Haagse Hopje, Rivierenbuurt
Haagse Hopje, Rivierenbuurt
Haagse Hopje, Rivierenbuurt
A small building with a big impact on the neighborhood
Play as a basic right for all children
Haagse Hopjes are converted sea containers where toys are lent to children of primary school age, a concept that was taken over from the Rotterdam project Duimdrop. The first Haagse Hopje in The Hague opened in May 1996, after which several such pavilions were rolled out across the city. The underlying idea is that the places where children play outside school hours should be safe; the Haagse Hopjes not only bring toys but also supervision, making the squares where they are located safe, accessible and attractive for children — and girls in particular.
From temporary sea container to fully-fledged play pavilion
Initially, it was assumed that the Hopjes would be a temporary facility, which is why shipping containers were chosen because they are easy to install. But the enormous success of the Hopjes has made them an integral part of the neighborhoods and various primary schools - including the Rivierenbuurt in The Hague. As a logical follow-up to the establishment of Child Center O3 - also designed by atelier PRO - we have redesigned the temporary “game container” in the Delta Plantsoen as a permanent, high-quality pavilion.
A small building as part of a larger plan
This making the play-o-theek permanent was a promise made by the Municipality in the development of the Child Center, and was widely supported by the users of O3 - including the SCOH school foundation, housing corporation Haag Wonen, childcare organization DAK and residents' organization Rivierenbuurt/Spuikwartier. The new Haagse Hopje forms an ensemble with O3 and is in line with the larger plan for the Rivierenbuurt. Het Hopje is not only used by the children in the neighborhood outside school hours, but also serves as an “outdoor classroom” for O3, which uses the Delta Plantsoen as a playground. This is how the building 'lives' all day long.
A place for children and parents
A special part of the design is the continuous perforated façade cladding made of floor-to-ceiling aluminum panels. These hide the weathered brickwork of a Stedin Trafo that is now integrated into the design, but at the same time remains accessible for maintenance. The terrace on the west side has a pergola with recycled seating furniture from the Delta Plantsoen, creating a pleasant chill-out area for children and their parents.
.jpg)
