What have we created together?

The artists and designers emphasized the color, history, depth and future of the Westplein. With their works, they invited us to look again at the place where we walk, cycle, live or work every day.

Grondstof – Take a Detour

A rug as a time machine: Grondstof took us back 12.000 years via layers of sand under our feet. Made with the tufting technique and woven from wool, culture and nature. The rug became a meeting place, a resting point, an ode to the soil and the people of Lombok. From September 2025, the rug and the accompanying core sample can be seen in Stadskantoor.

A Liminal Space – Sarah Kaushik

Sarah's work brought myths and stories to life, with the tree of life as a central symbol. Her installation allowed us to experience how art and nature hand in hand can soften a place. It became a space for reflection and meeting, rooted in age-old stories from all over the world.

Poppy Seed – Marij Nielen

Marij’s impressive work captured the energy of Westplein as a seed full of potential. The Poppy Seed Podcast brought visions of the future to life. Twelve visionaries of the future shared their dream images for Lombokplein in 2035. Their ideas are now floating in the air, ready to descend somewhere and germinate. Listen back here.

Lombok Times: a newspaper of the future

The Lombok Times (conceived by Noor Bootsma) gave words to what is going on in the neighbourhood, now and in 15 years. Local residents thought and wrote about the future of the square. From children to the elderly, from professionals to experts by experience. This newspaper made the voices of the neighbourhood audible, including those voices that are often not seen or heard.

By collecting stories, dreams and observations, the newspaper helped to think about a just public space together with the neighbourhood and the municipality. What is needed for a square that works for everyone? The Lombok Times is not just documentation. It is also a direction for the next step.

What has Gemene Grond learned?

The alternative approach worked, but also required adaptability. We reached a broad group of voices from the neighbourhood and learned how important it is to make clear expectations and agreements in advance. Art helped to literally and figuratively visualize what is possible. A lot of knowledge has been built up. The next step is to keep that knowledge alive and relevant and to translate it into concrete results. The alderman's visit to the Westplein was an encouraging sign. Interest is growing in what we see before us here.

What is next?

Although the works of art will disappear from the square, they will continue to live on as a source of inspiration. We will continue to work in the background.

• The working group in collaboration with the Spatial Planning department of the municipality of Utrecht will start.
• We will continue to encourage the municipality and developers to work together with the neighbourhood on shared clientship for the green space, the Lombokpark.

Where are we standing now?

• Part 1 of the process has been completed. The art has been created, shared and experienced.
• Part 2 is in preparation. The ideas and insights from What Makes West!?, The Lombok Times and the meetings with the neighbourhood are now being further developed towards the design of the Lombokplein.