Landscape - Leen Vanthuyne

Amsterdam Academy of Architecture Graduation Projects 2013-2014 Landscape Architecture Leen Vanthuyne Ravines Revaluated An attractive storyline for the ribeiras of the city of Funchal, capital of Madeira Island.

Leen Vanthuyne leen@leenvanthuyne.com www.leenvanthuyne.com www.linkedin.com/in/leenvanthuyne landscape architect @ Blauwdruk Stedenbouw

Landscape Architecture

Leen Vanthuyne Ravines Revaluated

An attractive storyline for the ribeiras of the city of Funchal, capital of Madeira Island.

This project is two-fold. It tackles the problem of mudflows, a recurring phenomenon on Madeira Island, and at the same time presents a case for a much deserved revaluation of the public face of the three ravines of Funchal, from the mountains to the coastline.

‘The ravine is a vertical landscape, a geological cross section from mountain down to ocean, a chasm that guides the young and fearless tourist through the layered strata of tuff and basalt.

The ravine is a tough and yet attractive story full of adventure.’

In the masterplan, the three ravines are divided into five distinct zones, based on the fluviogeomorphology; the shape of the ravine. For each zone, problems are pointed out, solutions are proposed and a landscape target image is defined. One ravine has been looked at in detail, resulting in an area-wide proposal. This is represented in a 1:5000 plan, accompanied with schemes, profiles and details.

1 stream crest For the mountain tops, a landscape transformation plan is layed out. It includes a phased strategy for the construction of a network of ‘gradoni’ (fine-line terraces) and checkdams.

Desertification is countered with planting, using a rich palette of indigenous species. Two new hiking routes will be made alongside the gradoni, expanding the existing walking network. One ‘gradoni path’ can be followed towards the mountain village of Curral, the other will reactivate an existing levada pathway.

2 canyon These dramatic slopes are left untouched by design. At the final pieces, new ‘open type dams’ are implemented, as envisioned by the Portuguese engineers. Care is taken to re-trace a heritage levada walking path, so that hikers will be allowed to walk along the impressive new dam landscape.

3 suburban valley In the suburban fringe of the ravine, the mess of valley floor functions is reorganised. The ‘poios’ (agriculture terraces) on the flanks are rewilded with forest to improve slope stability. A new walking network is establised on the existing terraces and unused farms can be rented out to tourists. A linear park accompanies the stream, with clearly defined urban development possibilities.

4 old town canal When traffic and parking space along the canal is reduced to 50%, new opportunities arise: properties on the edge of the ravine can be made open, abundant in green and much more attractive to tourists. Monumental buildings are reorganised to serve a public function.

5 debouchment The end flow of the ravine is made open and unobstructed. Traffic crossing the canal is reduced to minimal roofing. New, large scale building opportunities arise alongside the rivers mouth. Sturdy riverside piers open up and embrace the marinas.

The time has now come to show the ravines as a useful and attractive man-adapted natural phenomenon that needs to be seen, and will hopefully be seen and visited by many new styled nature loving tourists.

The area around the three gulches (São João, Santa Luzia and João Gomes) still constitutes the founding site the of the city of Funchal. As the situation stands today they present all the characteristics of a ridiculously oversized gutter, something that inspires horror and is best forgotten and hidden from human eyes.

Graduation date 12 09 2014

Commission members Maike van Stiphout (mentor) Steven Delva Michael van Gessel Bram Breedveld

Additional members for the examination Rik de Visser Hank van Tilborg

Leen Vanthuyne

Landscape Architecture

Hand drawings: four phases of geologic activity on Madeira island

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Hand drawing: average rainfall Madeira island

Hand drawing: main ravines (ribeiras) on Madeira island

scheme: gradoni cut & fill construction

Phasing scheme: gradoni network and checkdams

Materialized details: gradoni and path

Cross section: gradoni network and checkdams

Scheme: gradoni planting palette

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Leen Vanthuyne

Collage: gradoni and gabion dam

Collage: Levada da Negra crossing gradoni

Cross section: valley route B

Materialized details: valley path

Cross section: valley route A

Cross section: valley route D

Existing and proposed long section

Schemes: transformation of flanks (left) and valley floor (right)

Landscape Architecture

Plan fragment: zone 3 - ‘Suburban Valley’

Analyses fragment: historic pathways in the ravines flanks

Landscape section: zone 4 ‘Old Town Canal’

Leen Vanthuyne

Plan fragment: zone 4 ‘Old Town Canal’

MARINA

Plan fragment: zone 5 - ‘Debouchment’

Master of Architecture / Urbanism / Landscape Architecture Amsterdam Academy of Architecture

Architects, urban designers 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.

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 cur­riculum.

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: Master of Architecture (MArch), Master of Urbanism (MUrb), or Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA). The Master’s