areas of the garden. The new paths are semi-permeable, allowing water to infiltrate there as well. Finally, water is also retained on the roofs of ROOT through the application of sedum and retention crates.

Image: LEVS Architecten

Image: LEVS Architecten

Image: LEVS Architecten

Image: LEVS Architecten