Design Theme
1. Randstad Synergy
Keywords: Mobility, accessibility, connectivity, urban growth, competitiveness, urban identity.
Randstad Holland (“Edge Cities”) is the economic powerhouse of The Netherlands and is internationally recognized as a successful model of polycentric urban development, yet in reality it is fragmented in many ways. Like many comparative urban regions the cluster of cities and towns that make up the Randstad face great challenges in managing new spatial structure, urban growth and infrastructure networks. The idea of clusters of cities cooperation to promote new complementary functions to the benefit of the region as a whole is very ambitious. Competition between cities drives out opportunities for SYNERGY - the potential for 1+1>2. Polycentrism is the principle of organization of a region around several political, social or financial centres.
Questions
How polycentric models constituted mega-city regions?
How to enhance the polycentric mega-city performance by improving its mobility, accessibility and connectivity?
How to enhance the polycentric region’s competitiveness by allocating its urban growth?
Site
Randstad Holland
Mentors
Dr. LIU Jian (Tsinghua University)
Dr. Diego Sepulveda (TU Delft)
Msc. Wendy TAN (University of Amsterdam, guest mentor)
2. Twin City
Keywords: Water front strategy, housing intensification, new architecural design for new living demands.
The New Town Almere was developed during the second half of the 20th century. The city was originally planned as a secondary city for Amsterdam and the suburban ‘t Gooi area. Nowadays many inhabitants in Almere are originally moved from Amsterdam. So many inhabitants have a strong relation with Amsterdam (work, recreation, social contacts etc.), which results into heavy commuting. Motorways between these two cities are reaching the limits of their capacity. An urgent solution is needed. The design theme focuses on the Twin city Concept between Amsterdam and Almere. The intervention will take place between these two cities: the water front areas in the IJmeer (IJ-lake). The Twin city concept is an agreement between cities in geographically and politically distincts areas to promote cultural and commerical ties.
Questions
How to use the water front as a backbone strategy to enhance the twin city concept?
What kind of profile of intensification (housing, accessibility, public space and so forth) can help to benchmark the twin city concept?
Site
Amsterdam – IJmeer water front area
Mentors
Dr. Frank van der Hoeven (TU Delft)
Ir. Daan Zandbelt (TU Delft, guest mentor)
3. Recreation of the Green heart
Keywords: new housing type, integral urban-landscape-eco systems, integral leisure-eco systems, transformation of agricultural land, enhancement of ecological quality and biodiversity, integration of natural sound water storage and purification areas, mobility and accessibility.
The Green Heart of the Randstad is the biggest national landscape of The Netherlands. It is captured between Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. While the cities are compact and busy, the Green Heart offers space, rest and green. The government limits cities to grow into the Green Heart. The Green Heart has become a rich area with many waters due to peat-winning. Many of these waters were reclaimed (or impoldered) during the 18th century, such as the Zuidplaspolder. The theme assignment will focus on the Zuidplaspolder as a case study location in the Green Heart. The Zuidplaspolder lays north west from Rotterdam and is facing a big spatial change, it is designated as the final big urban expansion area of The Netherlands. The development will involve a coherence between urban area, nature, recreation and water management.
Questions
How to enhance the effective uses and marketing of the quality of the Green Heart (or cities allocated in the Green Heart)?
Site
Zuidplaspolder
Mentors
Dr. ZHAO Zhifeng (Beijing University of Technology)
Dr. Stefan van der Spek (TU Delft)
Marco van Steekelenburg (Province South Holland, guest mentor)
4. Den Haag Sea Front
Keywords: redevelopment of the waterfront to an attractive sea bath during all seasons, integration of harbor and urban waterfront development, integration of residential commercial and touristic programs, seasonal differences, enhancement of coastal protection and urban developments.
Scheveningen is the coastal area of the municipality of Den Haag. According to the ambitions of the municipality, Scheveningen should become the second big centre in Den Haag and the biggest seaside resort in Europe. This will involve a balanced development with four main program elements: living, fish industry, tourism and the constant fight against the sea. Westland is an area in the province South-Holland next to Den Haag. The place is well known for its green house cultivation, it is a properous and innovative area due to the fast developments in the agribusiness. The centre should become more attractive, without loosing the identity of Westland. The area should become pleasant for living, shopping, working and recreation. The design theme will focus on the integration of harbor and urban waterfront development, the integration of residential commercial and touristic programs and the enhancement of coastal protection and urban developments.
Questions
How to take Coastal development as an opportunity to create a new form of • urbanization taking into account climate threats, quality of living, and accessibility issues?
Site
Scheveningen and Westland
Mentors
Dr. GOU Siwei (Beijing University of Technology)
Dr. Akkelies van Nes (TU Delft)
Germaine Sanders (Kristal)
5. Kop van Feijenoord
Keywords: housing intensification, housing integration and differentiation, revitalization of Public Space
The Kop van Zuid is the former harbour area in the kop (top) of the South of Rotterdam. It is now transformed into a new addition to the modern city centre. The Kop van Feijenoord is part of this area, the structure of the old harbour area is still visible in the neighbourhood. The harbours and old train tracks determined a north-south orientation. Old industrial monuments are still remained such as the Entrepot building, de Hef and Old Tramhuis. During the construction of the train tracks tunnel, a lot of buldings were demolished and not replaced, which resulted into big holes in the urban fabric. Besides this, the neighbourhood also deals with several social problems. The design theme will focus on the opportunities to improve the quality of the neighbourhood ‘Kop van Feijenoord’ by integral approaches, such as housing intensification, housing integration and differentiation or revitalization of public space.
Questions
How to improve the quality of neighborhood Living by integral Urbanism approaches, to what extend can Kop van Feijenoord enhance the new centrality of the Kop van Zuid area?
Site
Kop van Zuid - Kop van Feijnoord, Rotterdam
Mentors
Prof. Marc Aurel Schnabel
Dr. Hendrik Tieben (Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Ir. John Westrik (TU Delft)