The urban development plan for Maasterras is a detailed design for one of the subareas from Mecanoo’s 2020 vision for the Dordrecht Railway Zone (Spoorzone Dordrecht). On a former industrial site along the Oude Maas River, a mixed-use urban neighbourhood is being developed, featuring approximately 3,500 homes and 70,000 m² of commercial and public amenities within walking distance of the city centre and the train station. Maasterras will be a green living environment prioritising pedestrians and cyclists.
The district will include a strong green structure that visually and functionally connects all three subareas. Each subarea will have a unique identity reflected in the architecture, materials, and public spaces. Heritage elements and characteristic structures will be integrated into the design, preserving part of the historical context.
The location of Maasterras—positioned between railways, roads, water, and industrial sites—strongly influences the masterplan’s design. The aim is to transform the dominant infrastructure into an opportunity that defines the area’s unique character and identity. For instance, the railway safety zone will be repurposed as a new city park that links Weizigtpark to the Oude Maas.
Part of the park will feature an elevated parking hub that blocks noise from train traffic. This multi-level park will provide spaces for events, sports, recreation, and social interaction. Maasterras enhances biodiversity, repurposes existing structures and ensures an optimal integration of green and public spaces. By turning challenges into opportunities, the district serves as a showcase for innovative and sustainable urban developments. With its proximity to water and focus on greening, Maasterras offers an attractive, future-oriented living environment that creates a new connection between the city and the river.
Maasterras is being developed with a focus on prioritising walking and cycling as the primary modes of transport. Transforming a car-centric area into a district with sustainable mobility results in a healthy living environment where children can play freely, and residents can interact.
Decentralised parking hubs reduce car traffic, while a network of cycling and walking paths connects the three subareas. Some piers of the Zwijndrecht Bridge, which runs through the area, will be preserved as a defining feature. This structure will serve as the backbone of the walking and cycling network, linking the three neighbourhoods together.