De Witte Dame is a restored factory building on Emmasingel in the centre of Eindhoven. It was built in 1928-1931 under the auspices of architect Dirk Roosenburg in the style of the New Objectivity. Philips used the building from the beginning as a manufacturing plant for making light bulbs. In the eighties the building was left empty as Philips moved production abroad. Philips wanted to demolish the building but the local authority wouldn’t grant permission for them to do so. The building was renovated and now houses facilities such as the Design Academy, a library and a grand café. Beneath the square, there is a parking garage, so before planting, special arrangements had to be made in the form of raised tubs. Buro Lubbers signed up to do the design and Du Pré Groenpojecten for carrying out the works. Elongated weathering steel tubs were used to hold parasol-shaped Rhododendron catawbiense ‘Boursault’ for its silhouette and evergreen aspect and Prunus yedoensis for its abundant flowering in spring. Immediately in front of the terrace, there are Ginkgo biloba, planted for their attractive autumn colouring.