2002 1970-80
1979
Mid-seventies thinking of a new classification for the square is started again. At this time there is a discussion held on the question: square or park? The majority prefers a park. A new design is made, with the Amsterdam Sarphatipark in mind. Several parties have desires and interests for the park, therefore a number of features needs to be included in the design: a sports hall, a library, a clubhouse and a school were some of these desires. Eventually all these features get a place on the square. As a result the space became fragmented and dispersed. Late nineties the Afrikaanderplein had become a decayed area. Instead of being a cohesive park, it had become a conglomeration of different functions which were literary divided into separate areas with their backs turned to each other. The green area of the park had fallen prey to vandalism and pollution. In 1999 the sub-municipality Feijenoord commissioned to design a new park. In 2002 the design of OKRA was finished. Again several programs of parties, including the botanical garden, a playground, sports fields and the market, needed to be housed on the square. At the same time the park atmosphere should be kept intact. In the design the several programs are located around the park. A high fence around the park makes it a whole and protects the park from vandalism (Dorman et al., 2007).
Conclusion The problem of the regeneration of this square is that it does not consider the inhabitants network and is always developed as a fragment. What we can learn from all these transformations is that the Afrikaanderplein should be flexible and answering to the needs of the people (so the users). However the changing needs of people is a cause for continual transformation of the sort of space that is needed. The public space should be a resilient space that can handle future transformations of the built environment, the inhabitants and changes in program.