On Monday 23 February 2015 the go-ahead was given for the refurbishment of Hoofdstraat [the high street] in Schijndel. With the reconstruction of the high street, the Municipality of Schijndel is aspiring to further strengthen the spatial quality and future-proofing of both the city centre as well as the residential and shopping area. This is an extension to the redevelopment of the market and the realisation of the Glazen Boerderij [glass farmhouse] (MVRDV / Winy Maas) at Market square.
In 2007 MTD landschapsarchitecten was commissioned by the Municipality of Schijndel to draw up a redevelopment plan for the Market and surroundings of the Glazen Boerderij (MVRDV / Winy Maas). An important limiting condition in this brief was the municipality's choice for a more traffic-free city centre and an enhancement of the habitational quality of the public space.
For the redevelopment of the market and the Hoofdstraat, the approach is to strengthen Schijndel's identity as a village core with a relaxed countryside image, using the church and Glazen Boerderij as important orientation points and identity carriers.
References to the historical water pump will be realised at the corner of Hoofdstraat and Pompstraat. In the profile of Hoofdstraat the tram rails will be made visible in the natural stone paving, which refers to the steam tram which once drove here. Natural stone slabs engraved with historical images will lie between the rails, which will depict the history and make Schijndel's identity more perceivable.
The reconstruction of Hoofdstraat is expected to be completed by mid 2015. This will be followed by the planting of trees in the autumn.
