Astrid Bennink - Master of Landscape Architecture - The Small Economy Landscape

Astrid Bennink The small economy landscape The manufacturing industry as motor for landscape development astridbennink@gmail.com +31 (0)6 42105609 www.linkedin.com/in/astrid-bennink-b7a1b91b

Amsterdam Academy of Architecture Graduation Projects 2015-2016

Landscape Architecture

Astrid Bennink The small economy landscape The manufacturing industry as motor for landscape development

Assignment Many Southern European regions are in a deep crisis, both ecologically and economically. In those places where agriculture was the only means of existence, all hope seems to have vanished. People are moving to the city and abandoning rural areas. The Italian coastal region Le Marche has unique origins with a small-scale, agricultural landscape that was cultivated intensively by the inhabitants.

Fruit, olives, cereals and vegetables were grown together in strips. Traces of the old cultural landscape are still clearly visible, such as the structure of old country roads and historic farms on foothills.

With the disappearance of the age-old mezzadria sharecropping system, things have changed.

Agricultural companies are growing substantially every year, while at the same time they are still doing a lot as in the past. The reality is becoming increasingly evident: empty houses and the grave consequences of erosion are clearly visible. There is a lack of cohesion between old and new. If the current trends continue and no clear future prospects for the landscape are created, the value of the region will decrease even further.

Opportunities In Le Marche, the manufacturing industry is an important part of the local economy. There is global demand for distinctive (quality) products, such as hand-made shoes or musical instruments. This manufacturing industry consists of family companies of various sizes and has been traditionally intertwined with the agricultural industry. Individual family households formed closed economies, in which the family members made almost everything - from food to clothes to furniture - themselves.

Tradition and craftsmanship emerged in the countryside.

The connection with the land has remained intact due to unchanged types of ownership. That means that a strikingly large amount of young people are engaged in (sustainable) agriculture, as opposed to their parents who - due to stories about poverty - were actually opposed to the farming life.

The project In this graduation project, the active, local manufacturing industry is deployed to put the landscape into use (once again). In addition, I see the increasing interest in sustainable agriculture among the younger generation as the motor that will set those new developments in motion. Through directing the existing forces and processes, a vibrant and future-proof region can emerge within decades that also offers recreational prospects, and which will also see the return of the natural diversity. A region that can be seen as an example instead of lagging behind.

The small economy landscape is a development strategy that avoids the impending demise of the landscape and instead explores its opportunities. Not so much through the arrival of newcomers, but by telling the story behind the landscape. And by utilising the strengths of the people and the local economy.

Graduation date 07 06 2016

Commission members Karen de Groot (mentor) Harro de Jong Silvia Lupini

Additional members for the examination Mirjam Koevoet Saline Verhoeven

Astrid Bennink

PRODUCTION DISTRICTS IN LE MARCHE

clothing, textile wooden furniture leather, shoes mechanics musical instruments

45

km

Landscape Architecture

The landscape structure in the past, now and in the future

improve the accessibility of the

repair broken

lanes

banks

combat erosion

connect companies through landscape

The traditional casa colonica is the centrepiece of the landscape development

S

M

freelancers / self-employed people

collectives / start-ups

AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

reinforce historic country

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY SECTOR

region

The players / users

companies that aim for quality improvement

L

large companies

large-scale companies

Astrid Bennink

1

3

2 4

5

Example elaboration development property

2 1

3

4 5

The five brick structures

1. The hybrid property

2. Strong rural network

B

A=B B=A

A

3. Terrace farming

4. The multifunctional planting structure

5. The adventurous stream valley

Landscape Architecture

fruit trees sandy path recreational use Vitis

Olea europaea

Malus domestica

Pyrus

Prunus persica

Prunus domestica L.

Prunus avium L.

Prunus armeniaca L.

Prunus dulcis

Ficus carica L.

Juglans regia

Morus L.

Prunus avium L.

Olea europaea

Malus domestica

low crops

terrace border (brick)

ap p ro

x. 3 m

Accessible small-scale farming Two-sided planting at the highest point of the road Species include: - Morus alba - Prunus - Olea

Verges for the reinforcement of the road

Shadow

ap pr ox

. 7. 5 m Morus L.

Inviting country roads

Species include: - Quercus pubescens - Quercus ilex - Ostrya carpinifolia - Ulmus minor - Fraxinus ornus - Acer campestre - Spartium junceum - Crataegus monogina

Sandy path

Steep edge 1:1

app rox . 6 me tre s

The multifunctional green structure

Fraxinus ornus

Acer campestre

Spartium junceum

Crataegus monogina

Quercus pubescens (roverella)

Quercus ilex (leccio)

Ostria carpinifolia

Ulmus minor

Astrid Bennink

The new landscape structure

Maintenance path / walking route

In repairing the stream valley, initial attention will be paid to crossings with roads and paths

White road crosses the valley

Stream valley

Architect, Master of Science Urbanist, Master of Science Landscape Architect, Master of Science Architects, urbanists and landscape architects learn the profession at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture through an intensive combination of work and study. They work in small, partly interdisciplinary groups and are supervised by a select group of practising fellow professionals.

There is a wide range of options within the programme so that students can put together their own trajectory and specialisation.

With the inclusion of the course in Urbanism in 1957 and Landscape Architecture in 1972, the Academy is the only architecture school in the Netherlands to bring together the three spatial design disciplines under one roof.

Some 350 guest tutors are involved in teaching every year. Each of them is a practising designer or a specific expert in his or her particular subject. The three heads of department also have design practices of their own in addition to their work for the Academy. This structure yields an enormous dynamism and energy and ensures that the courses remain closely linked to the current state of the discipline.

The courses consist of projects, exercises and lectures. First-year and second-year students also engage in morphological studies. Students work on their own or in small groups. The design

projects form the backbone of the syllabus.

On the basis of a specific design assignment, students develop knowledge, insight and skills.

The exercises are focused on training in those skills that are essential for recognising and solving design problems, such as analytical techniques, knowledge of the repertoire, the use of materials, text analysis, and writing. Many of the exercises are linked to the design projects.

The morphological studies concentrate on the making of spatial objects, with the emphasis on creative process and implementation. Students experiment with materials and media forms and gain experience in converting an idea into a creation.

During the periods between the terms there are workshops, study trips in the Netherlands and abroad, and other activities. This is also the preferred moment for international exchange projects. The Academy regularly invites foreign students for the workshops and recruits wellknown designers from the Netherlands and further afield as tutors.

Graduates from the Academy of Architecture are entitled to the following titles: Architect, Master of Science; Urbanist, Master of Science and Landscape Architect, Master of Science.

Landscape Architecture

Amsterdam Academy of Architecture