Cuesta volume 1 by Cuesta of the rupel region

The Cuesta (ˈkwɛstə) of the Rupel Region New Challenges for its Cultural Heritage vol. I

@All rights reserved under International Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photo-copying, recording or by any information storage retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher or specific copyright owners. Work and publication made during the course of a personal master dissertation project, within the project of The Cuesta of the Rupel Region. New challenges for its Cultural Heritage proposed by Gisèle Gantois Acknowledgments Special thanks to Sabine Denissen, senior advisor Leisure Department Province of Antwerp for her unconditional support to these projects. ISBN 9789082256857 Depot nummer D/2015/13.576/1 Book edited by Gisèle Gantois Co-editors Kris Scheerlinck, Yves Schoonjans Authors: Floor Clinckemalie, Stefanie Gruyaert, Matthijs Sioen, May Lynn Doll, Felix Schiettecatte, Lisa Lu, Sam Verschoren, Riccardo Buratti Contributions from: Gisèle Gantois, Kris Scheerlinck, Yves Schoonjans, Harry van Royen Cover picture: © Lisa Lu, Felix Schiettecatte Responsible Publisher Faculty of Architecture, KU Leuven International Master of Architecture Resilient and Sustainable Strategies Campus Sint-Lucas, Ghent Class of 2014-2015 www.arch.kuleuven.be www.internationalmasterofarchitecture.be Dag Boutsen, dean

The Cuesta (ˈkwɛstə) of the Rupel Region. New Challenges for its Cultural Heritage

cuesta n 1. (Physical Geography) a long low ridge with a steep scarp slope and a gentle back slope, formed by the differential erosion of strata of differing hardness [Spanish: shoulder, from Latin costa side, rib] www.thefreedictionary.com/cuesta

This is volume one of a two part series VOL . I chapter one chapter two chapter three chapter four

inhabiting the scattered floor clinckemalie local meshwork re-generated stefanie gruyaert re-shaping a work live community may lynn doll an ecomusuem for the rupel region riccardo buratti

VOL . Ii chapter five chapter six chapter seven

from fragmentation to association felix schiettecatte the awareness of being lisa lu Noeveren, a crafting complex as a sam verschoren

connection between transition zones

chapter eight

familiar landscapes

19 141 245 373

matthijs sioen

Preface

In this publication we want to present the design research projects of eight students of the International Master of Architecture – Resilient and Sustainable Strategies KU Leuven through which they envisaged new challenges for the cultural heritage of the Rupel region situated in the Province of Antwerp, Flanders Belgium along the river Rupel and covering the municipalities of Hemiksem, Schelle, Niel, Boom and Rumst. What we particularly want to point at is how we had to get immersed into the region to be able to transcend an object-focused approach and how we detected the formal and informal use of the place. The objective was to take these experiences within the design process of either new projects or projects of adaptive re-use and restoration to come to more nuanced and socially better accepted architectural projects. When looking over the Rupel region today we see a world carved and sliced for so long that it is hard to imagine it even having been otherwise. The whole region is marked by centuries of clay extraction and brick manufacturing industry with many former clay quarries determining the landscape. Many of the pits have become overgrown and seem unused at first sight. The industrial and urban decline lead to exten-

sive disused sites. Only a few fragments of the built heritage directly related to the former activity are conserved in an attempt to install the remembrance of the place. It’s clear that these relicts can never recall the heydays of the industrial era of this region and although they are iconic they became isolated artefacts as they lack the relation with the landscape. In current times of migration and mobility of both humans and non-humans new significance of the meaning of this place is likely to be enacted, created, shaped, and negotiated. This new significance of meaning arises from a multi faced never ending interaction in which people are engaged with the landscapes and structures in which they live. These places have meaning for the natives, former brick-workers and their families through the events in their lives, which have taken place in this specific landscape or buildings in which they live and worked. The entanglement of timeless immaterial attachments with the historical and material layering of the place, acts like chemistry. Generations passed knowledge down to each other by leaving visual marks or traces. And even if the events have left no mark, people seem to remember, as they became part of their collective memory. The other side of the interaction is the triggering of newcomers’ memories and feelings by the simple sight of this place1. Here enters their value for the existing buildings and landscapes in our intercultural society as they attribute new significance to their new environment affected by what they already know, believe or remember from other places. From this perspective there is an interesting parallel in the working methodology of an architect and the strategy of the storyteller the way Walter Benjamin2 states it: ‘The figure of the storyteller gets its full cor-

Jason Ardler, director Cultural Heritage in Social Significance, a discussion paper. Denis Byrne, Helen Brayshaw, Tracy Ireland, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Research Unit, Cultural Heritage Division, June 2001, p. 3 2 Benjamin, W., The Storyteller, Reflections on the Works of Nikolai Leskov. http://slought.org/files/downloads/events/SF_1331-Benjamin.pdf 3 ‘sloepke’: a name given by the locals many decades ago, probably from the Dutch word ‘slop’, deminutive ‘slopke’ which means poor very small alley or corridor between two houses. 4 Provincie Antwerpen (2014), Kaderplan ‘Kleinstedelijk gebied en ontginningsgebied Boom-Rumst’. Eindrapport. Pdf-file. http://www. provincie.antwerpen.be/content/dam/provant/drom/dienst-gebiedsgericht-beleid/20141211_eindrapport_totaal_def_tg.pdf 1

poreality only for the one who can picture both the man who has stayed at home who knows the local tales and tradition and the one who comes from a far.’ An advantage of being an outsider in the landscape we have to study and to adopt the attitude of the storyteller lies precisely in the fact that one might (re)-discover intrinsic qualities of the usual things that regular visitors or natives risk to overlook and that historical studies might neglect. Take the case of the so-called ‘sloepkes’3 . Between most of the brick-workers’ houses constructed around the clay-pits a small pathway or ‘sloepke’ was foreseen. It provided a direct access from the house to the clay-pit. The only entrance to the houses was at the back of the house through this ‘sloepke’ via a collective inner street. The main street façade lacked a front door. Historically and materially seen they are proof of the often very poor working and living conditions of the brick-workers and their families who were completely dependent of the factory owners who lived in beautiful master houses along the Rupel River. We could never have understood their world of meaning today by just observing the place from outside and doing historical and material survey only. Written history in archives and museums, touristic info and the final report for the region of the Province of Antwerp4 certainly gave us very valuable information about how the region historically evolved and what the function of these ‘sloepkes’ was but didn’t give us convincing insight on the deeper actual value of this human-made landscape, a wonderful hidden social, cultural and ecological meshwork of which ‘sloepkes’ are a fundamental part. There was need for another strategy to meet this fragile protagonist. As we were strangers in the landscape we had to study a crucial objective was to find a different way of

observing to come to an actual reading of the site far beyond historical evidences. In terms of methodology we thought about how to discover the nameless protagonists and to unveil and to register the offthe-record information they provided us to include more of the voices of perspectives of people in the area where we worked. This was developed in a ‘protocol for walking’ in which we defined what to do, but not how to do it. Our main tools were walking, drawing and modelling. ‘Mapping’ values could have been one approach, but we also felt the need for a processual or narrative element – a story of how values happen, and change. To gain insight into the people’s and other living creatures’ why and how and their and our relation to the place we expressed perceptions through mapping from the ground. This implied that to be able to understand the processes of appropriation, memories and traces and to express our own understandings we not only used cartographical techniques but also we stepped across the roads, visited the places of which the inhabitants told us5. As the anthropologist Tim Ingold suggests we joined with those among whom we worked6. We had to take time to listen to and to observe both locals and newcomers from inside by doing informal interviews and re-walk peoples’ lines of perambulation. The investigation turned into a travel story, storytelling into a spatial practice7. As Michel de Certeau puts it in ‘L’Invention du quotidien’. The act of drawing our interactive journeys in little jot-books8 was a way of observing and therefore a way of reflecting. The drawing became a tool for the eye and all other senses. The act of watching closely lead to real closeness and retracing the existing made us experience things differently. A subtle social, cultural and ecological meshwork of informal and formal collective spaces was visualized

Lee, J. and Ingold, T. (2008) Introduction in Ways of walking: Ethnography and Practice on Foot, (Anthropological studies of creativity and perception) England, Ashgate, 2008. p.1-19. 6 Ingold, T., (2007), Up, Across and Along in Lines: A Brief History. London: Routledge pp. 72-103 7 Certeau, M. De, (1984),The practice of everyday life, Berkeley, CA : University of California Press.. 8 The little jotbook is folded out of a A4 piece of paper into a A7 pocket format, easy to take with you on a journey. 9 Ingold, T., (2007), Up, Across and Along in Lines: A Brief History. London: Routledge pp. 72-103 10 Emma Waterton & Laurajane Smith (2010) The recognition and misrecognition of community heritage, International Journal of Heritage Studies, 16:1-2, 4-15, DOI: 10.1080/13527250903441671 5

step by step. It was composed of small trails and pathways through the former clay-pits. As today some of these pits are reclaimed by nature, habitats that are exceptional for biodiversity arise and new relations between the pits and the houses are created. ‘Sloepkes’ originally made to easily reach the clay-pit from the brick workers houses give now access to huge natural internal areas. Furthermore there were and still are small alleys between the front houses along the streets and the backhouses on the edge of the pits, tunnels under the street parallel to the Rupel, dugged to connect the first and second row of pits, and community streets in small settlements at the borders of the pits, where people live their lives. With the decline of the brick manufacturing industry this subtle permeate tissue was obstructed here and there as some of these ‘sloepkes’ and tunnels were privatised. In mapping them we discovered that there was no clear boundary between the public and the private, which enhanced unprompted encounters between locals and newcomers. At the same time their hierarchy in scale guaranteed a gradient of intimacy. This turns this fragile meshwork into a place of attachment appropriated in many different ways, attributing the human scale to this industrial landscape. It made us change our focus from the unique industrial historical relicts towards a heritage, which is organically integrated into the life of the community and by this territorialized and anchored. This implied a radical shift from heritage as an object to heritage as relationship. Heritage was then not longer composed of isolated iconic artefacts but became closely linked with the entire cultural landscape of past and present in which the pathways and trails of natives and newcomers both human and non-human, and the tangible

and intangible are thoroughly entangled. Community has to be considered here as a social creation and experience that is continuously in motion, rather than a fixed entity and description, a ‘seemingly homogenous collective’ defined by geography, religion, age, education, class, gender, ethnicity etc. In the different proposals we suggested new structures, restoration projects and projects of adaptive reuse of the industrial sites closely entangled with the landscape, a revitalisation of the social, cultural and ecological meshwork by reopening carefully some of the privatised ‘sloepkes’, alleys and tunnels not as a plea to conserve all the historical material out of a romantic or nostalgic idea of keeping the houses in their poor materiality or idealising the lack of comfort for the inhabitants but out of the conviction that the intrinsic qualities of this fragile tissue embrace flexibility and can be the primary generator for this area including new housing and new services. The typology of a hierarchical build up mesh of collective spaces could serve as an archetypical form for the region to come to more nuanced and socially better accepted projects in contrast with the construction of high-rise buildings along the Rupel river, completely denying the subtle characteristics of the place, disneyfying the material remains of its industrial past by putting the accent on the attractiveness of historical artefacts that finally become empty shells ones restored and reused. The danger with the current developments is that the cultural landscape of the Rupel region becomes highly urbanised, exclusively promoted as a touristic destination, overlooking the nameless protagonists. Our viewpoint on heritage did not depend anymore on the different meanings of the individual historical relicts alone but rather on the intrinsic qualities

of this valuable human made cultural landscape in which the fabric of buildings and the landscape are closely entwined by a fragile social, cultural and ecological meshwork creating and enforcing the identity, quality and social cohesion of this place and region. Referring to daily life – enclosed by redundancy – we did not focus on the unique but on the recurrent. To adopt this attitude we needed to widen our field of interest towards a broader context of human experiences and to develop methods beyond the narrow focus on the artefacts in which time and slowness were essential features. With this publication we hope to inspire everyone who deals with this place, inhabitants, newcomers, leisure seeking tourists, policy makers, planners and building constructors. Acknowledgments Special thanks go to my students Stefanie Gruyaert, May Lynn Doll, Floor Clinckemalie, Lisa Lu, Felix Schiettecatte, Sam Verschoren, Riccardo Buratti and Matthijs Sioen for their perseverance, their unflagging efforts to settle in into this fascinating region to try to discover the hidden meaning of its cultural heritage and finally for their inspiring projects. Gisèle Gantois Academic Promoter and Book Editor Architect MSc in Conservation Lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture, International Master of Architecture, KU Leuven, campus Ghent, Belgium PhD Candidate in Architecture

She’s doing research on what methods and tools can be found to explore, to detect, to unveil and to map the intangible of the tangible to develop cultural heritage and its context differently by understanding the actual cultural, social and ecological significance for the individual or the community today. She is author (with Yves Schoonjans as co-author) of The architect as mediator between the built heritage and the social construct. (2014), The Nameless Local. (2015) and Storytelling as strategy to envision the changing meaning of heritage from an object-focused approach towards an intertwined contextual one. (2015) PhD research project: The Architect – Heritage Practitioner as Storyteller. Tracing the Ecological and Cultural Significance of rural built heritage of local importance in the framework of adaptive (re-)use.’ Promoters Prof. Yves Schoonjans and Prof. Krista De Jonge. 11

Changing responses to a challenged landscape

Flanders is undergoing complex economic, societal and spatial developments. Many local and global alterations have taken place such as new emerging economic activity, increased specialization and segregation of space, an aging population society, flows of migration, (super)diversity and the transformative digital revolution... imposing new expectations and demands on the built environment. Larger areas are transforming into post-industrial landscapes. All these phenomena present acute challenges for architects, planners and those professionals who are continuously dared with the redevelopment, regeneration, and renewal of the existing urban and landscape fabric. It presses them to update their intervention strategies and tactics. A new generation of professionals is therefore needed where not only critical thinking, but also creative design competencies, sustainable articulation and trans-disciplinary communication as well as research skills are essential. The skills and competences taught in the education of architects, designers and urban planners, need to be more responsive to the changing societal and professional needs and have specific complexity because unlike the hard sciences, architecture and urbanism shape and reflect very specific characteristics of the regions in which they are practiced. The education of these professionals must therefore include knowledge of specific and necessary subject-related skills, but also, common and regional specific competences that will allow professionals to respond to society’s changing needs within the built environment. 12

This book and exhibition show the interesting and intriguing results of a master dissertation design studio at the International Master of Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture, campus Sint-Lucas Ghent of the KU Leuven and lead by Gisèle Gantois as academic promoter. This studio is embedded in the two-year full English spoken programme Resilient and Sustainable Strategies that is concerned with the current theory and practice of architecture and sustainability. The Brundtland report (United Nations, 1987) defines sustainable development as ‘development, which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. The United Nations in 2005 referred to the ‘interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars’ of sustainable development as economic development, social development and environmental protection. Translating these three pillars for sustainable architecture, they would entail: providing access to high quality and healthy living and working environments for all, finding ways to create socially sustainable environments at different scales and a wise use of natural resources. Technical considerations, together with more conceptual or strategic issues, are dealt with in this two-year program about architecture and sustainability. Central in the program of the International Master of Science in Architecture is a critical reflection about architecture and its social, cultural or environmental role for society. Based on a highly interdisciplinary learning process of integrated research and ‘research by design’, students are expected to determine a theoretical stance on current issues with particular emphasis on how aspects of sustainability, universal design, modest heritage, urban ecology and energy-efficient technologies may contribute to the development of more sustainable human settlements. The Faculty of Architecture firmly believes that its programmes should take into account an internati-

onal reality. The aim is to proactively foster international awareness in all the participants through a wide range of initiatives. Participants shall learn to interpret and appreciate the local context from a wider multicultural perspective. Extending oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s horizon means developing a more open perspective and a critical attitude, which in turn encourages participants to explore the boundaries of their discipline. Moreover it prepares students to act more responsibly in a globalised society and labour market. The master dissertation design studio by GisĂ¨le Gantois tackled an important region in Flanders, the Rupel Region exploring concrete societal issues. The group of students were highly international and by this at the start totally unknown of the local context of the project area. Coming from different origins they all looked at it in very different ways. The fact that they realised that the meaning of this complex area was not univocal was very important. Slowly they unravelled, layer after layer, its complex meanings and multi-layered realities. Multiplicity, simultaneity and creative adjacencies could be the words to describe best the characteristics of this changing environment. Different to past planning and design models, alternative approaches had to emerge. Many of the challenges in design cannot be met in a predestined way. Stereotyped interventions based on problem solving and blueprint thinking were avoided, without loosing the grip on reality. On the contrary, in this studio new ways of analysing the existing, appropriating space, designing objects, defining spaces and restructuring urban areas seemed to look for alternative and creative solutions, based on what was already there. Those projects generate interesting and unique mappings and visions, possibilities and constructive solutions challenging future possibilities. The illustrated projects embody a high sensitivity and critical attitude towards the given context the students fully embraced.

tiplicity of design problems in a collaborative and interdisciplinary way. They possess, at the same time, a determinate and indeterminate framework pushing the students, but also the teachers, out of their comfort zone. This contextual framework encourages the teasing-out of unforeseen skills and competences beyond the fixed expectations. This elicits both inspiration and commitment. Live projects address issues such as the future self of the student who is stimulated because he/she can make personal choices and decisions. This means that students become themselves a sort of critical agency not only in their own education but also in the future development of the discipline and society itself. Architectural schools therefore have a huge responsibility to encourage and nurture that potential. Kris Scheerlinck & Yves Schoonjans

Such live projects, often built on local stakeholders, embody a complexity and multi-layeredness. Grown out of daily life they are not protected by well-defined boundaries but make connections to a mul13

Yves Schoonjans is a Professor in architectural history and – theory at the University of Leuven (Department of Architecture), Belgium. He recieved a master of science in architectural engineering at the University Ghent (1984). From 1985 till 1995 he had a private architectural practice with Gilles Van Bogaert. In his PhD-study (An 19th century eclectic discourse – social and architectural strategies to cope with abundance and diversity – University Ghent, Belgium) he tackles the way how the theoretical discourse on eclecticism is constructed. The main focus of the research lies on the appropriation of theoretical notions and the recalibrations of the relation between form and meaning by different actors in the field of architecture in the recent and present period (19th to 21st century). He was involved as partner and lead-coordinator in different international programs (Erasmus, Mundus and ALFA) and participated in different project, especially in Latin America. Within the academic management he was Head of the education-section ‘History and Theory’ from 2002 to 2008, program director of the International Master of Architecture (2008-2010), Vice Dean International Affairs (2013-2015). From October 2013 he became vice-chair of the Research Department and Campus Director. Kris Scheerlinck studied Architecture (MSc., School of Architecture, Sint-Lucas, Ghent), Spatial Planning (PG., University of Ghent/KU Leuven), Urban Culture (PG., UPC Barcelona) and Urban Design (MSc., UPC Barcelona) and obtained his Ph.D. in Architecture and Urban Projects with Prof. de Solà-Morales and Prof. Ferrer as thesis directors (UPC/URL, Barcelona, Spain). For more than 15 years, he ran his own research and design practices in Ghent, Barcelona and New York, working on urban and architecture projects, interior, retail and exhibition design and ephemeral installations. He coordinated and ran design studios, workshops and taught theoretical courses in Architecture and Urban Design Programs at various institutions and universities in New York, Barcelona, Bratislava, Melbourne, Valparaiso, 14

Cordoba, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Havana, Addis Abeba, Ghent and Brussels. For the last 5 years he directed the International Master of Science in Architecture. He is currently Vice-Dean for Internationalisation and member of the Faculty Doctoral Commission at the Faculty of Architecture. He is Head of the Research Group “Urban Projects, Collective Spaces and Local Identities” at the Department of Architecture. He directs an international research project on depth configurations in urban projects, called Streetscape Territories and promotes related PhD projects. His expertise is on the analysis of public-private gradients in urban projects and their related models of accessibility, permeability and proximity and pronounces a critical discourse on territorial boundary delimitation in real life projects.

A Region once Determined by Brickworks: the Cuesta Front along the River Rupel The Scheldt estuary was during Roman times already a region where clay was processed for the production of roof tiles and thin bricks for a variety of building purposes. Whether the production of these tiles continued is hard to tell due to a lack of written sources and the difficultly of determining fired clay products. The real start of the brick production emerged in the 13th century thanks to a continued quarrel between the counties of Flanders and Hainaut. During the struggle for supremacy the count of Hainaut forbade the export of stone from the Tournai region via the river Scheldt to Flanders. Building projects not only in the county of Flanders, but also in the duchy of Brabant came to a halt. Amongst them was the erection of the Cistercian abbey of Saint Bernard nearby Hemiksem. As the Cistercian monks, with their continental network, gained mastery of using the best available technology for the management of their domains, brickworks were set up. The production of bricks and large floor tiles was at the time of the building of the monastery well established in the Cistercian abbeys of Boudelo and Dunes, both in Flanders. Bricks were made and the building could continue, cheaper than anticipated. To get the “proper” look of the Burgundian abbeys like Cîteaux and Clairvaux, the brick walls were plastered, stone lining was painted upon them and the whole was limewashed as to get a proper and divine white stone look. The scene was set for a steady growth. Especially the city regulations stipulating the use of roof tiles and the use of bricks for new buildings proved positive for the continued production of bricks along the 16

rivers Scheldt and Rupel. The monks rented their brickworks out. A great amount of bricks was ordered in the 16th century in the rebuilding process of Antwerp. Bold development schemes by Gilbert Van Schoonbeke needed a massive amount of bricks. Brickworks in Hemiksem, once deserted in the turmoil of the Eighty Years War, were reopened. Not only old brick works required much needed orders, a lot of new brickworks were opened as well, also in other villages. A new boost to the steady growing brickworks came in the second half of the 19th century, when the Belgian government decided to strengthen Antwerp as their principal military fortification. Millions of bricks were needed to build a chain of forts around Antwerp. As a result new brick works were started. A continued need of bricks for engineering works (like bridges, stations), building of factories (with foundations of brick), a general boom in the building of dwellings for labourers, and a growing awareness campaign of farmers to invest in clean stables made sure that the production capacity could be sold. Cheap labour provided by women and children and a good transport network via rivers and canals held the overall production cost low and the profit margins high. To make sure that profits could even made higher, some brickyard owners started secondary business. Shipyards, mechanical engineering workshops, diamond cutting shops, slipper production, both at home and in shops, provided extra work, also in winter months when the brickworks hardly worked. This was a great management asset: it gave work and less poor relief benefits were asked. But the not so generous working conditions nevertheless caused unrest and trade unions and political parties as the Daensists and Socialists came to the region and caused unrest and Catholic reactionary movements. Albeit World War One was an overall catastrophe, also for those who hadn’t fled to Holland, the reconstruction effort from 1919 onwards caused a massive boom in the brickworks. Stricter school laws led to the general introduction of machines. Mechanization was introduced to speed up production and

to minimize costs. Other labour intensive activities were executed by women. Some brickworks, till then almost all family businesses, were converted into stock companies. But most remained old fashioned, so the crisis of the 1930’s caused major difficulties, especially for the working force. Luckily, the aftermath of World War Two, again stimulated brick consumption. The global boost in buying power saw a massive demand of new housing throughout Belgium. Did the first crisis hit the workforce, the second crisis in the 1970’s targeted also the yard owners. A lot of them hadn’t invested properly and thoughtful in new technology, nor in cooperation between smaller brickworks. The old brickworks system along the river Rupel bore the brunt of the crisis and one after another had to stop production and close operations entirely. The old and the new way of producing bricks continued for some time, the first at Noeveren (Boom), the second at the new plant of Wienerberger in Rumst. Only the latter remains, with a renewed use of the waterway to transport bricks. A very tiny production crew of only a few machine operators is needed, most others are used for warehousing duties. Robots and an almost entirely closed production cycle form, burn, dry and pile bricks up, ready for transport. The once omnipresent brickworks, transport lines, drying sheds have been demolished. Some clay pits, cut out of the cuesta from the river front onwards, have been refilled, often with noxious refuse of the (also) once thriving industry on the other side of the river Rupel. On the sites of cleaned up kiln and drying areas new urbanization has found its way, new business and living development has already changed the scenery. Together with the reclamation of some ground by nature, the overall outlook of the former industrial landscape has altered enormously. Change and progress are a common factor in every corner of human activity. Unfortunately, change and progress in a former industrial landscape could erase all possible clues which give future generations a stepstone in reading and understanding the manmade landscape in which they live, work and relax. The variation of

heritage remains, scars in the landscape and overall development of those sites shouldn’t result in a total erasing of all buildings and other related structures. It presents an opportunity to make an inclusive project in which heritage assets work together with local communities to foster education, sustainable tourism and living quality. To build this structure, one needs… bricks. Harry van Royen Coordinator Heritage Rupel

floor clinckemalie

inhabiting the scattered

INHABITING THE SCATTERED The cuesta of the Rupelregion New challenges for its cultural heritage

Floor Clinckemalie 21

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 PROBLEM STATEMENT 2 RESEARCH QUESTION 3 FIRST EXPLORATION everything is very linear when you walk cultural landscape, scars and ambiguous situations a walk along the water 4 UNDERSTANDING THE CUESTA context a cuesta full of clay nine mental maps 5 HERITAGE AND LANDSCAPES contemporary infrastructure and its history heritage tells a story heritage counts the landscape is talking to us 6 A FOCUS ON THE RUPELBANK TODAY its scenery its users housing patterns traditional recent 7 IDENTIFYING ONE CLUSTER how cluster and landscape meet usage and users a closer look 8 A STRATEGY FOR THE CLUSTER strategy masterplan regenerating one square 9 A STRATEGY FOR THE VACANT a cluster for organising the scattered land strategy masterplan 10 BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. PROBLEM STATEMENT Until fourty years ago the Rupel region was characterized by a recognisible typology of urban planning, which was a mixture between stonefactories and residential facilities - living and working. At that time, it made sense to perceive the region as one, because of its similar industry and way of living. While today more than 95 percent of the former brick manufacturing and its associated activities have dissapeared, the unity of the Rupel as a single region has fractured. What once bound the five villages has dissapeared, what is left is a fragmentated landscape and a struggle for identity. In barely 50 years, the water’s use has diversified from a mainly industrial use to new industry, green, leisure, ruines, dwellings and musea. However, new types of (amongst others residential and industrial) typologies have been implemented in a brutal way, without respect for the surroundings and its scale. This field of tension between new (r)urban development and the preservation of the region’s historical character and heritage is the subject of this research project. In Noeveren, as protected villagescape, conservation regulations obstruct renovations and new developments. This results in ‘freezing’, which obviously is a manifastation of the current ambiguity when approaching modernization in heritage-rich sites.

2. RESEARCH QUESTION The final report of the Kaderplan ‘kleinstedelijk gebied en ontginningsgebied Boom-Rumst’ 1 states that housing in Noeveren, Boom and Hoek is relatively cheap, but does not meet the contemporary qualitative requirements. The price of the premises, the unilateral offer, the quality of the homes and the living area and the image largely determine the attraction of the villages. That is why there are two challenges: the improvement of the existing housing in poor condition and adding increased diversity to the current offer. The following analysis verifies whether these two challenges can be answered within an existing cluster typology. On the one hand it will be verified whether the cluster typology still exists and if changes can occur in the web. And on the other hand further investigation will be conducted on where and how (and if) the cluster can be implemented as a building typology in new places.

There are two investigation perspectives: one starting from the existing cluster itself and another using the landscape’s possibilities as starting point. This results in a the following research questions: 1/ Is it possible to develop new housing options in the existing structure of the cluster with the goal to reinforce the cluster and cultural landscape? 2/ Can it be used as living model on vacant spots to organize and open the land? In order to ensure the feasibility of responding to these questions within the limited timeframe of this thesis, one cluster is identified and further explored on possible ways of intervening.

OMGEVING. (2014). Kaderplan ‘kleinstedelijk gebied en ontginningsgebied Boom-Rumst’. Omgeving (2014). Antwerpen: Provincie Antwerpen, Dienst ruimtelijke ordening. p46.

‘‘Walkers have nothing else to do in terms of locomotion so they can concentrate on looking. Mobility is maximized: a person can walk around a park or on public stairs, even look into someone’s backyard. Walking allows the observer to be in the environment with no barriers between the eyes and what is seen. The sensual experience – noises, smells, even the feel of things – is a real part of walking. There is more than you can take in: sights, sounds, smells, wondering what it might be like to live there, what it used to be like, and much more. It is an exciting, heady business” A. B. Jacobs - looking at cities

3. FIRST EXPLORATION Getting immersed in the region through personal experiences of walking and sketching.

everything is very linear when you walk The first step in the process of making my master dissertation was discovering the site. The protocol for walking2 introduced by our teacher Gisèle Gantois implies the act of walking as a method for investigating. No predefined trajectory was permitted - a clear restriction enabling the ad hoc exploration of impressions and retaining the focus on the presence. On foot and with a little jotbook in hand I recorded thoughts and drew paths and sceneries. With the water of the Rupel river as natural orientation landmark, I wandered around an unknown region. I usually chose the church as starting point of the exploration of the villages. If none was present, a clear landmark such as the train station was picked. In the notebooks I drew what caught my attention along the road. They form my personal landmarks, not necessarily visible at first sight to the common observer.

Often combinations and situations containing a certain degree of ambiguity caught my attention. Sometimes these landmarks were specific for the region, other times they were embedded in the broader Flemish culture. Due to the vastness of the region, I explored it by bike and car as well. In the first chapter Starting to look 3 Jacobs emphasizes the value of mere observation. Keeping your eyes open for the ‘story’ of a neighbourhood is the most straightforward approach when one explores the site of intervention. He argues that elements such as the history of an area, when it was built, the mandator of the construction and for whom it was built, the current users of the site, whether the area is vulnerable to rapid changes,… can be obtained by attentive looking around and offer valuable information to the observer. This approach has been applied in the exploratory phase of this research project.

1 drawing from my jot book which illustrates the linearity of one walk. 2 Gisèle Gantois (2014). Protocol for walking. KU Leuven:

Department of Architecture. 3 Allan B. Jacobs (1985). Looking at cities. Cambridge: Harvard University press.

The route from London to Beauvais, part of an illustrated itinerary from London to the Holy Land, formerly bound at the beginning of Matthew Paris, Historia Anglorum and Chronica maiora. St Albans, c.1250, Royal 14 C. vii, f. 2 - See more at: http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/illuminated-manuscripts/page/52/#sthash.4tF8125N.

Mapping the route from London to Beauvais by Patthew Paris (13th century) which marks the hotpoints without considering the fragile network of daily life, brought under my attention by GisĂ¨le Gantois. 2 drawing from my jot book which illustrates the linear route of one walk. 33

cultural landscape, scars and ambiguous sceneries

After having made several walks and jotbooks, I tried to categorize three topics which have captivated my attention.

The cultural and excavated landscape was my only clear image of the region. From the day that clay in the cuesta was discovered, the landscape started to change slowly in the shape of a waffle. The cavities are omnipresent and part of the landscape and heritage of the Rupel region. Residential buildings are constructed along the edge of a pit, football fields are positioned in the recess while its slopes are used for spectators or natural areas took advantage of the diverse biotopes that the excavated landscape offers. Sometimes the cavities are intertwined with the built environment or are even refilled which makes them rather subtle for the specatator. Rather than appearing spontaneously they had to be searched for. This contrasts the spread out natural areas that can be found in certain parts in the region. They are not always easy to access and act as endless islands of wilderness.

When observing, traces in the built environment stand out. While someone else might not pay attention to leftovers of demolished roofs, faded advertisements and blind windows, they make me pause and look for a while. Rather than being objective testimonials, the photographs show little treasures found during the discovery of the site. They are well integrated in the contemporary life, but also emphasizing the temporary nature we live in.

traces 1 /noun 1. any blemish remaining as a trace of or resulting from injury of use 2. a mark left by a healed wound, sore or burn 3. botany; a mark indicating a former part of attachement, as where has fallen from a stem 1

www.thefreedictionary.com

Many contradictory situations or ambiguous sceneries pass by on my path. In a way, two things that at first appear to have nothing to do with each other would not have been visible in such a way if not placed next to each other. In Terhaegen a small conserved site with

drying sheds can be found next to a brand new and extravert fire station. It seems that one of them does not belong here - the buildings are left without context, but in fact the contradictions reveal the variety of functions and actors that are present on site.

contradictions 1 /noun 1. the act of going against; opposition; denial 2. a declaration of the opposite or contrary 1

www.thefreedictionary.com

a walk along the water Noeveren is a protected villagescape. Its waterbank is not yet commercialised, but rather raw. It is one of the rare places where you can not continue the journey directly along the water on the dike. One specific road along the Rupel in Noeveren is being examined more closely through a linear walk 1, in the same way the walks for the jot books were made.

Through 13 sketches I captured the spacious experience of my walk, which was an alternation of open and enclosed spaces. There is a certain gradient of intimacy that makes me feel entering ‘a something’ and leaving again ‘a something’.

altitude map of the Rupelian landscape, www.geopunt.be (2015).

1 the Rupelian landscape in section from south to north in the 13th century. 2 48

the Rupelian landscape in section from south to north in the 20th century.

4. UNDERSTANDING THE CUESTA cuesta noun 1. (Physical Geography) a long low ridge with a steep scarp slope and a gentle back slope, formed by the differential erosion of strata of differing hardness [Spanish: shoulder, from Latin costa side, rib] 3

context Geographically, the Rupel region has a central position in the square of Antwerp, Brussels, Mechelen and Sint-Niklaas. The region is defined by five villages - Hemiksen, Schelle, Niel, Boom, Rumst - which have developed along the northbank of the Rupel because of its strategic position along the river. Up till today, the river is the visual connector between the different villages. The region is well connected by the major roads A12 and A19. One of them, the incomplete A12 highway leads through the city of Boom, dividing the region into two parts. The A12 is an urban axle that attracts many visitors through the shopping and recreational facilities and acts as a boundary within the region as well.

a cuesta full of clay The cuesta of the Rupel contains a geologic layer of clay that is ideal for the production of bricks. The combination of having easy accessible clay for extraction, the presence of the Rupel for transport and its proximity to larger cities (Antwerp, Brussels and Mechelen) made it possible for the region to become a protagonist in brick manufacturing. The existence of clay has defined the region in both spatious and socio-economic terms.

The excavation activity was introduced in the 13th century in Hemiksen by the Cistercian Order. During the next centuries the activity expanded among other settlements along the Rupel. Starting to excavate at the Rupelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s riverbank, it had been a historic trend to exploit the ground from South - the North riverbank - to North, a process that still continues 1. Concerning the evolution of the production process of bricks, four periods can be distinguished: the manual period ( .. -1930), the pre-industrial period (1890 -1930), the semi-automatic period (1923 -1965) and the full-automatic period (1965 -now). The Rupel region has been a protagonist on both national and international scale until the 1960s. Due to the traditional family structured enterprises and fierce market competition, producers were not able to afford the necessary financial investments needed for making the shift to the full-automatic period. Therefore the industry declined. Nowadays only one brick manufactory remains active, Wienerberger in Rumst.

www.thefreedictionary.com (2015).

The cistercians arrive in Hemiksen in 1243. An abbey is built out of clay from the Rupelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cuesta the cisterzieners arrive in Hemiksen in 1243 An abbey is built out of clay from the Rupel cuesta

Agriculture landscape on the cuesta agriculture landscape on the Rupel cuesta

Besides agriculture, stone making became a secondary activity of the farmer Besides agriculture, stone making became a secondary activity of the farmer

Workmen dwellings were placed on less fertile land. They are built along the road or around a square workmen dwelling - infill of the non profitable land built along the road or around a square

Or they were balancing on the excavated pit workmen dwelling - infill of the non profitable land balancing on the excavated pit

Masterhouse in proximity of the Rupelbank. They overview the shipyards, and workers masterhouse - intichelgelegen proximity of the Rupelbank overview on the shipyards, tichelgelegen and workmen

Veldoven - introduced by the cistercians

veldoven - introduced in the 17th century - wood or turf is an improved version of the traditional veldoven

The paapoven is an improved version of the traditional veldoven - introduced in the 17th century - fuelled with wood or paapoven - introduced in the 17th century - wood or turf turf is an improved version of the traditional veldoven Klampoven - introduced in the 19th century These ovens- 19th are fuelled coalswere thatimported were imported through klampoven century with - the coles through canal Brussels Charleroi the canalthe Brussels-Charleroi Ringoven - introduced in the beginning of the 20th century the first continuous process ringoven - introduced in the beginning of the 20th century - coles continuous process of baking

Drying sheds, more than 400km length at its peak activity drying sheds more than 400 km length at its peaking activity 50

nine mental maps The following nine theoretical and mental maps are made after a few weeks of research. By drawing these maps by imagination, an inevitable abstraction occurs. They tell the conceptual narrative of the Rupel regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth through time. The conceptual maps do not focus on one particular area, but are generalizing the evolutionary character of the region as a whole. The regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relation to its (industrial) history is examined and can be divided into three categories: the built relics (different types of ovens, chimneys, masterhouses, workers housing, sheds, drying sheds, storages), the landscape relics (claypits, panoramas, roads) and the remaining infrastructure (tunnels, sloepkes, bridges, ditches, drainage systems, railways, street patterns). Through these maps different relics and their impact on the site are detected.

reflection on the built relict typology.

medieval times

Farmers settled along the riverbanks to cultivate the land for agricultural use.

13th to 15th century

Already in 1244 the cistercians were attracted to the fertile lands and the proximity of the Schelde. They bought a vast terrain in Hemiksen, close to the mouth of the Vliet, where Schelde and Rupel merged. They mined the Rupel clay to make fired bricks - 30x15x7 cm - and tiles for their monastery. Fuel for the baking process was found in the nearby forests. In a way, the cistercians can be seen as the founders for the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic expansion. After the cistercians introduced the brickmanufactering, producing stones also became a (secondary) activity for the settled farmers. By paying tribute, farmers were allowed to exploit the terrain along the Rupel, where *Tichelgelegen were set up. The first stone factory was founded in Noeveren around 1350.

16th century

The fire of Antwerp in the 16th century caused stricter regulation for buildings in the city. A new decree obliged to build in stone, instead of the conventional clay and wood construction. Mechelen was also growing and the demand for bricks increased.

1778

We notice a shift from the stonemanufactering as secondary activity to a primary activity. Farmers along the Rupel became stonefarmers. Agricultural farmers were pushed inlands, behind the border of excavation. The ground was exploited from South to North, a process that still continues up till today. In the 17th century the paapoven was introduced, which was an improved verion of the traditional and temporary veldoven. This map is based on the Ferrarismap 1, where the following is identifiable: 1/ the contemporary roads The Kapelstraat - Nieuwstraat - Boomsestraat is an old road that runs parallel to the Rupel, which is situated circa 400 meters from the riverbank. This road was a very important road to connect the different villages along the water. 2/ the beginning of ribbon development along the roads 3/ tichelgelegen along the rupelbank - industry close to the water 4/ coexistence of arable land, as well for the agriculture and clay exploitation.

Ferrarismap (1778). 59

1806

The right bank of the Rupel was fully occupied with tichelgelegen. One clearly distinguishes the very unique interference between working and living. The intertwining of different functions exists because of a rather shortsighted and arbitrary use of the available land. Once a part of the land had no value for the industry (excavating, stables) anymore, the stonefarmer decided to construct housing for its workers. Workers become totally dependent on the stonesbossâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; services.

Gigault, Vanypen, Atlas du plan de la commune de Niel (1806). 61

1850

Because of the industrial revolution and the new canal Brussels-Charleroi (1832) an ernormous boost was given to the region. The demand grew, coals were supplied by ships and ovens with higher efficiency were introduced. By the end of the century the complete right bank of the Rupel had been taken over for settlements and factory structures. More than 150 tichelegen were active in 1850 along the five villages. There was no place left for expansion in the first 400 meter zone, between the river and the existing street parallel with the Rupel (Boomseweg - Kapelstraat - Nielsestraat). The excavating continued behind the Boomsestraat, which kept its original height of the cuesta. Small tunnels1 were made under the parallel street to connect the new excavating terrain with the riverbank. While the excavating activity was looking for new terrain, other activities (brickmaking, baking, exporting, importing coles and turf) stayed close to the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge. The workers lived on the terrain of the factory, labour was a part of their living habit. The centers of housing have grown very organically and rather spontaneously. As long as they fitted in the concept of the bosses, all was fine. Housing accomodation was verifiable both economically as well as socially. Most of the time they were built in serie, in little groups along the edge of a pit of stone factory, around a square or along a street or alley. On the riverbank the stables, masterhouses, shipyards and ovens could be found. There is a strong intertwining between housing, working and living.

a small tunnel to connect the new excavating terrain with the riverbank. 63

20th century

The ringoven was introduced in the beginning of the 20th century and dominated the riverbank. It was the first oven that had a continuous process, which resulted in an extremely high stone production. We can notice the coexistence of different types of ovens along the Rupel since not everyone could afford the investment. The first dragline was used during the excavation process. After the first world war there was a new peak and expansion because of the urgent need for reconstruction. The need for investments and mechanisation imposed itself, which resulted in joining forces and the combination of a mixed manual and industrial production.

ens were super labour-intensive and its maintenance and work cost a large amount of money. The Rupel region was not able to compete with new techniques. Therefore industry declined. Transport of the stones was traditionally done over water. Within the last period, we notice a shift to transport over land, which results in a loss of the importance of the water. From 1970 the Rupel was going through rough times: decline, ongoing demolitions because of a tabula rasa politics, dilapidation, soil misuse , ..

After the second world war there was a renewed demand to rebuild the towns. The Rupel had its highest production figures ever. They were the largest brickmanufactury in the world. Once the Belgian market was saturated, there was even export to Canada and the USA. This peak simultaneously announced the end of traditional stone manufactury. Due to the traditional family structured enterprises and fierce market competition, producers were not able to afford the necessary financial investments needed for making the shift from the ringoven to a full-automatic period. The ringov-

2015

Most of the brickactivity dissapeared. Only Wienerberger is still excavating clay and producing bricks in Rumst. They have reserved land up North and Northeast for the next 100 years. Other industries (concrete company, ship repairs, several smaller and medium-sized companies..) settled along the water. Many of the built relics were demolished due to the tabula rasa politics at the end of the 20th century. Apart from these cultural historical relics such as different types of ovens and sheds, we must not underestimate the impact the industrial history left, both on the landscape and on the infrastucture. Although the old image of a brickyard region slowly dissapears, one can still detect many of its tracks, both intangible and tangible, within the current infrastructure.

1 2 68

past infrastructure - an areal view of the region in 1970. EMABB museum (2015) . contemporary infrastructure - an areal view of the region today. Google maps (2015)

5. LANDSCAPE AND HERITAGE contemporary infrastructure and its history Although many of the relics related to the brickindustry’s past have dissapeared, the distinct cultural landscape remained. This imposes a close relationship between the landscape and its history. The contemporary infrastructure2 is a result of the past1. Along the Rupel we detect a mixture of living, working and nature. We distinguish clustered worker settlements, industry, recreation horeca, relics, natural areas and new residential areas. The Kapelstraat, Boomsestraat and Nielsestraat - allready visible on the Ferrarismap - are old roads parallel with the Rupel river. This road is very important for connecting the different villages. The current housing situation is a result of the past. The dense fabric in Boom contrasts with the smaller settlements (Noeveren, Bosstraat, Terhagen, Rumst, ..) There are a lot of small worker dwellings in bad condition. The price and quality determine the attraction of the Rupelvillages. Everything has developed more or less the same, starting at the Rupel and shifting further inland. The region had a specific typology of building and using land along the water. What is left in 2015 are fragmented sites.

The excavation activity ensured a rather minimal ribbon development. On a map dating from the 1970’s we recognise a uniform urban fabric. What we see today is a scattered land-

scape.

Boundaries determine the landscape. The A12 is dividing the Rupel in a West and East bank and cuts straight through the meshwork of the city of Boom. It is seen as a very fast connector between the region and Brussels or Antwerp. The Rupel river itself further divides the people of the North and South. They do not often get in contact with each other. A unique cultural landscape has grown through time in the former clay pits. The natural reserves in the pits are often difficult to access or even unaccessible. During the 1970’s and 1980’s many of the pits were used as dumping sites. Soil misuse and necessary sanitation leave their mark on the future development. Today the vision for the region is very ambiguous. Almost all of the industrial heritage dissapeared or is dissapearing while the Rupel region of 100 years ago wants to stay alive. They are searching an identity. Some of them among whom the EMABB museum owners and the institution Monumenten en Landschappen are desperately clinging to the past. 69

heritage tells a story Heritage is a very broad concept and is applied in different areas like built heritage, archives, archeology, cultural landscapes and intangible heritage. The PA.TER.MONDI consortium investigated new challenges for cultural heritage and state the following about this notion: “Cultural heritage explores the limits between the ‘natural’ and the ‘cultural’ as well as the close relationship between heritage and landscape, a notion which, semantically, is becoming increasingly intertwined with the notion of heritage” 1. This quote on cultural heritage illustrates the shift of heritage from object oriented to relationships. If we are able to think of heritage in terms of a mixture of landscape, objects and history instead of a narrow fixed artefact, we do not longer have to choose between culture and nature, tangible and intangible. It’s the combination of both contributing to cultural heritage. The industrial heritage of the Rupel region are unintentional monuments2, which implies they were not erected with the purpose of commemorating any specific occasion or person. Nevertheless, their significance is embedded in both its irreplaceable value and representation of the development of human activity.

Although most of the built relics have dissapeared (because of their temporary character), the cultural landscape today is still present and prominent. The landscape is the carrier of the Rupel region, both tangible and intangible relics are part of it. And this is the same landscape where individuals of the region live, eat and work. Heritage relics are connected with each other through spatial, functional and social relations. One example connection3 was created between the riverbank on one end, with its factories and living clusters, and the clay pits on the other end. These connections were the tunnels below the road parallel to the Rupel. Over time, the functional and social relations between these two places were broken, but the physical connection - the tunnel4 - lasted. This means that a broad meshwork of connections evolves over time as relations change. Several tunnels survived, but as they lost their function their value also dissapeared. Some are used as private storage, others are no longer accessible.

PA.TER.MONDI. (2014). New challenges for cultural heritage. Paris: ANR. p2., brought to my attention by Gisèle Gantois. 2 Alois Riegl. (1903). The modern cult of monuments: its character and origin., brought to my attention by Gisèle Gantois.

heritage counts The Burra charter1 explains that cultural significance enriches peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives and strengthen the connection towards the community and landscape. They reflect on our past and tell us who we are. Heritage plays an important social role in the identity and involvment of the habitants, which results in social sustainable environments. A study of the impact of visiting heritage on wellbeing has been made in assignment of Heritage Counts2. The research measured the impact on life satisfaction of visiting eight different types of heritage during one year. Their study concludes that there is a positive impact. In addition, the study showed that this positive impact is slightly higher than the impact of participating in sports and art.

the talking landscape The environment harbours a collection of remainders, silent witnesses from a near or distant past. They provide insight into the origin of an area. Different time layers allow the reconstruction of history, indicate the evolution over time and mark major events. They can be obvious and tangible or hidden and intangible. All in all, the landscape is a patchwork of remainders and time layers. It is clear that heritage is often invisible, or even hidden underground. On areal views on Google maps we can distinguish former traces in the land3, a shape of a former ringoven4 and the growth of trees following the linearity of the former drying sheds5.

ICOMOS. (2013). The burra charter. Places of Cultural Significance., brought to my attention by GisĂ¨le Gantois. 2 http://hc.historicengland.org.uk., brought to my attention by GisĂ¨le Gantois. 3, 4, 5 http://googlemaps.be (2015). Heritage invisible from the ground, but visible from satelite.

These five images illustrate the process of excavation, traditionally from South to North. While the excavation shifted and changed place, the action of making, baking and transporting the product stayed at the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge. A secondary structure underneath the Nielsestraat was very busy.

6. A FOCUS ON THE RUPELBANK TODAY its scenery During the last centuries the water’s edge has been used for industrial activities. Within the region’s planning - or non planning - priority was always given to brick manufacturing, for which the Rupel was an opportune transportation route. Within this research I focus on the edge of the Rupel river. The water’s edge1, being considered as the first 300 to 400 meters inlands, demarcated by the Boomstraat and Kapelstraat, historically being the most claimed land of the region, has always has been under high pressure. Today this pressure remains, only being excercised by different stakeholders. A solution could be found in the creation of new and redefinition of existing relationships between those actors, the built environment and the Rupel river. New synergies and common profits should be explored by connecting projects and programs. This results in a proposal of strategy for housing in a strongly heritage embedded site, which will be developed in the following chapters.

Niel citycentre

Hellegat

Noeveren

brick village

Walenhoek

landscape relic developed out of former claypits

Boomstestraat

follows the original cuesta

industrial zone Krekelenberg

industry

nv de Coeck

Blankenberge pt2 suburban living two relics residential cluster residential cluster built relics shipyard noeveren 56

terrain for small and medium enterprises

belgica

railway residential green, claypits, heritage, bycicle paths industry

A12

its users This map explores the pattern of the water’s edges usage from Niel to Boom. Nowadays many different types of users can be distinguished. Small and medium enterprises, industry, housing (both former workmen’s dwellings as new housing projects), recreation activities, green, industrial heritage relics and horeca can be found next to each other, making use of the water. Given the scarcity of land next to the water’s edge and the water’s value for the wide variety of stakeholders, this inevitably results in conficts of interests.

Boom

Hoek

dense city centre

brick village

Kapelstraat

follows the original cuesta

De schorre

provencial centre with recreation facilities

residential cluster

bosstraat

overgrown pits

residential cluster shipyard

business park hoek 76 residential cluster

nautic museum

start of Rumst

industry with decaying buildings

In contrast with the centers and suburbs of megacities like London or Paris, we notice a spread out and scattered landscape of small networks of smaller concentrations in Flanders. The patchwork of complementary small cores has been there since the Middle Ages.

The ambition of the territory 1 forms an answer against the growing conflicts between economical interests, demographic evolution and ecological challenges for Flanders. The ambition is a strategy to deal with the existing landscape without consuming more space. It does not believe in the policy of separating spaces and functions, but explores the synergies and shared profits that come alive by connecting programs in a certain metabolism. This fundamental idea of the ambition is valuable for the future development of the Rupel region, as it is particularly applicable on scattered areas.

1 The Ambition of the Territory, Vlaanderen als ontwerp AWJGGRAUaDVVTAT. Brussel: Vlaams Bouwmeester.

Hellegat brick village

Noeveren brick village

housing patterns Three brick villages of the past - Noeveren, Hellegat and Hoek - and their housing patterns are examined.

Hoek

brick village

On these maps traditional housing patterns1 built before 1970 - are compared with new developments2 - built during the last 15 years. The centre of Boom is not included in the investigation, since the focus is set in the three brick villages; Noeveren, Hellegat and Hoek.

The three brick villages situated along the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge 82

BRICK INDUSTRY

ONE BRICKYARD

ANOTHER BRICKYARD

ONE

BRICK INDUSTRY

ANOTHER BRICKYARD

300 to 400 mm

BRICK BRICKYARD

400 m 400 m 400 m

INDUSTRY INDUSTRY RESIDENTIAL INDUSTRY

LANDSCAPE

CULT.

HERITAGE/ NAUTRE

CULT.

LANDSCAPE

RESIDENTAIL

CULT.

LANDSCAPE

INDUSTRY

BRICK INDUSTRY BRICK NATURE

The brick manufacturing pattern1 compared with contemporary pattern2. After the declination of the brickyards each intermediate zone received a (new) function. This results in a recognizable dashed pattern perpendicular to the river.

development perpendicular to the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge in Noeveren

development perpendicular to the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge in Hellegat

tunnel under the Kapelstraat in Hellegat, giving access to the Walenhoek reserve

traditional housing patterns In the brick villages of the past - Hellegat (Niel), Noeveren (Boom) en Hoek (Boom) - a tabula rasa politics has occured and caused a lot of demolition. Still, it is remarkable how the housing were and are interwoven with the landscape, industry, heritage and nature.

Traditional dwellings are dealing with the differences in height, a typology1 that often can be found between streets and former claypits. The lower garden had a direct acces to the claypits and the stone factore. Small paths, called sloepkes, can be found between the houses. They make the connection between the higher street and the lower land.

clusters close to the waterside 88

Different clusters can be found in close proximity to the water. They are positioned along the dike. Due to the early and minimal excavation at this location there is no difference in height between the front and the back of the housing and the street. The clusters are remnants of the past where different actors worked together on a small area. During industrial times they were surrounded by industry. Today they establish a relationship with the cultural landscape. They are compact and human scaled settlements along the water.

Hellegat

Noeveren

Boom

recent housing patterns Residential developments are a rather recent phenomenon in the Rupelregion. There was a long struggle after the decline of the industry in the region. Many of the former built relics have been demolished in Hellegat. The open space that occured out of the dissapearing industry has been used to raise up villas. Today Hellegat has a residential focus, containing rowhousing, villas and appartments. The waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge is claimed by large appartment buildings, not respecting the genius loci of the village.

Hoek is located on the other side of Boom. Similar develoments to Hellegat occurred.

Noeveren

is a protected villagescape. The village has a certain amount of relics and protected monuments which can be visited (eco-museum). Conservation regulations obstruct renovations and new developments, which results in a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;frozenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; village. Its waterside is rather rough and has not (yet) faced new development projects. Hoek

Hellegat

Hoek

Allotments are a frequently used method

to convert potential plots to building plots. Allotments have large impact on their surrounding. The arrival of the allotment along the river is - in comparison with other parts of the country - a rather recent development. In general there was an enormous boost of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;de vlaamse verkavelingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; after the second world war, but at this time, the rupelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge was still reserved for brick industry. After bankruptcy of many companies, the region was affected by decay, poverty, social problems and pollution. Only within the last 15 years the region welcomed new developments and started to become slowly reassessed.

In Hellegat, not so far from the waterside

Hellegat

Noeveren 94

The last five years a trend of new developments along the water can be found in Hellegat: living along the waterside is becoming more popular which leads to medium high rise building projects. A new dike of appartments is born. This contrasts deeply with the small scaled workmen houses. By the positioning of the 7 story appartments between the historical housing and the river, a new appropriation is given to the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge.

Hellegat seen from the waterside

Noeveren seen from the waterside 95

7. IDENTIFYING ONE CLUSTER One cluster along the water is identified and further explored by using a model in order to define its distinctive atmosphere and spirit.

how cluster and landscape meet The inseperable relation between landscape and cluster defines the cluster. The clusters are embedded in the landscape. Without landscape there is no cluster and vice versa. Thus the cluster should work on two levels: on the one hand the cluster is located between two elevated banks, which is the typologic or built model of the cluster. On the other hand a landscape model where the cluster ties on a relation between the water, dike, land, cluster, land, street on the original cuesta kam level and deeper clay pits.

water

100

bank

cluster and landscape

bank

landscape

101

users and usage

102

The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Blauwe panâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; alley contains ten former workmen dwellings on a row. Each house has an extra unit (garden house or garage) on the other side of the alley.

Five houses are built along the Kapelstraat (street still on the original height of the cuestakam). Older ones have small gardens, newer ones have large gardens.

Seven houses close to the water. They have all private gardens. Alleys along a few houses bring you to the garden.

A desolated ruin.

A ship recovery and stationary company is positioned between the residential knots. Some sheds are desolated.

Three houses with small gardens. A 400mÂ˛ terrain is for sale (150 000 euro).

Five houses along the water. Their gardens face the waterfront. The waterfront is rather rough, since there was a shipyard before.

Five houses with gardens. The back of the gardens meet each other. A small path can be taken to reach to some gardens. 103

Characteristics in depth

104

a system of dead-end streets and a gradient of infiltrating in the cluster from the dike road through small alleys

105

a closer look the built

the private

total 12419 m2

3130 / 3856 m2 = 69 %

3130 / 3856 m2 = 25,5 / 31 %

total 3040 m2 870 m2 = 28 %

106

x m2 = 56 %

the collective

the unbuilt

3140 m2 = 25,2 %

8554 m2 = 69 %

1345 m2 = 44 %

2170 m2 = 71,4 %

107

108

8. A STRATEGY FOR THE CLUSTER

strategy We start from the relation between the landscape and cluster. The fine-drawn network of the cluster is reinforced and new interventions search for new connections with the cultural landscape. The new interventions redefine outdoor spaces that lost (or will lose) their meaning over time or strengthen the scenery of the cluster. Human scale, passage and meeting are three keywords. An obvious and logical step towards a future for the frozen cluster is - without substituting to the living quality of its inhabitants - densification. The densified cluster offers an answer on the growing demand for living along the water. Different variations of housing typologies prevent the area from becoming silted up.

109

places to intervene When considering growth of the cluster, possibilities for expansion can be found within the cluster itself. A few abandoned structures and unoccupied sites are not yet used to their full potential. They can be reconverted complementary to the existing infrastructure, thus strengthening the cluster in its social and construction typological identity.

1 2 3 4 110

a vacant space on the corner (former shipyard) a deteriorated building (former industry) with adjacent oversized entranceway a sequence of several abandoned sheds boat repair and storage with unaccesible road

redefining the corner reshaping a square preserving alleys increasing accessibility

4 111

masterplan The clusterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s density will be enhanced through the addition of new workplaces and increased diversity of the current housing offer. Several strategically chosen interventions, each one embracing the identified characteristics of the cluster, will sustain its future growth.

An already existing open space becomes through the (re)definition a of its edges.

square

112

sequence of squares and alleys is continued throughout the A

cluster in order to respect the fine meshwork

The corner of th ed. Space is reserve ces, hence completin spots along the east ter.

he cluster is redefined for new workplang the exisiting work tern edge of the clus-

Densification in the cluster demands for new accesses. The cluster will be opened up.

The cluster is reinforced in order to emphasize the existing scenery along the Rupelbank.

113

114

115

regenerating one square

New houses, duplex appartments and studio. All have a private terrace with view on the waterside and access to collective garden.

The square is enclosed. New housing is situated on the one side and commercial space and duplex appartments on the other side. Old and new streets connect to the square.

116

A new square is created, providing access to new and existing houses. A new access to the outside is made.

Private gardens connect with a collective garden.

117

scale model of the interventions

118

pattern of the sequence of squares and alleys in the cluster

119

b’

b a’

level 0 1/ 250 120

+2 121

section b-bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 1/250 3 rowhouses (135-145 m2) with private terrace and collective garden

122

section a-aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 1/250 one studio (80m2) on the ground floor and 3 duplex appartements (115, 120 and 130m2). All have a private terrace towards the Rupel.

123

detail row housing 1/ 50 124

roof tiles Vauban 366x202mm counter and tile battens vapor permeable foil rafters purlins 70x180mm thermal insulation 2x90mm vapor barrier multiplex

masonry Wienerberger Colorada, 188x88x48mm cavity, 30mm Vapor barrier Insulation Eurowall Recticel, 100mm waterproof layer Bearing walls Porotherm, 140mm Plaster, 10mm

polished concrete, 20mm screed and floor heating, 90mm waterproof layer thermal insulation, 100mm waterproof layer concrete floor, 150mm stabilised sand, 450mm gravel cores (grindkern) foundation 125

126

north elevation in the cluster - a view to the dike

127

Hoek

128

9. A STRATEGY FOR THE VACANT The cluster typology as a case study for the develoment of fragemented landscapes.

A place in transition. A place where an existing factory is highlighted as a residential area in the (near?) future1. Up to today the area is still occupied by a company. Half of the buildings are suffering from deterioration. A place between the water and the claypits. A place where the landscape and the built will come together soon. It is a place where the continuity from the water to the claypits can be recovered.

1 OMGEVING. (2014). Kaderplan â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;kleinstedelijk gebied en ontginningsgebied Boom-Rumstâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Omgeving (2014). Antwerpen: Provincie Antwerpen, Dienst ruimtelijke ordening. p145. 129

a cluster for organizing the land A density study of different housing typologies is made. A cluster from 1900 is compared with a recent allotment. A difference in density between workmen houses of the 19th century and houses of the 21st century is predictable. The sociocultural settings changed, standards of living have raised. When we explore two different allotments in Hoek, one built in 2002 and the other in 2009, we can find an obvious difference in the amount of square meter per villa, which exposes the growing awareness of the limited land along the Rupel. The demanded density today for the rurban area in Hoek is 25 living units per hectare.

t in uil b t en ha otmnits/ l l a u 10

in ilt bu t en ha otm s/ all unit 15

t in uil a b r ste s/h clu unit 21

130

The site is covered in green along the water and has the ambition to reconnect the excavation pits with the water. There will be a piercing of the water to the more inlands located clay pits â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which are not yet developed but will be in the future. A clear delimited territory will be organized as living area, the other as a green buffer. Assuming an infill of allotments in the two hectare is a plausable scenario, the question rises how more diversity can be offered than the allotment fill-in of the Blankenberge apartment blocks that occurred in the last 15 years along the water. Clustering dwellings saves land. New synergies between the residential and landscape are explored in order to revalorise the area. The cluster will guide the users (the inhabitants or visitor) throughout the landscape. The configuration in depth which is very present in the Rupel landscape will be a tool for design.

The cluster typology is explored and converted and one will look which intrinsic qualities of the cluster can be reused and reinterpreted. Living units are compact and gathered together around common garden(s). A garden is shared. Cars are kept out. The collective garden is not completely enclosed and is organized in such a way that the entering happens through small alleys, through which a more private barrier is created. The public private gradient and space for meetings is the key of the cluster. How one enters a house, how one meets his neighbor in the passage, and how one connects to the community. Through smart organization, differences in height, corners and intermediate zones, a fine balance between collectiveness and private sphere is created.

131

existing situation site

132

expected tendency

proposal of clusters

strategy We start from the landscape: new clusters offer an answer to the bank-landscape-bank-water organisation. The cluster announces the start of a fine-drawn network, and access points to the currently invisible and damaged meshwork leading from the riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge to the former distant clay pits. The deteriorated meshwork will be reactivated. Hence the relationship between the riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge, including the cluster, and the hinterland will be restored. New clusters owe their implantation to the already present infrastructure. Dead-end streets, built to continue future lotting along the Rupel, will instead lead into a newly built cluster.

133

Contemporary planning of the site

134

masterplan

Sketch of possible future implementation of the redeveloped cluster typology

135

136

137

10. BIBLIOGRAFIE ARTICLES Gantois, G. (2014). Assignment master dissertation ‘The cuesta of the Rupel Region. New Challenges for its Cultural Heritage. KU Leuven: Department of Architecture. Gantois, G. (2014). Protocol for walking. Research week. KU Leuven: Department of Architecture. OMGEVING. (2014). Kaderplan ‘kleinstedelijk gebied en ontginningsgebied BoomRumst’. Omgeving (2014). Antwerpen: Provincie Antwerpen, Dienst ruimtelijke ordening. Gravari-Barbas, M. (2014). New challenges for cultural heritage. Paris: PA.TER.MONDI. International Council On Monuments And Sites (ICOMOS). (2013). The Burra Charter. Places of Cultural Significance. Australia. Mampaey, K. (1999). Herbestemming van de steenbakkerijen en kleiputten: toekomst voor de rupelstreek?. De aardrijkskunde bibliotheek, 1-2, 95-106. Van Dyck, V. (2008). Inventaris van de bestaande relicten van de steenbakkerijnijverheid in de rupelstreek. Boom: Samenwerkingsverband Rupelstreek. BOOKS Swinnen, P., Devoldere, S., Hertveld, T., Declerck, J., Dudal, R., & De Bruyn, J. (2012). The Ambition of the Territory, Vlaanderen als ontwerp AWJGGRAUaDVVTAT. Brussel: Vlaams Bouwmeester. Declerck, J., Ryckewaert, M., & Devoldere, S. (2013). Pilootprojecten Wonen, Nieuwe vormen van collectiviteit. Brussel: Vlaamse bouwmeester. Van Herck, K., & De Meulder, B. (2009). Wonen in meervoud. Groepswoningbouw in Vlaanderen / 2000-2010. Amsterdam: Sun.

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Allan B. Jacobs (1985). Looking at cities. Cambridge: Harvard University press.

Jacobs, A., B. (1985). Looking at cities. Cambrigde: Harvard University press. Van de Mosselaer, W., & Van Eyck, S. (2012). Hellegat. Niel. De Niel, P. (2000). Gevormd, gedroogd en gebakken voor de eeuwigheid. Boom: Ecomuseum en archief van de boomse baksteen vzw. Van Dyck, V. & Van Den Broeck, R. (2003). Uit potjeir gevormd en in vuur gebakken.. Niel: OpenmonumentencomitĂŠ. URLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s - http://hc.historicengland.org.uk (consulted on 18th february 2015) - www.thefreedictionary.com/ (consulted on 18th february 2015) -https://www.onroerenderfgoed.be/nl/bescherming/beschermd-onroerend-erfgoed - http:// www.architectenweb.nl/aweb/archipedia/archipedia.asp?id=14400 (consulted on 18th march 2015) - www.geopunt.be (ferrariskaart en andere kaarten) (consulted on 4th april 2015) - http://www.gva.be/cnt/aid1526975/beschermd-dorspgezicht-noeveren-nekt-jong-koppel (krantenartikel) (consulted on 4th april 2015)

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140

stefanie gruyaert

141

local meshwork re-generated

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LOCAL MESHWORK RE-GENERATED

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TABLE OF CONTENT Abstract

147

Momentary impressions from the Rupel Region

150

Research-Design Question Historical stratification

149 155

A Sustainable and Qualitative Heritage Policy

161

Unprompted encounters

172

Hellegat and Noeveren Residential typologies Tangible meshwork: Local displacement

Masterplan Hellegat and Noeveren

162

Collective space: Leverage for society Design proposal Hellegat - Masterplan

Square 1: Church of Hellegat

Square 2: R-urban Waterside Square 3: Collective youth movenment Regenerating meshwork - Housing typology

Case studies Design position - reflection Bibliography

181 189 195 203 213

215 217 219 221 223 229 238

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146

ABSTRACT

The Rupel Region, a beautiful scenery which is overloaded with heritage as a result of the predominant brick industry. Numerous remnants are preserved from this labor intensive period, both tangible - intangible, cultural and natural heritage. The assembly of all these aspects is the local identity that tells the real story of the Rupel region. Its important to treasure the local identity rather than focus on one aspect of this multilayered concept. Preserving the remaining relics has hardly any significance without the local value and narrative behind it.

The region was an economically prosperous area with a strong social cohesion, despite the social inequality between working class and upper class at that time. This economical and social unity generated a certain pride among the locals concerning their region. In contemporary context this pride is hardly recognizable. Probably due to the increasing decay and the indifference towards the peculiar new developments. Luxurious apartments and detached houses ignore the existing environment and strengthen the social disintegration. Hellegat and Noeveren, two hamlets that have been largely determined by the brickyards, are today in need of upgrading and redevelopment. Among many other areas in the region they are in need of a vision that creates a future for its surroundings and inhabitants, but more importantly a force which comes from within and strengthens the local qualities.

In the case of Hellegat, efforts are made concerning new housing developments. The purpose is to attract young families from elsewhere to revive the area but in general these efforts neglect the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hiddenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; local identity and qualities which are still noticeable when you mingle in the underlying tissue. They need a new approach whereby the qualities of the region are emphasized, and used as a method to develop it, depending on the current needs.

147

148

RESEARCH QUESTION

The local informal meshwork that already exists, is currently undervalued, although it has a precious cultural significance1.

How can we rethink this fragile tissue as an impulse to reinforce the connections for the entire population, between both locals and newcomers?

1. Cultural significance as a historical and social value for past, present and future generations that is embod-

ied in the place itself, its fabric, use and meanings. ( The Burra Charter, 2013)

149

MOMENTARY

IMPRESSIONS OF THE RUPEL REGION

The Cuesta of the Rupel Region is one of the most valuable remaining clay Cuestas in Flanders, situated in the province of Antwerp along the river Rupel.

The Region is about 4500 hectares and consists of five municipalities, Hemiksem, Schelle, Niel, Boom and Rumst. The municipalities have the tidal river and their geomorphology, including the Cuesta, in common. The highway A12 cuts throught he region, which provides overall a good connection with Brussels and Antwerp but brings a duality within the area. Today’s landscape is largely formed by several generations of brick manufacturing industry and clay extraction. In addition to the traces in today’s landscape, there are relics scattered over the whole region. Generally, you experience the region as an elongated landscape with concentrated residential areas where decay and decline often take the upper hand. Despite this negative atmosphere, you often find remarkable, unexpected, beautiful spots hidden in the landscape.

150

Fig.1: View on the Rupel

ANTWERP HEMIKSEM

SCHELLE

NIEL BOOM

BRUSSELS

RUMST

HELLEGAT - NOEVEREN

Fig.2: Situating the Rupel region

151

152

Fig.3: Impressions of the Rupel region 153

Fig.4: The drying sheds and chimneys were a common view for the whole region. (20th century)

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HISTORICAL

STRATIFICATION

Clay is the natural resource that has determined the entire region both economically, socially and on the level of the landscape. Today we still experience the effects on different scales, although the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s days of glory are currently over.

ECONOMICALLY

The Romans started the economical exploitation of this natural wealth, but after the fall of the Roman empire, there was the establishment of the Cistercians in the St. Bernard Abbey in Hemiksem (1243). The monks were involved in the first periods of clay mining which developed on the Cuesta along the right bank of the Rupel. The brickyards emerged along the banks, because of the proximity of the clay to the surface. The process of clay stabbing, shaping and firing the brick was a side acitivity of the farmer during the less intensive periods. This made the impact on the landscape at that time fairly low. The brick-making was a local matter. Simultaneous with the clay industry, there was the development of the shipping industry. Companies settled logically along the Rupel and were responsible for the transportation of tiles and bricks, but also for the supply of fuel.

The great fire of Antwerp in 1546 offered great prospects. Everything was rebuilt in brick and the clay pits moved further inland, up to more then one kilometer distance from the Rupel shore. Clay digging was the main activity, even streets and houses were demolished to reach the clay underground, except for the Boomsestraat.1 This main street stayed and was undermined with tunnels to connect one end to the other. (See fig 5-6) The tunnel was an easy way to supply the clay and transport the shaped stones to the drying sheds. Sadly, most of these tunnels are appropriated or

1. VAN DEN BROECK, R. (2003) Niel en Hellegat: uit potheir gevormd en in vuur gebakken. (ch. 1.3.1) Niel: open monumentencomitĂŠ.

closed today except for a few of them. The rise of mechanised industry elsewhere, caused lower demands as a result of declining prices. Since 1911, former seasonal and labor intensive work disappeared and automated brick factories took their place. From then onwards ring ovens and chimneys dominated the river banks of the Rupel. It was a heavy industrial area with a large impact on the landscape. Dismissal of many workers and the disappearance of the drying sheds, ovens and local products was inevitable. At the end of the 20th century many brick factories bankrupted due to developments of new building materials, emerging competition and rising energy prices. Only five of the 150 brickyards survived that economical downfall. Today there is only one left in the Rupel region, Wienerbergen.

SCENERY

The Cuesta of the Rupel Region, a clay hill remaining within the landscape, caused by erosion of the surrounding sandy soils. The Cuesta is a clear boundary that enhances the we-feeling and is the backbone of a concatenated network.

The excavations of the valuable clay soil transformed the entire landscape on an impressive scale and still leaves its traces today. Huge wells were left behind and seen as an opportunity to get rid of waste until there came major resistance in 1969 of ALR. The environmental action group (ALR) was founded by local residents to protect the clay pits and their nature.2 Today the clay pits accommodate a very diverse range of habitats due to the altitude and soil variety and demarcation by the steep banks. Most of them are now natural reserves used for recreation. Although there are still many left with no clear purpose as of yet.

2. DE KOSTER, P. (1993). 20 jaar Actiegroep Leefmilieu Rupelstreek, Hoe de druppel in de Rupel overliep. Milieurama Jrg. 13, nr. 3, p. 3-6

155

Fig.5:Ferraris Ferrarishistorical historicalmap mapHellegat Hellegatand andNoeveren Noevern - 18th century Fig.5:

156

- 10 -

Fig.6: Topview Hellegat and Noeveren - 21st Century

157

SOCIOCULTURAL

The brickyards started as small family businesses, but in the beginning of the 20th century the farms grew into true brick businesses. The brickmakers who were initially closely associated with the entire process were funelled into the larger scale factory worker-factory owner relationship. A gap emerged between the working class and the masters.1

Brick making was a seasonal activity, because shaping the brick could only happen during frost - free periods. During winter only the strongest men got employed to excavate the clay in the pits. To get through winter, the whole family had to work long days during summer, even the children. Because of that there were many ancillary jobs for the women such as making shoes and slippers during unemployed periods.

Workers lived on the factory premises and their labor was to a large extent integrated into their daily living habit. There was a major entanglement of living and working. People that worked in the brickyard were obligated to rent a house from their boss and required to buy their household purchases from him for high prices. On top of that, they had to collect their wages in the local café, which again was owned by their boss. There was excessive alcohol use since all the men went to the local café after work and on Sundays. Even while working they drank beer.

Settlements grew spontaneously based on clay extraction. The laborers’ houses, nearly 100 years old, were built in a sequence around the clay pits or grouped around the brickyards, connected through a square, street or alley while master houses were built along the Rupel. (See fig.7) Because of the housing expansion, a lot of alleys and so called ‘sloepkes’ appeared which made the houses fuse even more with the brickyards. The workers of one factory were one big family, where everyone knew eachother. On a local scale there was a very strong social cohesion because of the underlying meshwork which was entirely determined by the brick industry and the strong work - home relation.

1. MAMPAEY, K. (1999). Herbestemming van steenbakkerijen

en kleiputten: Toekomst voor de Rupelstreek? De aardrijkskunde, Jrg. 23, nr. 1/2, p. 95-106.

158

If you look at the way they used to build around the clay pits, you can compare it with the structure of a ‘Belgian’ waffle. They made a pit to extract the clay and the houses were built on the dike around the pit. This way they were close to their work. Small alleys, ‘sloepkes’ appeared to grant direct access to their work. Once the pit was excavated another was started next to it and again houses were built on the new dike. Fig.7: section south-east

STRATIFICATION

The dominant presence of brickyards caused a complex intertwining of life and work. Labour was largely integrated into the everyday life. People stepped, as it were, out of bed directly into the clay pits. Today we still experience this entanglement within the scenery if we look at the physical elements. There is also a social entanglement present which is hard to identify. As mentioned before, everything depended on the brick industry, even the population growth was determined by the need of labourers. If we look at the population dynamics of Niel, we see a parallel between the population growth and the expansion of the brick factories. From 1910 onwards there is a stagnation of the population and this is simultaneous with the appearance of the automated brick factories. The automation meant a decreasing need for workers. Lately, due to efforts of the municipality we see a slight increase of population as a result of the new housing developments. 8000

4000

1015

2010

2005

1910

1885

1900

1846

2000

POPULATION

6000

YEAR

Fig.8: Population of Niel (1846 - 2015)

The Rupelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s valuable history determined the entire region, but we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t strongly hold on to that and have to allow transformation within the contemporary developments. Local and historical qualities should however not be neglected.

159

160

A SUSTAINABLE QUALITATIVE HERITAGE POLICY

Not the object but the traditional knowledge, attachment to place and the community behind it is of interest to me. Heritage as an expression of local identity and an actor of contemporary social change. 1 Rethinking the local dynamics in the contemporary society and activate it as a support within society. Involvement of both younger generations and different cultural groups so the identity of the place re-generates.

1. QuĂŠbec declaration on the preservation of the spirit of place. Canada (2008)

161

H E L L E G AT NOEVEREN

The research emerges on Hellegat and Noeveren, two hamlets that belong to the municipalities Niel and Boom respectively. Both villages are often regarded as inferior, because they are the least evolved and seen as the poor neighborhood. Nevertheless, efforts have been made. In Hellegat new housing is developed to attract younger families. (See fig.10) In Noeveren the main focus is on new businesses and recreation. (See fig 11) These efforts attract some newcomers, but they ignore the cultural significance of the area.

Spatial disorder has a negative impact on the living conditions of today. Deterioration of the traditional centers creates an increasing social disintegration due to contradictions between locals and newcomers. The legacy of the past can provide a new image for the area, but it has to go hand in hand with a versatile oriented evolution. This approach was the main idea of the former neighborhood association â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hellegatwrakkenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Their objective was to save Noeveren and Hellegat from destruction by placing it in the spotlights. An important aspect in their approach was that they wanted to achieve this by bringing the residents closer to each other. Unfortunately, this initiative did not persist due to the lack of a suitable space and being too time consuming for the organizers.

162

NIEL

HELLEGAT

BOOM

NOEVEREN

NIEL

Total Surface Niel Density Niel

HELLEGAT

Total Surface Built Residential area Industry Musea Inhabitants Density

5.27 km 1865.57 Inhabitants/km2 2

0.42 km 24,02% 21,97 % 0.5% 0.3 %

1100 2619 inhabitants/km2

BOOM

Total Surface Boom Density Boom

NOEVEREN

Total Surface Built Residential area Industry Musea

Inhabitants Density

7.37 km2 2339.46 inhabitants/km2 0.40 km2 27,91 % 7,47% 3,79 % 13,05 %

600 1500 inhabitants/km2

Fig.9: Statistics (2013)

163

Fig.10: New developments Hellegat - Housing

New housing projects appear along the Rupel to attract a younger population. Because of the height difference and typology, the new apartments form a wall in between the Rupel and the landscape behind it. An architecture that incorporates the qualities of the region, but takes no account of local interest.

164

Fig.11: New developments Noeveren - Work and living

In Noeveren a new industrial area was developed where working and living can be combined. You can rent a workspace and office but besides that, there is also the chance to live there in an additional living unit.

165

The whole Rupel region has a fragmented landschape with frequent elevation changes. This also applies for Hellegat and Noeveren. However, if we map this out, we realize that there is a clear zoning presence based on the landscape and its height differences. The zoning of industrial, residential and green areas today has largely been determined by the former brick industry.

If we look at the height differences we can still see the two main remaining clay pits in Hellegat and Noeveren. One of them, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the Walenhoekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is now a natural reserve and the main green area in our specific research area (see fig. 12). The other clay pit, is now zoned for industry (see fig. 13). The residential area is bounded by the main road which goes through both hamlets, a road that has been there since the 18th century (see fig. 14)

Fig.12: Section Hellegat North -South 166

Fig.13: Model green area Hellegat and Noeveren (scale 1/2000)

Fig.14: Model industrial area Hellegat and Noeveren (scale 1/2000)

Fig.15: Model residential area Hellegat and Noeveren (scale 1/2000)

167

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HELLEGAT AND NOEVEREN

PROTECTED AS TOWNSCAPE

What does it mean?

Townscape A townscape = “A is group “A group of one of one or more or more monuments monuments and/or and/or immovables immovables surrounding with with surrounding elements, elements, suchsuch as plantation, as plantation, fences, fences, watercourswater features, es, bridges, bridges, tracks, tracks,streets streetsand andsquares, squares,which whichare areof of public public interest because of their artistic, scientific, historical, ethnological, industrial - archaeological or other sociocultural values. The direct, immediately associated visual environment of a monument, which does justice to the intrinsic value of the monument through its iconic character and of which the physical characteristics, can ensure the conservation and maintenance of the monument.”1 This definition ignores many aspects which are equally important. The intention is often only a protection of the material, the tangible, while the intangible values are neglected. Although the protection, in this case of Hellegat and Noeveren has has aamuch muchhigher more sociocultural value. It’s not about merely preserving the monuments within the hamlet, but rather about the cultural significance behind the monument.

Through a thorough thorough research researchininwhich whichwe weimmersed were immersed as a researcher, as a researcher, we discovered we discovered the intangible the intangible of the tangible of the namely tangible in the namely stories, in the stories, the...‘sloepkes’... ‘sloepkes’, 1 www.onroerenderfgoed.be

Fig.16: Section Noeveren West - East 169

x x

x x x

x x

x x x x x x x xxx xx x

x x xx Protected monuments Protected townscape

Inventory of the architectural heritage - relicts

x x

Determined Not determined

Fig.17: Protected buildings in Hellegat and Noeveren

170

x xx x x x

xx xx x x x

x x x x x x xx x x

x x x x x

x x xx x xx x x x x x

x x

x x x x

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;As an architect you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially unknown.â&#x20AC;? Norman Foster

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UNPROMPTED

ENCOUNTERS

As an outsider you are initially overloaded with heritage, history and touristic information. Therefore it was very important to find a way to mingle into the local meshwork and find out the strengths and weaknesses of the region. The way of approach is the protocol of walking assigned by GisĂ¨le Gantois. Walking as a means to investigate the cultural landscape. By walking several lines, we created our own personal map which is based on an individual survey. On our line of walks we noticed that some people felt like we entered on their territory and they started to ask questions: what are you doing, who are you... This lead to spontaneous short conversations which gave us completely new insights into the Rupel Region. By spending a lot of time on site, I got immersed into the local tissue and got to know about the endless interaction of locals and newcomers with their environment.

Through our socially oriented research, we experience that there is a distinction between the local residents and the newcomers and how they feel about the new developments. Both have a brief contact with each other and have a decidedly different view on the new developments. The locals are not fully convinced about the new approach of the municipality. They have the impression that the newcomers and tourists affect their territory. The locals live in the glory of the past and are skeptical about changes. While the new families are actually attracted by these developments and the cheap housing prices. (See conversations p. 30 - 33) If we look at potential venues in Hellegat and Noeveren, for both newcomers and locals, they are very scarce. At first sight we thought the three remaining cafĂŠs, of the original 150, could be a possible meeting point but quickly realized that they are not as accessible to newcomers. In both villages, the street is actually the only place where both locals and newcomers can come into contact with each other to a limited extent.

174

It is not the intention to meet the individual needs, but to create a pleasant living environment that finds a balance between attracting new residents and retain the local qualities. In addition, it is important to create a place where both locals and newcomers come into contact with eachother. This way there is an chance to restore the neighborhood feeling.

CAFÉ DE KOOPHANDEL

CAFÉ IN DEN RUPEL

CAFÉ NOEVEREN

High Mental treshhold to enter

Low

CONVERSATION PEOPLE ENTRANCE

Parking Café

Terras Route

Remarkably, in ‘café de koophandel’ everyone sits at seperate tables, despite knowing eachother well. This is something recognizable in Hellegat and Noeveren in general. Most of them know each other, but still there seems to be so much distance between people. Fig.18: Mapping of local cafés in Hellegat and Noeveren

175

176

1. Bettina

2. Ronny

3. Leona

4. Kevin and Sharon

5. Frederik (Fretze)

6. Luc 6. ?

7. Daanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife

8. Tessa and dog Katho

9. Jan

10. Tasha and owners

11. Kevin and son

12. Gerda

- 28 -

5 2

1 7 3

Luc : former manager Wienerberger Nieuwstraat, Rumst

Fig.19: Locate informal conversations with locals and newcomers

- 29 -

177

BETTINA

MOVED TO NOEVEREN TWELVE YEARS AGO. HER PREVIOUS HOME WAS A HOUSE WITH SIX BEDROOMS . IT BECAME TOO BIG FOR ONE PERSON TO LIVE IN. LIVES IN A FORMER WORKER HOUSE WHERE ORIGINALLY LIVED WITH NINE PEOPLE LIVED AND SHARED ONE TOILET WITH THE WHOLE STREET. THE MUNICIPALITY IS RECONSTRUCTING THE STREETS BECAUSE OF FLOODING PROBLEMS.

CLOSE NEIGHBOURHOOD CONNECTION AND VERY COSY ATMOSPHERE IN SUMMER. SAFE PLACE TO LET THE GRANDCHILDREN PLAY DURING SUMMER.

RONNY

KEVIN AND SON

NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE AROUND THE DRYING SHEDS OF THE FRATEUR, BUT HE AND HIS WIFE NEVER ATTEND. IT’S FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

VERY POSITIVE ABOUT THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS BECAUSE IT ATTRACTS TWO WORKING FAMILIES WHO HAVE A HIGHER STANDARD AND IT CREATES A BETTER IMAGE.

ON HIS WAY TO ALVO SUPERMARKET BUT PREFERS THE LOCAL SHOPS. RETAIL IS ALMOST GONE TODAY. WEEKLY MARKET IN NIEL ON TUESDAY AND IN BOOM IN THURSDAY

HE KNOWS EVERYONE THAT PASSES BY. COMMUNITY IS PRESENT BUT STRUCTURE IS GONE.

PEOPLE TRUST EACH OTHER: NO BIKE LOCK, SHOES OUTSIDE, OPEN GARDENS, ...BARELY ANY BURGLARY.

LIVED IN ANTWERP AND MOVED TO HELLEGAT TWO YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THE QUIET AREA AND THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A DIRECT LIVEABLE AND AFFORDABLE NEW HOUSE.

ENOUGH RECREATION FOR CHILDREN. EACH HOLIDAY, THE CHILDREN GO TO SPORTS HALL IN NIEL TO PLAY AND THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL PARKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

park

meeting place

Home Route

EXPERIENCES LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

178

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KEVIN AND SHARON

NEWCOMERS THAT ARE RENOVATING A WORKERS HOUSE, BOUGHT BY HIS FATHER. THE HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1910 AND ORIGINALLY INHABITED BY 14 PEOPLE. SHARON LIVES IN HOBOKEN AND KEVIN IN HEMIKSEM. THE COSY NEIGHBOURHOOD AND GOOD CONNECTION TO ANTWERP AND BRUSSELS ATTRACTED THEM TOWARDS THE AREA. THERE IS A LOT TO DO IN SUMMER WITHIN THE PERIMETER OF THE STREET. THE FATHER OWNS ANOTHER HOUSE IN THE STREET. HE BOUGHT IT 15 YEARS AGO IN A STATE OF DECAY. THE HOUSE WAS UNINHABITED SINCE 1700.

FREDERIK

LIVES TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE IN THE ONLY REMAINING ‘ACHTERHUIS’ IN THE STREET SINCE 1995.

HE GOT PERMISSION TO USE THE COURTYARD OF THE NEIGHBOURS (THEY ARE FROM BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA) HE HAS VERY GOOD CONTACT WITH THEM.

STARTED A PROJECT WHERE HE TEACHES CHILDREN, (MAINLY FRIENDS OF HIS GRANDCHILDREN), TO GARDEN. YOU CAN START YOUR COMMUNITY GARDEN ON LAND FROM THE MUNICIPALITY FOR FREE IF YOU APPLY. NEIGHBOURHOOD USED TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE SCOUTS.

LUC

IS THE FORMER MANAGER OF BRICKWORKS SWENDEN, BUT SOLD HIS COMPANY TO WIENERBERGEN BECAUSE THE INDUSTRY WAS COMPLETELY MECHANIZED. HE WAS A BOARD MEMBER AT WIENERBERGEN BUT TODAY HE HAS RETIRED. HE STILL GUIDES IN THE COMPANY. WIENERBERGEN IS THE ONLY REMAINING BRICK FACTORY IN THE REGION.

THERE USED TO BE A POLICY WHERE EVERY EMPLOYEE HAD TO DO A FEW HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE. THEY TRY TO BE ON GOOD TERMS WITH THE LOCAL RESIDENTS. WHICH IS WHY THEY ALSO MAINTAINED SOME OF THE RELICS.

Community garden

Second house

Fig. 20: Mapping of local knowledge and experiences through interviews

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179

DAAN’S WIFE

TESSA AND DOG KATHO

JAN

STRUCTURE OF LIFE IS SCATTERED, PEOPLE COME TO NOEVEREN TO SLEEP BUT GO ELSEWHERE TO WORK AND FOR RECREATION.

HELLEGAT HAS A GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE AND POSITIVE NEW DEVELOPMENTS.

HE DOES NOT LIVE IN THE RUPEL REGION, BUT ONLY A FEW MUNICIPALITIES FURTHER AWAY

LIVES IN THE MASTER HOUSE OF THE FRATEUR, WHICH IS NOW DIVIDED INTO TWO HOUSES.

NEGATIVE TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW APARTMENTS BUT EXTENDING THE BIKE PATH ALONG THE RUPEL IS A POSITIVE THING FOR THE LOCALS. NO LOCAL SHOP IS A DISADVANTAGE LITTLE PARKS ARE NOT SAFE FOR THE CHILDREN DUE TO DRUG PROBLEMS.

NEIGHBOR

180

LIVED IN BOOM, BUT MOVED TO HELLEGAT TWO MONTHS AGO BECAUSE IT IS CHEAPER TO BUILD AND IT’S A PLEASANT LIVING ENVIRONMENT.

GOOD CONNECTION TO WORK DESPITE THE TRAFFIC JAMS. SHE WORKS AT ANTWERP LINKEROEVER. GOOD CONTACT WITH THE NEARBY AREA, THE NEW RESIDENTIAL AREAS, BUT VERY SUPERFICIAL CONTACT WITH THE ORIGINAL RESIDENTS.

DAAN’S FAMILY

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FORMER TEACHER WHO NOW GUIDES WITH HEART AND SOUL IN THE EMABB MUSEUM. HE SPONTANEOUSLY PROPOSED TO DHOW US AROUND FOR FREE.

DURING THE GUIDED TOUR, WE NOTICE THAT JAN KNOWS MANY LOCALS QUITE PERSONAL ALTHOUGH HE IS NOT FROM THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. MANY OF THE BUILDINGS ARE IN A STATE DECAY BUT THERE IS NO BUDGET TO FUND REPAIRS.

TASHA AND OWNERS

CAME TO HELLEGAT TO WALK THE DOG ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

FOUND THE RUPEL REGION ON THE INTERNET AS A GOOD WALKING AREA.

SHE KNOWS THE REGION, BECAUSE HER PARENTS LIVE HERE.

LEONA - 87 YEARS

FORMER WORKER IN THE BRICKYARD DURING SUMMER AND DURING WINTER SHE WORKED IN THE SHOE FACTORIES. TOGETHER WITH HER HUSBAND, SHE BOUGHT A HOUSE, AN ASSEMBLY OF SEVERAL FORMER WORKER HOUSES. SHE IS NOSTALGIC FOR THE GOOD OLD TIMES.

COMMUNITY FEELING IS LESS STRONG, BUT IT IS STILL PRESENT ON THE SCALE OF THE STREET. THE PHYSICAL SURROUNDINGS DETERMINE HOW FAR THE CONTACT GOES.

meeting point

daughters home

GERDA

ON HER WAY TO HER MOTHER WITH GROCERIES. HER MOTHER, BROTHER AND NEPHEW LIFE IN THE SAME STREET, WHICH IS ONLY ONE STREET FURTHER THAN GERDA’S HOUSE GERDA IS INDIFFERENT ABOUT THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS BUT ADMITS THAT SHE WAS INITIALLY OPPOSED TO THEM. SHE NEVER GOES TO THE DIKE. SHE HAS NO CONTACT WITH THE NEW RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND PREFERS THE PREVIOUS SITUATION.

THERE IS NO BOOKSHOP, PHARMACY, BUTCHER OR BAKER CLOSE BY.

houses of the family

Home Route

EXPERIENCES LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Fig. 20: Mapping of local knowledge and experiences through interviews

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181

182

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RESIDENTIAL TYPOLOGIES Living in and around the clay pits is something very typical for the Region. It insinuates that they saw clay mining as a lifelong activity.

The houses were either built on the dike or along the embankment and had a direct connection with work through the small corridors that appeared in between the houses. (see fig. 7 ) With a surface of approximately 60 m Â˛ they were inhabited by at least 7 persons. Because of the small living spaces, most of the houses are currently adapted with numerous outbuildings to create additional spaces.

Fig. 21: Laborers built on the dike

After the clay pits were fully exploited, they were partially filled. Residents got the opportunity to purchase a piece of clay pit as an extension of their land. This way they could extend their living space or have a garden.

Fig. 22: Laborers built along the dike

Fig. 23: laborer with outbuilding and garden

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183

2. 3.

184

Fig. 24: Situating the residential typologies

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house private space

garden and outbuilding private space

local traffic community space

natural reserve public space

Fig. 25: Typology ‘Walenhoek’

‘Walenhoek’ (1) - Standard form of the typology in the area which is built along the dike. The former clay pit is transformed into a natural reserve so these residents have a beautiful green area as a backyard. There is a remarkable transition zone present between the house and the clay pit. Although they do not use the in-between space in a proper way. Many gardens are crowded with junk nowadays and mainly used as storage instead of using it as a fully fledged outdoor space with a possible extensions towards the natural - 37 -

185

house private space

extension housing or second house private space

garden private space

local traffic community space

green public space

inner street community space

Fig. 26: Typology ‘Averechse roat’

‘Averechse roat’ (2) - It is remarkable that most of these houses are only accessible through the inner street. They have literally no front door. The houses are accessible through small corridors called ‘sloepkes’. This way they reach the inner street, parallel to the main street, which is only three meters wide. The corridor is a way of infiltrating the private space. A transition from private to public through in-between spaces. 186

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housing private space

inner street community space

extension housing private space

garden private space

local traffic community space

green public space

Fig. 27: Typology ‘Blauwe pan’

‘Blauwe pan’ (3) - A small collection of houses concentrated around one street, perpendicular to the main street. In this street there is no level difference but the whole street is lower, which leads to flooding problems. Given the scale of the street, it is used as a community space.

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187

Fig. 28: Model ‘Walenhoek’ scale 1/100

Fig. 29: Model ‘Averechse roat’ scale 1/100

Fig. 30: Model ‘street Fiona’ scale 1/100

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189

190

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TANGIBLE MESHWORK LOCAL DISPLACEMENT The scattered landscape is connected through informal and intangible paths which strengthens the region in all its richness. The alleys and small corridors, the ‘sloepkes’, that are woven into the landscape, originally formed a very fragile connection between private and public. They had a great significance on both social, economical and urban level. Today, most of those ‘sloepkes’ are privatized where previously they were a common way of circulating through the village. This privatizing didn’t only close the ‘sloepkes’ for other residents, but also constrained the social relations between residents. It closes the way of infiltration. The social cohesion which was so strongly present before is now crumbing apart bit by bit. Furthermore the ‘sloepkes’ created a kind of transition zone between the front and back facade of a house. A transition between public, collective space and private space. An interesting in-between spaciousness existed. The informal meshwork enhanced the connections between different communities. It is a layering within the built tissue that makes a strong social cohesion possible. Besides the ‘sloepkes’ there are other lines within the area that are part of this meshwork. There are the tunnels, alleys and on a larger scale we find the community streets. They all belong to the same meshwork, although they all have noticeable differences in width, height, scale, permeability and so on.

“The lines of the meshwork are the trails along which life is lived. And it is in the entanglement of lines, not in the connection of points, that the mesh is constituted.” 1

Revival of these lines, in other words this meshwork could reinforce the contemporary urban character as much as it could strengthen the social relations. A long term action, a process that grows from below and cooperation of all people that live their lives along these trails is the only way to restore this mesh and develop it again as a strength of the community .

1 Tim Ingold : Up, across and Along (p.47) - 43 -

191

Fig. 31: ‘Sloepkes’

The ‘sloepkes’ are very abundant in the townscape, but often they are inconspicuous and hardly visible to strangers. Today they have been transformed and you see different typologies, but in origin they were the same. Created to provide a direct connection between the house and work area. Because of the privatization, many are closed with a door or fence, but most are just included into the home and are actually still open. Although you get the feeling that you should not enter.

192

Fig. 32: Alleys

The alleys in the area are comparable to the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sloepkesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; but they are slightly wider. They were not used as a direct connection from the house to the work, but axes that connect parallel streets with eachother. The edges of the alley are mostly side walls of houses but they can be a hedge or other green as well. On a larger scale they made the area permeable and today we see that they are again introduced in the new residential areas.

193

Fig. 33: Tunnels

The tunnels are almost all inaccessible these days, except for two of them. In the past they served to transport clay from the clay pits to the factory. The tunnels were constructed so the main road would still be accessible. Tunnels are sealed today because of decay, but they are also appropriated by their immediate neighbors.

194

Fig. 34: Community streets

The community streets is the largest scale of line within the meshwork, but it is something very typical to the area. Since the laborersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; houses were built in groups close to the pits, small streets appeared. They are just wide enough to be accessible for cars.

195

- 44 196

ACCESSIBLE ‘SLOEPKES’ PRIVATIZED ‘SLOEPKES’ ACCESSIBLE TUNNELS CLOSED TUNNELS

COMMUNITY STREETS ALLEYS

Fig. 35: Mapping local meshwork

197

198

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Fig. 36: Fragmentation Rupel area

The alignment of both life and work was the base of the existing meshwork. This alignment resulted in a fragmented landscape. A fragmentation that has expanded after the brick factories closed. Today this fragmentation, experienced as a negative aspect, could develop as a starting point of intertwining.

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199

200

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MASTERPLAN

HELLEGAT AND NOEVEREN If we apply the threshold theory of Pieper, J. on the Rupelarea, we can decide that the meshwork that is present now contains thresholds in many aspects. Today, new thresholds are created, but with a rather negative connotation. While the threshold in the form of a ‘sloepke’ was previously a positive influence for the community.

MENTAL TRESHHOLD

PHYSICAL TRESHHOLD

VISUAL TRESHHOLD

Fig. 37: Thresholds applied in the region

Originally the mental barrier was present within the transition zone of the public towards the private space. This mental threshold existed due to the physical properties of the ‘sloepkes’. The threshold created a demarcation without the presence of a physical boundary. This brought a stronger sense of community with it. Nowadays most of the ‘sloepkes’ are closed off and became a physical boundary.

Likewise with the new developments, more physical thresholds are added. Especially in the case of the new apartments that are built along the Rupel shore (see fig.10). In this case it can also be seen as a visual threshold for the small laborers behind it. The dike along the Rupel can also be interpreted as a visual barrier. When you are next to the dike, you do not have visual contact with the Rupel. However this visual boundary is not an obstacle to go to the waterfront. - 49 -

201

Fig. 38: Conceptual scheme building along the Rupel

An emerging trend of living along the water, a place which obviously has a lot of qualities, is present in the Rupel region. If we look at the new developments, they are built as close as possible to the dike and preferably on the dike itself because of the beautiful view. This kind of architecture absorbs all the immediately perceptible qualities of the region, but does not strengthen it. It does not consider the local identity while this should be the key towards new developments. The conceptual drawing represents the type of architecture proposed for the region. An architecture that considers the local identity and strengthens the qualities that are already there, instead of absorbing it.

202

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Fig. 39: Conceptual scheme Rupel vision

In the shadow of the Rupel the Hinterland lies as a forgotten space. What if the Hinterland becomes the waterfront? Could the quality of the Rupel then be extended to a quality of the whole region? Along the Rupel there is a lot of activity, but this is limited to the dike itself. Extending the dike further inlands could become an incentive to appreciate the entire area.

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203

If we look at both Hellegat and Noeveren, there is obvious lack of center. A center that can connect, strengthen and stimulate the area within the existing meshwork In Hellegat, the proposed center focusses on the reconnection of both newcomers, locals and even tourist in a limited way. The reflection of the values of a classic village center within the hamlet with the idea to reconnect and reactivate the exiting mesh.

204

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In Noeveren a second, additional centre could be developed where the focus is on working. The introduction of small business combined with the already existing recreation (musea) could join people on different levels and make the area more attractive. A trade for both locals, newcomers and tourist

CENTRAL AREAS TO DEVELOP TRANSITION ZONE’S

ACCESSIBLE ‘SLOEPKES’ SUGGESTION TRANSITION ZONE PRIVATIZED ‘SLOEPKES’ ACCESSIBLE TUNNELS CLOSED TUNNELS

COMMUNITY STREETS ALLEYS

Fig. 40: Masterplan Hellegat and Noeveren

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Fig. ?: Masterplan Hellegat and Noeveren

205

Fig. 41: Conceptual scheme Vision on ‘Walenhoek’

‘Walenhoek’ (see fig. 25.) - A former clay pit which is transformed into a natural reserve at the back of the laborers’ houses. A very strange fact today at the Walenhoek is the new touristic path going along the backyards. It disturbs the privacy and transition zone which is already present there and the communal space becomes a lost space. A relocation of the path could solve these privacy problems and stimulate people again to reappraise the ‘Walenhoek’ as a possible extension of their backyards.

206

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Fig. 42: Conceptual scheme Vision on areas near the water

Today high apartments rise along the Rupel, apartments that have a beautiful view on the Rupel, but this architecture casts a shadow on the area behind it. The individualistic architecture enjoys the view, but blocks it for every one else and takes away most of the sunlight. If you look at our vision (see fig.35.), an opposite approach is suggested where the architecture strengthens the qualities that are present instead of absorbing them.

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207

208

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COLLECTIVE SPACE

LEVERAGE FOR SOCIETY The importance of collective space within a society, a space that preserves the social cohesion within the neighborhood and captures people and their activities as a moving element in the city square; as a village center has been that place for many years. A place where local inhabitants can meet in a spontaneous way, where cursory contact between residents can happen and reinforce the mutual trust and where collective interest could transform into a positive force . As Lefebre mentioned in 1986, there is a difference between the habitat and the notion of the habitat. The establishment of new residents is one thing, but allowing them to inhabit their surroundings, through which they master their own conditions is another story. Can the collective space be the anchor point to inhabit?

In the case of Hellegat, there is no notion of a real center. No place where everyone can meet, a space where both local residents and newcomers feel like it is their space. A space where collectivity can begin. This center presumably existed many years ago around the church, as we have noted through history that the church usually had a strategic location in the village center. Nowadays this central function of the church is vanished. The church is only in use a few times a year and has lost its collective function nowadays.

When introducing a new center, the location should be chosen carefully. We can assume that the area around the church is the most ideal place to position a central square since it has always been like that through history. Nevertheless, I chose to depart from the existing meshwork (see fig. 35). By mapping the open space, suitable for this central position, I came to the conclusion that there are several spots that are closely interwoven within the existing meshwork and have a strategic position within Hellegat. (see fig. 43) Each of them has a different character which make it possible to develop all three of them as an interesting collective space. Each possible â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;squareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; has a building or relict as an anchor point which partly determined the character and function of the space (see fig. 44). - 57 -

209

Fig. 43: mapping the existing meshwork in Hellegat as an abstract representation.

210

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2. 1.

Fig. 44: mapping the existing meshwork including community buildings in Hellegat as an abstract representation.

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211

2. 1.

Fig. 45: implantation model Hellegat scale 1/500

212

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DESIGN PROPOSAL HELLEGAT MASTERPLAN As mentioned before it is important to strengthen the existing qualities of Hellegat and connect both locals and newcomers within the existing meshwork. Therefore I propose three squares that are interwoven with each other through the existing meshwork.

Each possible ‘square’ has a building as an anchor point which partly determines the character and function of the space. This can either be an existing building or a new intervention. The open spaces and buildings differ from each other in terms of their collective or public character.

To re-generate this existing meshwork that connects everything with each other, I introduce a housing typology which can be used in many area’s of the Rupel region. The typology is based on the typologies that are present today and have been transformed for many years. It re-opens ‘the sloepkes’ and stimulates their further existence. Besides that it also reintroduces the ‘sloepkes’ in new forms of living and architecture.

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213

Fig. 46: Picture of Hellegat church interior

214

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1. CHURCH OF HELLEGAT

The first square is situated around the church as well as the historical center of Hellegat. The church and parish house are hardly in use. There is even a chance that the church will be desecrated in the near future. Therefore I believe it is necessary to create a vision for the church and the vicinity in which the function as a community building is preserved. A shelter, a nursing home, a reflection space, childcare... are all potential future ideas as long as the interweaving of the local tissue is preserved. Since the future of the church is still uncertain, this vision is not futher developped within the masterplan, but further elaboration fits perfectly within the masterplan that is offered for Hellegat.

Fig. 47: Situation plan church Hellegat

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215

Fig. 48: Situation plan with viewpoints 216

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2. R-URBAN WATERSIDE

A collective square on the edge between the new residential areas, the former laborers quarters and the Rupel creates an opportunity to join locals, newcomers and passers-by on different levels. This social connection is also present in the program of the architectural proposal. The building contains small retail stores and a local restaurant on top. The square is an extension of the dike. This way people can actually enjoy the view on the Rupel from the square instead of just passing by on the bicycle path. They are also invited to go inland and experience Hellegat. Through the square there is a connection between the historical center of Hellegat and the new developments, more specific with a recently constructed playground.

Fig. 49: Implantation model scale 1/500

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217

218

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A’

Fig. 50: Floor plan - ground level A

A’

Fig. 51: Floor plan - first level

Fig. 52: Section AA’

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219

Fig. 53: Situation plan with viewpoints 220

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3. COLLECTIVE YOUTH MOVEMENT

A local youth movement currently has its premises in a building of the community accompanied by a large outdoor space. Originally it was a school, but today it is poorly used, opene only dyring weekends and the contact with the closest neighborhood has been neglected.

By opening the bottom floor of the building, it becomes more transparent and inviting for other local residents. This way the site can be used during all days of the week and have several functions, such as temporary exhibitions, a local market, theater and all sorts of other neighborhood activities.

Fig. 54: Implantation model - Youth movement (scale 1/500)

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221

Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Fig. 55: Floor plan - ground level

222

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Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Fig. 56: Floor plan - first level

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223

224

Fig. 57: Section AA’

225

Fig. 58: Existing housing situation with meshwork

226

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4. RESIDENTIAL TYPOLOGY

REGENERATING MESHWORK

Fig. 59: Future housing situation with expanded meshwork

A new way of living based on community space in order to maintain the existing meshwork and re-activating it in the future. A transitory space and intermediate zone appears where ‘inside’ communicates with ‘outside’ and ‘public’ with ‘private’ through densification inspired on the existing adaptations of housing within the area.

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Fig. 60: Topview Model future housing situation with expanded meshwork - scale 1/200

228

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Fig. 61: Model future housing situation with expanded meshwork - scale 1/200

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229

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CASE STUDY 1:

THOMAS NOLLET AND HILDE HUGHE ARCHITECTS

1999 - 2002 Location : Brugge Assebroek

Rowhouse with a paradoxical character since it has both an open and closed character. The ground floor includes a passageway linking the pavement with the garden. Sleeping quarters and bathroom are organised around a patio and a central atrium brings light into the house.

Pictures by Vercruysse and Dujardin

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CASE STUDY 2:

TEMPELHOFER FELD BERLIN

since 2010 Location : Tempelhof Berlin

Former airport which is now converted to a city park based on spontaneous actions. The minimal intervention creates a space that accommodates different communities. The community strengthens the qualities of the open area and therefore the space is also noticed by people outside the original community. It resists the pressure for further development and provides democratic access to individual and collective interests. Large scale project but interesting approach which is applicable on smaller scale.

Pictures by Imago

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CASE STUDY 3:

NSDM

Since 2001 Location : IJ bank in Amsterdam

A redeveloped factory which today is a breeding ground for affordable housing and workspaces. Squatters appropriated the area and eventually received government funding. It is a revaluation of the area where different projects join diverse knowledges and skills together. Large scale project but interesting approach which is applicable on smaller scale.

Pictures by Archicover

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Thanks to ...

... my promotor GisĂ¨le Gantois for her weekly consult and her inspiring approach.

... everyone who was open to conversation during my research on site and gave me insights on the local identity of the area.

... my parents for their support during my entire architecture program, but especially during this master dissertation.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

ASSIGNMENT:

GISÈLE, G. (2014) The Cuesta (‘kwƐstǝ) of the Rupel Region. New challenges for its Cultural Heritage.

BOOKS:

ALTES ARLANDIS, A., LIEBERMAN, O. (2013). Intravention, Durations, Effects. Notes of Expansive Sites and Relational Architecture. Germany: Spurbuckverlag. LINTERS, A. emabb, ecomuseum en archief van de boomse baksteen. EMABB. (p.17-46).

LOOPMANS, M., LECLERQ, E., NEWTON, C. (2011). Plannen voor mensen, handboek sociaal - ruimtelijke planning. Antwerpen: Garant. PETRESCU, D., BLUNDELL JONES, P., TILL, J. (2005). Architecture and participation. Losing control, keeping desire. Oxon:Taylor&Francis (p.43-65).

VAN DEN BERG, M. (2013) Stedelingen veranderen de stad, over nieuwe collectieven, publiek domein en transitie. Haarlem: Trancityxvaliz. WOLFRUM, S., FRHR. V. BRANDIS, N. (2015) Performative Urbanism. Generating and designing Urban Space. Berlin: Jovis.

VAN DEN BROECK, R. (2003) Niel en Hellegat: uit potheir gevormd en in vuur gebakken. Niel: Open Monumentencomité. MEYERS, R. (1972) Zoeklicht op Niel. Niel: Redy Meyers.

VAN DE MOSSELAER, W. (2012) Hellegat. Niel: Wilfried Van De Mosselaer. LEVEBRE, H.(1991) Production of space

PUBLICATIONS:

AUSTRALIA ICOMOS INCORPORATES (2013). The burra charter, the Australia ICOMOS charter for Places of Cultural Significance. Australia. DE KOSTER, P. (1993). 20 jaar Actiegroep Leefmilieu Rupelstreek, Hoe de druppel in de Rupel overliep. Milieurama Jrg. 13, nr. 3, p. 3-6

DE RUPELSTREEK, PROVINCIE ANTWERPEN. De Rupelstreek, samen schrijven we ons verhaal. Antwerpen: Lux. DEVUYST, D. V.U.B. De kleiputten van de Rupelstreek: een uniek landschap in het gebied der grote rivieren.

ECOMUSEUM & ARCHIEF VAN DE BOOMSE BAKSTEEN VZW (2002). Ten ‘oever’ aan de Rupel. Turnhout: Adrem intermediagroup. INGOLD, T. (2007) Up, Across and Along. Scotland: University of Aberdeen. 238

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON MONUMENTS AND SITES (2008). Québec declaration on the preservation of the spirit of place. Canada - 86 -

MAMPAEY, K. (1999). Herbestemming van steenbakkerijen en kleiputten: Toekomst voor de Rupelstreek? De aardrijkskunde, Jrg. 23, nr. 1/2, p. 95-106. PIEPER, J. (1980). Ritual space in India: studies in architectural antrophology. Londen: Art and Archaeology research paper. PROVINCIE ANTWERPEN, DIENST RUIMTELIJKE PLANNING (2014). Kaderplan kleinstedelijk gebied en ontginningsgebied Boom-Rumst.

VAN DYCK, V. (2008). Inventaris van de bestaande relicten van de steenbakkerijnijverheid in de Rupelstreek. Boom: samenwerkingsverband Rupelstreek . DECLERCK, J. , DE BRUYN, J. (2012): The ambition of the territory, Vlaanderen als ontwerp. Vlaamse Bouwmeester

PERSONAL COMMUNICATION:

DE BEN, J. Emabb guided tour of the ecomuseum and archives of the boom brickworks. (Personal communication, 06 February 2015, 23 February 2015).

SWENDEN, L. ‘Toerisme Rupelstreek’, guided tour Wienerbergen. (Personal communication, 24 February 2015).

LECTURE:

DR. JO VERGUNST. Research methods - Heritage and the unexpected - investigating people’s relation with the past. (24 April 2015)

MAPS:

Google Maps 2015. Geopunt.be

STATISTICS:

FOD Economie - Algemene Directie Statistiek en Economische informatie (http://statbel.fgov.be/nl/ statistiek/cijfers/bevolking/structuur/woonplaats/)

URL’s:

https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be http://www.unesco.org http://www.tomasnolletenhildehuyghe.be/projecten/woningen/a408-woning-brugge - 87 -

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FIGURES: Fig. 1: View on the Rupel (ref: de milieuboot) Fig. 2: Situating the Rupel region Fig. 3: Impressions of the Rupel region Fig. 4: The drying sheds and chimneys was a common view for the whole region - 20th century (ref: Ten boome) Fig. 5: Ferraris historical map Hellegat and Noeveren - 18th century (ref: geopunt.be) Fig. 6: Topview Hellegat and Noeveren - 21st century (ref: geopunt.be) Fig. 7: Section south -east Fig. 8: Population of Niel (1846-2015) (ref. fgov.be) Fig. 9: Statistics - 2013 (ref. niel.be; boom.be ; fgov.be) Fig. 10: New developments Hellegat - Housing Fig. 11: New developments Noeveren - work and living (ref: arcase.be) Fig. 12: Section Hellegat north-south Fig. 13: Model green area Hellegat and Noeveren (scale 1/2000) Fig. 14: Model industrial area Hellegat and Noeveren (scale 1/2000) Fig. 15: Model residential area Hellegat and Noeveren (scale 1/2000) Fig. 16: Section Noeveren west-east Fig. 17: Protected buildings in Hellegat and Noeveren (ref: geopunt.be) Fig. 18: Mapping local cafés in Hellegat and Noeveren Fig. 19: Locate informal conversations with locals and newcomers Fig. 20: Mapping of local knowledge and experiences through interviews Fig. 21: Laborers built on the dike Fig. 22: Laborers built along the dike Fig. 23: Laborers with outbuildings and garden Fig. 24: Situating the residential typologies Fig. 25: Typologie ‘Walenhoek’ Fig. 26: Typologie ‘Averechse roat’ Fig. 27: Typologie ‘Blauwe pan’ Fig. 28: Model ‘ Walenhoek ‘ scale 1/100 Fig. 29: Model ‘ Averechse roat’ scale 1/100 Fig. 30: Model ‘street Fiona’ scale 1/100 Fig. 31: ‘Sloepkes’ Fig. 32: Alleys Fig. 33: Tunnels Fig. 34: Community streets Fig. 35: Mapping local meshwork Fig. 36: Fragmentation Rupel Region Fig. 37: Threshold applied in the Rupel region Fig. 38: Conceptual Scheme building along the Rupel Fig. 39: Conceptual Scheme Rupel vision. Fig. 40: Masterplan Hellegat and Noeveren Fig. 41: Conceptual scheme Vision on the ‘Walenhoek’ Fig. 42: Conceptual scheme Vision on area’s near to the water. Fig. 43: Mapping the existing meshwork in Hellegat as an abstract representation. Fig. 44: Mapping the existing meshwork including community buildings in Hellegat as an abstract representation. Fig. 45: Implantation model Hellegat scale 1/500 Fig. 46: Interior picture church Hellegat (Book: Hellegat by Wilfried Van den Mosselaere) Fig. 47: Situation plan church Hellegat

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241

FIGURES: Fig. 48: Situation plan with view points Fig. 49: Implantation model scale 1/500 Fig. 50: Floor plan - ground level Fig. 51: Floor plan - first level Fig. 52: Section AA’ Fig. 53: Situation plan with view points Fig. 54: Implantation model - Youth movement (scale 1/500) Fig. 55: Floor plan - ground level Fig. 56: Floor plan - first level Fig. 57: Section AA’ Fig. 58: Existing housing situation with meshwork Fig. 59: Future housing situation with expanded meshwork Fig. 60: Topview Model future housing situation with expanded meshwork - scale 1/200 Fig. 61: Model future housing situation with expanded meshwork - scale 1/200

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243

244

may lynn doll

245

reshaping a work-live community

gratitude goes to my aunt and grandmother who helped

me to be the person out the years.

Thanks

I am today and for the support through-

to my mom and

were difficult.

Nicolas

for helping me when times

Jan De Ben, our guide, who provided us with a lot of information about the history and the local inhabitants that shared their stories.

Thank

you

dedication.

Marc Dujardin

would like to thank

for the interesting lectures and

GisĂ¨le

for the guidance and the en-

lightenment, for being a teacher in its sincerest form.

246

RESHAPING A LIVE WORK COMMUNITY

247

248

Table of contents Introduction The Cuesta (‘kwԑstә) of the rupel region. 243

Rupel Region abstract the flow of the rupel momentary impressions inquiry of the rupel

253

noeveren and hellegat surviving hamlets understanding scale hidden typologies informal encounters cultural matrix

267

Masterplan into the fragile tissue perception

285

Architectural implementation framework inquiry of noeveren design strategy process concept project

297

Case shaping an idea

355

Bibliography and Citations 363

249

Residential

Industry

Public Green

Fig. 01: Models representating the density today of different zones and how they actually claim the landscape. relative to each other.

250

The Cuesta (‘kwԑstә) of the rupel region

New challenges for its Cultural Heritage (1) Problem Statement Over

the last years the

Rupel

region has undergone sev-

eral reevaluations after a period of negligence.

Currently

most of the attention is related to recreational aspects.

This

resulted in lush nature reserves with leisure activities

scattered across the area. Although the changes are adding

value, the real charm lies within the history of the region.

Both the industrial heritage as well as the local identity, are

shaping a historical framework.

Throughout

the area of the

Rupel Region

industrial sites,

dwellings as well as nature are found consecutively of each other.

The

origin of these sequences can be traced back to

the industrial activities of the brickworks, whereas intensive clay extraction shaped an irregular landscape with large differences of heights. tion of this region.

The

landscape determined the composi-

Settlements were arranged in such a manner that they were as close to the clay pits as possible. Living and working was so entwined that daily life only revolved around the brick industry. In

Noeveren, a

surviving hamlet of the brick-yard

industry, you can still perceive life from that time. The only difference is the absence of the activity hence the vivacity of daily life.

Even

though

Noeveren

has become an attractive

place to visit, local inhabitants are moving away from the static environment.

Regulations

concerning the preservation

of the townscape are often an obstacle for new households as well as for locals maintaining their houses.

This is at the

expense of the local heritage that is in need of rescue.

Research Question Could the existing fragile tissue be reinforced by local businesses, as a carrier for tourist and local inhabitants, where living and working can work hand in hand, within the historical framework?

(1) Master Dissertation Assignment by Gisèle Gantois 251

252

Table of contents Introduction The Cuesta (‘kwԑstә) of the rupel region. 243

Rupel Region abstract the flow of the rupel momentary impressions inquiry of the rupel

253

noeveren and hellegat surviving hamlets understanding scale hidden typologies informal encounters cultural matrix

267

Masterplan into the fragile tissue perception

285

Architectural implementation framework inquiry of noeveren design strategy process concept project

297

Case shaping an idea

355

Bibliography and Citations 363

253

F254 ig. 2: Picture shows how the booming brickyards were representing the riverbank. Picture taken inside the Museum frateur from EMABB.

255

Situation The Rupel Region is located between Brussels and Central Antwerp. Near the highways A12 and E19, the area has an ideal connection to Brussels, Antwerp and Mechelen. We include 5 municipalities along the right bank of the Rupel, to the area called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the Rupel regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Together Rumst, Boom, Niel, Schelle and Hemiksem shape the industrial landscape. The scattered landscape of the Rupel region where the land still shows the scars of the past decades cannot be ignored. Abundant industrial debris and clay pits are representing a unique landscape that holds beautiful green spaces intertwined with the present cultivation.

green spaces

abundant industrial debris settlements

256

Fig. 03: Section representating the landscape found today. Section through the existing site of the brickyard Frateur and surroundings.

settlements

ABSTRACT

Antwerp

Hemiksem

A12 E19

Schelle

Niel

Boom Rumst

Mechelen

Brussels

Fig. 04: map showing the situation of the rupel region

257

Fig. 05: Picture taken from the dike towards the water, near hellegat in Niel

258

THE FLOW OF THE RUPEL

>ripa [oever]

The Rupel does not have a source, but originates at the confluence of the Nete and Dijle. Even though it is only 12 km long, the Rupel is an important tributary of the Schelde as a connection between Brussels and the North Sea. A new and better connection near Wintam resulted in closing the canal Willebroek - Rupel. But today it has been reopened for leisure facilities and is developed as a marina. By digging a new canal, two islands arose at the Rupel: Southern and Northern island. The northern part is assigned to be a nature reserve.

Schelde

The water quality of the Rupel is still under the acceptable Brussels through the Zenne. The high industrial activity in the Rupel Region doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t contribute to the water quality either. Since norm, in consequence of the effluent coming from

1998 the water quality is slightly improving due to efforts of the factories and water purification infrastructure. A ris-

North island

ing awareness and appreciation of the beautiful river and its

Rupel

marches gives the

Rupel more chances to prosper.

South island

Nete

Dijle

Zenne

Fig. 06: Map explaining the situation of the rupel river

259

temporary installation summer bar in

Hemiksem

bicycle path that crosses the factory ‘Coeck’ in

Niel

power plant electrabel in

contrast between the fire station and ‘t geleeg in

Fig. 07: Pictures on site showing unique characteristics of the region

260

Schelle

Rumst

local appropriation with unknown function in

Niel

large - scale developments along the river bank of

Niel

MOMENTARY IMPRESSIONS

Walking

as a method of triggering the mind.

Through

this

way of travelling you get the time to really appreciate your surroundings.

Trying

to understand the underlaying mesh-

work by chance of interaction. The experiences encountered are drawn and noted in small jot booklets, that allows you to easily scribble along the way. (2)(3)

When you immerse into the region, several oddities surface. You come across different layers that are creating a unique landscape and as such shaping the region. A few of these encounters were: _ Abandoned

industrial halls with a temporary summer bar

along the rupel embankment of

_ The

Hemiksem

former electrabel power plant that claims the land-

scape

_ Informal

settings where vacant spaces were appropriated

by locals in

Niel

bike path where the scenery changes from a beautiful

river to a concrete factory

_ Brick-yard

museum in contrast with the surrounding in-

dustries

_ Large apartement buildings taking over the river bank These fragmented scenarios reoccured throughout the rupel region. All somehow entangled with beautiful nature reserves. This

fragmentation can be seen as a negative aspect of the

region or rather as a quality that strengthens it. these actions or interventions show how they

(i.e.

All

locals,

investors, companies, the municipality,...) deal with the environment.

From

some examples conclusions can be made on

how to proceed in the future.

my design proposal the

fragmented accessibility of the rupel dike, can be seen as a positive aspect.

This

disconnection enforces an interaction

with the historical tissue.

(2) Master Dissertation Assignment protocol for walking by Gisèle Gantois (3) ‘Being Alive: Essays on Movement, Knowledge and Description’ by Tim Ingold

261

Fig. 08: Scheme of the fragmented zones scattered over the region.

262

INQUIRY OF THE RUPEL REGION

| Discovering

the area, you are passing through scattered

fragments that are part of the representation of this region.

Because

of the industrial activities of the past decades, the

landscape was contributing to this fragmentation.

The one thing that remained in the Rupel region is the Rupel The rupel river connects the 5 municipalities which all have different features. river itself.

Towards

a global vision on the region, there are three

thresholds described that can be reflected on in the specific area. (4)

_ Physical thresholds _ Visual thresholds _ Mental thresholds The physical thresholds are discernible in the landscape. The sharp contrast of levels entails a certain requirement of mobility and a different approach towards building.

the

other hand the physical threshold can be seen as the creator of the social meshwork. The specific and unique characteristics of the region are due to these physical thresholds.

Fig. 09: Scheme of experiencing thresholds

Visual thresholds occur frequently throughout the region. Beautiful greenscape dominates certain areas, giving you the experience of being in a forest. On the other hand, high apartement buildings along the Rupel river are absorbing all surrounding qualities and giving nothing in return. They become a visual boundary for locals who are in the background. As for the mental threshold, a lot of elderly people remain in their setting, therefore most parts of the area are not part of their daily life. This mental boundary is very present and although it is within their reach, they stay inside their comfort zone. It

is important to create favourable conditions where these

thresholds are tackled or considered.

Rather

than creating

obstacles, the approach should be to emphasize the qualities of the region and bringing back the qualities of the hinter-

land. By evaluating the different thresholds you learn more about the potential of the area.

(4) Pieper J., 1980. Ritual Space in India: Studies in Architectural Anthropology. London: Art and Archaeology Reasearch Papers.

263

Fig. 10: Global map of the rupel region. Emphasis on the Rupel itself. 264

Rupel lies the hinterland as What if the hinterland becomes the waterfront? Could the quality of the Rupel then be extended to a quality of the whole region? the shadow of the

a forgotten space.

The Rupel

has become an attractive haven in contrary to the industri-

the rupel.

al port it was before. tage of.

But

Now

people would pay a lot of money to

live along

has become a privileged area where investors take advan-

the qualities of the region go further than only the rupel.

265

266

Table of contents Introduction The Cuesta (‘kwԑstә) of the rupel region. 243

Rupel Region abstract the flow of the rupel momentary impressions inquiry of the rupel

257

noeveren and hellegat surviving hamlets understanding scale hidden typologies informal encounters cultural matrix

267

Masterplan into the fragile tissue perception

285

Architectural implementation framework inquiry of noeveren design strategy process concept project

297

Case shaping an idea

355

Bibliography and Citations 363

267

SURVIVING HAMLETS

Each

time you immerse yourself into the rupel region, you

become more aware of your surroundings and recognize the unique characteristics the region possesses. By locating these characteristics we selected our area of interest. our specific research is focused on

Therefore Hellegat and Noeveren.

Through the research that we had done, it was clear that Noeveren and Hellegat were affected most of dilapidation. Both hamlets still hold a certain dynamic which is not able to fully flourish because of lack of structure. This relating to both the social structure as well as the quality of housing. Both settlements arose from the brickyard industry and as a consequence retain certain characteristics. Due to the closing of these activities, the hamlets were also fading in existence. Hellegat and noeveren, respectively belong to the municipalities of Niel and Boom. Even though they are not part of one municipality, they had a closer connection towards each other than with their own town. They shared facilities such as the parish house and the local school in hellegat. Even the announcements of the school were titled hellegat-noeveren.

Fig. 21: Schoolpaper announcement of july 1946. 268

HEMIKSEM

SCHELLE

NIEL

BOOM

PUURS

RUMST

WILLEBROEK

NIEL Total Surface Area Built Residential area Other Inhabitants Density 0-17 18-64 > 65 Average income Unemployement % Immigrants

BOOM 5.27 km2 42.28 % 17.83 % 39.90 % 9833 (2014) 1865.57 inhabitants/km2 21.41 % 60.37 % 18.22 % 16.181 euro/inhab. 3.20 % 5.60 %

Total Surface Area Built Residential area Other Inhabitants Density 0-17 18-64 > 65 Average income Unemployement % Immigrants

7.37 km2 34.31 % 18.64 % 47.05 % 17.231 (2014) 2339.46 inhabitants/km2 21,22 % 59.42 % 19.36 % 15.500 euro/inhab. 11.20 % 7.20 %

Fig. 22: Demographical and geographical data of Niel and Boom 2013. 269

UNDERSTANDING SCALES

collecting demographical and geographical information of the

areas, you can read the composition of the hamlets.

While

both

settlements cover a similar surface area, there are significant differences to be noted.

Noeveren

Hellegat are old Noeveren has maintained most of the relicts. 13% of noeveren comprises of a museum, whereas only 0.3% of Hellegat belongs to a museum. During the past years, Hellegat has undergone a lot of change. A lot of debris was demolished to make room for new developments. Now 22% of Hellegat is a residential area in contrary to the 7,5% of Noeveren. The density of the built area does not differ much, but the number of inhabitants is nearly double the number in Hellegat. as well as

settlements of the brickyard industry, but only

Noeveren | ‘Ten Oeveren’ [ At the shore] Noeveren, situated on the left side of the a12, is part of the municipality of Boom, but over the past decades Noeveren has been overlooked. Barely any new developments have been made, except of those concerning the preservation of the remaining relicts that are part of the emabb museum. Is the a12 separating the hamlet from the city center or is the classification of the site the reason why this hamlet has been neglected?

The poor state of the hamlet together Noeveren.

with the other factors contribute to the dilapidation of

Hellegat | Hella [ Goddess of the underworld] -Gat [ estuary] Although Hellegat was a thriving community during the brickworks, today it seems to fade away along with most of the activity. Local shops were lining the streets and a strong neighborhood was present. Unfortunately important functions disappeared, leaving a small community behind. The local school closed, the postoffice moved, the butcher closed his shop,...In the 80’s there was a brief revival of the hamlet and reassessment of the area started. The construction had started and Hellegat was given a new life. The dike of the Rupel was heightened to avert problems of inundations (floods) and in the 90’s social houses were built behind the church. In 2004 a whole new district was added where the brickyard Damman was situated. The only remaining artifacts of the Industry is the horse stable from the factory Damman, ring oven from De Neef, Bridges and tunnels, and the rebuilt drying sheds near the youth house. In 2012 the horse stable was given to the municipality who had foreseen a new function. Sadly today the horse stable, originally a protected building, was demolished due to lack of funding. (9)

(9) Van de Mosselaer, Wilfried. Hellegat. Niel: Wilfried van de Mosselaer. 2012. 270

NIEL

BOOM

HELLEGAT

NOEVEREN NOEVEREN

Total Surface Built Residential area Musea Industry Inhabitants Density

NIEL

0.40 km2 27,91 % 7,47 % 13.05 % 3,79 % 600 (2013) 1500 inhabitants/km2

BOOM

HELLEGAT

NOEVEREN

HELLEGAT Total Surface Built

0.42 km2

Residential area Musea Industry

21,97%

Inhabitants Density

24,02 % 0.3 % 0.5% 1100 (2013) 2619 inhabitants/km2

Fig. 23: Demographical and geographical data of Noeveren(Boom) and Hellegat (Niel). 271

Fig. 24: Images taken on site during the informal conversations. CAFE DE KOOPHANDEL

DAAN’ S WIFE

LEONA - 87 YEARS

ONE OF THE THREE LAST REMAINING CAFES IN NOEVEREN AND HELLEGAT.

LIVES IN THE MASTER HOUSE OF THE FRATEUR, WHICH IS NOW SEPERATED IN TWO HOUSES.

WHILE ENTERING THE CAFE THROUGH THE FRONT ENTRANCE PEOPLE STARED AT US AND WE DID NOT FEEL WELCOME.

FORMER WORKER OF THE BRICKYARDS IN THE SUMMER WHILE IN THE WINTER SHE WORKED AT THE SHOE FACTORIES.

STRUCTURE OF LIFE IS SCATTERED. NOEVEREN HAS BECOME A DORMITORY VILLAGE. THEY COME TO NOEVEREN JUST TO SLEEP BUT GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO WORK AND FOR RECREATION.

REGULAR COSTUMERS WHO HAVE A TAB EVERYONE SITS AT SEPERATE TABLES, BUT WE CAN SEE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS EACH OTHER WELL THROUGH THE SMALL CONVERSATIONS THEY ARE HAVING ACROSS THE ROOM.

LEONA IS NOSTALGIC FOR THE GOOD OLD TIMES. NEGATIVE TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW APPARTMENTS BUT THE EXTENTION OF THE BIKE PATH ALONG THE RUPEL IS A POSITIVE THING FOR THE LOCAL RESIDENTS. THERE ARE NO LOCAL SHOPS. LITTLE PARKS ARE NOT SAFE FOR CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THE DRUG PROBLEMS.

PEOPLE CONVERSATION ENTRANCE

272

WITH HER HUSBAND SHE BOUGHT THE HOUSE AND IT IS A COMPOSITION OF FORMER WORKER HOUSES.

NEIGHBOR

DAAN’S FAMILY

COMMUNITY FEELING IS LESS STRONG, BUT IT IS STILL PRESENT THROUGH THE SCALE OF THE STREET. THE PHYSICAL SURROUNDINGS DETERMINE HOW FAR THE CONTACT GOES. DAY RHYTHM: WAKE UP; EAT; CLEAN THE HOUSE; VISIT SON’S FAMILY ; LUNCH; EAT SOME PIE WITH NEIGHBORS; DINNER; WATCH TELEVISION WITH A FRIEND THAT LIVES IN THE SAME STREET; SLEEP

TACHA AND OWNERS

INFORMAL ENCOUNTERS CAME TO HELLEGAT TO WALK THE DOG ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

Through

FOUND THE RUPEL REGION ON THE INTERNET AS A LOVELY HIKING AREA.

you have the chance to see the region

WOMAN KNOWS THE REGION, BECAUSE HER PARENTS LIVE HERE.

the conversations made with

the locals, newcomers and visitors, through their eyes. Understanding how

they move throughout the vicinity, shows

how they use this unique environment.

RONNY ON HIS WAY TO ALVO SUPERMARKET BUT PREFERS THE LOCAL SHOPS. ALMOST NO SMALL TRADERS LEFT. WEEKLY MARKET IN NIEL ON TUESDAY AND IN BOOM ON THURSDAY NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITIES HAPPEN AROUND THE DRYING SHEDS OF THE FRATEUR, BUT HE AND HIS WIFE NEVER ATTEND. IT’S FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. HE KNOWS EVERYONE THAT PASSES BY. COMMUNITY IS PRESENT BUT STRUCTURE IS GONE. PEOPLE TRUST EACH OTHER: NO BIKE LOCK, SHOES OUTSIDE, OPEN GARDENS, ... BARELY ANY BURGLARY.

KEVIN AND SHARON ‘Averechtse root’

NEWCOMERS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY RENOVATE A LABOURER’S HOUSE, BOUGHT BY HIS FATHER. HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1910 AND ORIGINALLY THEY LIVED THERE WITH 14 PEOPLE. SHARON LIVES IN HOBOKEN AND KEVIN IN HEMIKSEM. THE COZY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE GOOD CONNECTION TO ANTWERP AND BRUSSELS ATTRACTS THEM TOWARDS THIS AREA. GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD FEELING AND A LOT TO DO IN SUMMER SUCH AS BBQ’S BUT THE CONTACT STAYS WITHIN THE PERIMETER OF THE STREET. THE FATHER OWNS ANOTHER HOUSE IN THE STREET. HE BOUGHT IT 15 YEARS AGO IN A STATE OF DECAY FOR 13.500 EUROS. THE HOUSE WAS UNINHABITED FROM 1700 UNTIL 2000.

BETTINA BLAUWE PAN MOVED HERE TWELVE YEARS AGO WHEN HER HUSBAND DIED. BEFORE SHE LIVED IN A HOUSE WITH SIX BEDROOMS AND IT BECAME TOO BIG FOR ONE PERSON. LIVES BY HERSELF IN A FORMER WORKERS HOUSE WERE THEY ORIGINALLY LIVED WITH NINE PEOPLE AND SHARED ONE TOILET WITH THE WHOLE STREET. THE MUNICIPALITY IS RECONSTRUCTING THE STREET BECAUSE OF FLOODING PROBLEMS. CLOSE NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTION AND VERY COSY ATMOSPHERE IN SUMMER. IT’S SAFE FOR THE GRANDCHILDREN TO PLAY UNDISTURBED IN THE STREET.

273

HIDDEN TYPOLOGIES

There are very specific characteristics present in the historical setting that tell a story. The industrial era of the rupel left a mark and with it a fragile tissue unique of its kind. You can read it in the landscape and in its architecture. Three specific typologies are retrieved in Hellegat and Noeveren. You can find different approaches on how people built in relation to the clay pits. _ Built on the slope _ Built in the slope _ Built inside the claypit

Fig. 25: Axonometry of typology built on the slope.

Fig. 26: Axonometry of built in the slope. 274

Current state | WalenhoEK

Extention of the house added later Main house that often dates from the 1900’s Nature Reserve Walenhoek Tourist route Local street to garages

Current state | Blauwe Pan Straat

Garden house | House

Private Garden

Main house that often dates from the 1900’s

Wild green space Local street to garages

Local inner street where the front door is situated

Current state | “Averrechtse Root”

House | local street |Garden house | Garden | Garage

Garden house | House Main house that dates from the 1890’s

Local street to garages and houses

Private Garden

Local inner street where the front door is situated

Fig. 27: Axonometry of the existing typolgies in the area.

275

Fig. 28: Models showing different sections present in the landscape.

The

three model sections shown translate the relation between the housing and the land-

scape.

They

also display how the architecture adapted to its surroundings and dealt with

dissimilitude of heights. The houses were built for and by the brick-yard factories and thus subordinately to the activity. The origin of the typology is clearly read in sections where you

can see the various layers from the dike towards the lower clay pits. The brick industry was an activity that lasted for decades and was meant to continue. Building the houses near the factories was something practical and permanent. This means a long lifespan was intended.

276

HIDDEN TYPOLOGIES ‘DE SLOEPKES’ | TUNNELS | PASSWAYS

The entire region has a fragile meshwork connecting the different areas. Throughout the years inhabitants have adapted to this meshwork. De ‘sloepkes’, tunnels and passways are still used by the locals as a personal route. Some were privatised and others were closed. The cultural significance of these elements have been forgotten. Those that still remain in the urban tissue are from great quality for the inhabitants. They preserve a community atmosphere where common ground is possible. By locating these small routes you can see that they are fragmented and very specific. (10)

Fig. 29: Picture taken in ‘lepelstraatje’ Noeveren.

(10) Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter, 2013 277

Tunnel Bike route | Boomsestraat

278

‘Sloepke’ to back house | Hellegat

Fig. 30: Pictures taken on site of several sloepkes, tunnels and passways in the area.

Sloepke | Boomsestraat Walenhof

‘DE SLOEPKES’ | TUNNELS | PASSWAYS

“Averechtse root” Reversed street | Boom

Sloepke | Boomse Panstraat

Discovering

Closed Tunnel Frateur | Boomsestraat

the ‘sloepkes’ for the first time, we

called them alleys.

They

are recognizable by

their narrow passway and/or slope.

When

em-

phasizing them in the conversations made with locals, it became clear that these alleys were popularly known in the area as ‘sloepkes’. These

‘sloepkes’

originated together with the brick-

yard activity. They were an access point from the houses to the clay pits below. When mapping the

location of the ‘sloepkes’ you can identify them scattered over hellegat and

Noeveren. You

can

find them as well in other municipalities of the

Rupel Region, but most of them have disappeared because of new developments. Fig. 31: Map representing the amount of “Sloepkes”, passways and tunnels that are spread over the vicinity. Location pictures on map.

279

Fig. 32: Pictures of the ‘averechtse root’ inner street.

Fig. 33: Panoramic view of the ‘averechtse root’ on street level.

280

One of the oldest settlements of the brickyard industry is found in noeveren. Little working-class houses are aligned in the ‘averechtse root’. Literally this means the reversed street, where the ’main’ street is located on the backside. Most of the houses here don’t even have a front door and seem to be hidden in the street. Once you descend to the inner street, the houses start to become visible. A cozy neighborhood is discovered where people appropriated the

space. It becomes a local street that is open and welcoming, in contrast to the main road.

Fig. 34: Mapping situation ‘Averechtse root’ in Noeveren.

28145

Fig. 35 : Cultural matrix. Section sketch. Pictures taken on site.

SITE

CULTURAL MATRIX

TOWN

rupel regioN

iN summary

The

Niel aNd Boom

laNdscape sTill exhiBiTs The scars

of The Brick-yard iNdusTry of The pasT decades.

RELICTS

clay

oveNs,

dryiNg sheds aNd chimNeys are

preseNT iN The laNdscape aNd have Become

piTs aNd dikes, oN which

a poiNT of recogNiTioN. a place were The

iN The laNdscape. you caN compare iT wiTh

iTself has disappeared BuT The relicTs re-

The houses are BuilT, form a repeTiTioN a waffles sTrucTure.

local

seTTlemeNTs

were BuilT surrouNdiNg The piTs, where

hisTory comes To life agaiN. The iNdusTry maiNed which hold The sTories.

The acTiviTy Took place.

TYPOLOGY

SOCIAL STRUCTURES

The rupel regioN holds oNe of The pooresT ciTies iN The couNTry. eveN Though Tourism is flourishiNg, The local iNhaBiTaNTs are forgoTTeN. maNy houses are iN Bad coNdiTioNs aNd haveNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T BeeN resTored. The majoriTy of The resideNTs work ouTside The regioN or are uNemployed.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

282

The rupel regioN is mosTly kNowN for iTs recreaTioNal qualiTies. people from all over The couNTry come To visiT The area. force

of aTTracTioN :

NaTure culTural heriTage cycle rouTes walkiNg rouTes

local seTTlemeNTs were suBordiNaTe To The liviNg aNd wor-

oN goiNg Brick iNdusTry.

kiNg were iNTerTwiNed aNd life occurred iN aNd arouNd The clay piTs. local shops were

siTuaTed Near The houses. Today all local reTail BusiNesses have disappeared aNd re-

sideNTs have To go To large surface shops Near The ciTy.

The lasT TradiTioNal facTory was operaTioNal iN Boom where The museum emaBB is locaTed. several relicTs have BeeN resTored aNd fuNcTioN as museum duriNg The year BuT also fuNcTioNs as a place for eveNTs.

CULTURAL MATRIX NEIGHBORHOOD

PROJECT

hellegaT aNd NoevereN

iNformal

pass ways are scaTTered over

NoevereN

The

aBaNdoNed ruiN is oNe of The lasT

The regioN ThaT are remNaNTs of The iN-

Brickyards ThaT was operaTioNal iN This

called, were coNNecTioNs BeTweeN The

siNg TogeTher aNd surrouNded By col-

dusTrial life. These ‘sloepkes’, as They are

regioN. iT coNsisTs of several oveNs mas-

workiNg-class houses aNd The Brickyard

lapsed dryiNg sheds.

iNdusTry.

Today

The origiNal fuNcTioN is

TraNslaTed To a more privaTe characTer.

re-usiNg cerTaiN

elemeNTs TogeTher wiTh The meshwork, iT

will give shape To The New developmeNTs aNd Become aN acTive quarTer raTher ThaN a losT ruiN.

wiTh The NoevereN

oN The level of The NeighBorhood There are social commuNiTies eNgaged To several projecTs. uNforTuNaTely They are NoT always supporTed aNd couNTeracTiNg Because of The lack of faciliTies. They Too

ghosT TowN

will disappear wiThouT supporT from The

BiliTies iN The area would give The locals

muNicipaliTy.

more purpose aNd BriNg Back The spiriTed

BoTh

hamleTs are proTecTed as TowNscape

aNd sTricT regulaTioNs coNcerNiNg reNova-

TioN musT Be carried ouT. iT is imporTaNT To see how The seTTlemeNTs are orgaNised arouNd The iNdusTrial acTiviTies. This composiTioN characTerises This regioN.

proTecTioN of The TowNscape, has Become eveN more of a

. small

BusiNesses iN com-

BiNaTioN wiTh New housiNg would make The area aTTracTive agaiN. New joB possi-

commuNiTy.

re-iNTroduciNg a liviNg - workiNg eNviroNmeNT as iT was Before. The exisTiNg meshwork caN Be exTeNded Through The New developmeNTs ThaT Become parT of iT.

The

fragile Tissue ThaT was losT caN revive aNd Become sTroNger wheN The area regaiNs fuNcTioN.

283

284

Table of contents Introduction The Cuesta (‘kwԑstә) of the rupel region. 243

Rupel Region abstract the flow of the rupel momentary impressions inquiry of the rupel

257

noeveren and hellegat surviving hamlets understanding scale hidden typologies informal encounters cultural matrix

277

Masterplan into the fragile tissue perception

285

Architectural implementation framework inquiry of noeveren design strategy process concept project

297

Case shaping an idea

355

Bibliography and Citations 363

285

Accessibility along the water via path Fig. 36: Map 286

the

rupel

region

not accessible

pointing

out

the

accessibility

poorly accessible

along

the

water.

Zoom

accessible

Noeveren.

INTO THE FRAGILE TISSUE

Accessibility along the water through a path When

analysing the accessibility along the rupel dike you can see that a lot of spaces are out of reach. The dike along Noeveren is almost completly non-accessible or poorly accessible. This fragmentation along the water is due to the fragmentation in the region. Industries, dwellings and green spaces are representing the dike in succession of each other. This determines how accessible the dike is. This fragmentation is not always a bad thing. In noeveren the dike is disconnected so you are forced to go into the neighborhood. You get the opportunity to see the cultural heritage the area has to offer. By doing so, the dike keeps a more private character where locals and visitors can enjoy the view.

Built surface in hellegat and Noeveren By

accentuating the built space you can see how it is or-

ganised and how the landscape has been appropriated.

B eWalenhoek, while prominent. In hellegat

hind hellegat, you have the nature reserve around noeveren industrial sites are

you notice the new developments that are very organised in contrast with the old settlements that built around the clay pits.

Fig. 37: Sketch Noeveren.

representing the built scale in and around

Hellegat

and

287

Local inner street Open tunnels Closed tunnels Public ‘sloepkes’ Privatised ‘sloepkes’ Passways

288

Fig. 38 : Global plan where all existing sloepkes, tunnels and passways are indicated. Privatised and public.

INTO THE FRAGILE TISSUE

After

locating all the ’sloepkes’, passways and tunnels you

can divide them into two categories:

_public or privatized concerning the ‘sloepkes’ _public or closed for the tunnels First there are those that are still open and in use. They don’t have the same function as before but are appropriated by the locals. Secondly you have a lot of ‘sloepkes’ that are privatised and tunnels that have been filled and closed. Most ‘sloepkes’ are private because today they lead to a private garden while before they were a way to access the clay pit. Some of them are also integrated in the houses. A house had two front doors, one to go straight to the clay pit and another one to enter the dwelling. A lot of tunnels have been closed.

289

Fig. 39 Masterplan

defining the project zones, visions on the area and the

existing meshwork that is part of the studied area.

Privatised passways Re-inforced zones along the water Current â&#x20AC;&#x153;sloepkesâ&#x20AC;? | Tunnels | Passways Natural boundary Chosen sites for development Vision development along the water Vision development Walenhoek

290

PERCEPTION

Masterplan Hellegat & Noeveren

When

investigating our specific research area, we could de-

Hellegat Noeveren. Both have lost this function throughout the years since the decline of the brick activity. Together with the new project sites, we created visions on problematic areas within our research field. First vision concerns the areas located along the water. These spaces are taken in by investors and are often developed as ‘seaside’ apartments. Our second vision relates to the site of ‘Walenhoek’, where a touristic route cuts between the houses and the nature reserve. termine two zones to develop as new centers for and

291

Fig. 40: Section and 180o pictures of the current situation concerning new developments along the water. 292

PERCEPTION

Vision Development

As a global vision towards the site there are two cases where a different approach can be handled than the one taking place today.

Looking at the waterfront today, investors are building high

rise apartment buildings while other dwellings are left in the backcloth. The dike should be accessible physical as well as visual. New developments shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t dominate the dike but

rather be part of the dike as a transition space. Two distinctions can be made between a natural and an architectural intervention.

When

approaching the waterfront with a new

development, the relation from the water and the landscape behind should be maintained.

This

can be visual, physical as

well as mentally. Through the design, the vacant spaces along the water can become approachable again. Today many places are not accessible along the water and literally become a threshold for many people.

make it more accessible, you

can also approach it on a more natural way by extending the dike inwards.

This

creates a new platform where the activi-

ty can be extended.

Now you have a long straight bike path Rupel with almost no facilities supporting the people that walk or bike there. The extra space created can be a brief stop in the journey. along the

WATERFRONT PERCEPTION

Architectural intervention

Natural intervention Fig.41: Visions on how to approach the waterfront for further development. 293

Fig. 42: Section and 180o pictures of the current situation concerning the edge of the walenhoek.

294

PERCEPTION

Vision Development

Each

edge of the walenhoek has a different identity.

The

walenhoek is surrounded by a railway, an entrance of the wienerberger site, open edge and housing.

Concerning

the

housing, there are different layers between the houses and the walenhoek.

tween the two.

The

touristic route is located between the

houses and the walenhoek and thus creating a boundary behouses are closed towards the nature

reserve while the view is fantastic. All relations have disap-

peared and the public route is separating both sides. You get this leftover space that has great potential.

relocating

the touristic route lower in the pit, the leftover space can be a common ground for the houses where the relations are restored.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;WALENHOEKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; PERCEPTION

Fig. 43: Vision on how to approach the edge of the walenhoek.

295

296

Table of contents Introduction The Cuesta (‘kwԑstә) of the rupel region. 243

Rupel Region abstract the flow of the rupel momentary impressions inquiry of the rupel

257

noeveren and hellegat surviving hamlets understanding scale hidden typologies informal encounters cultural matrix

277

Masterplan into the fragile tissue perception

285

Architectural implementation framework inquiry of noeveren design strategy process concept project

297

Case shaping an idea

355

Bibliography and Citations 363

297

1842-1879

1979-1990

2012

Fig 44 : Evolution of noeveren in time 298

FRAMEWORK Noeveren

is one of the last remaining settlements of the

brickyard industry where several relicts are intact. This re-

sulted in the protection of the area with museum function.

The

I have chosen was a former ‘Gebroeders Lauwers’. they were

site that

company

2006,

brickyard of the operatable until

when they were obliged to shut down due to envi-

ronmental issues. Now a large infrastructure is squandering while there is a need for new developments. The relicts are part of the townscape but aren’t protected as monument. (11)

The local settlements are found on the edges of the clay pits. They were all a result of the brickyard industry where living and working went hand in hand. Working-class houses were subordinated to the working environment. This lead to poor living conditions and lack of comfort concerning the dwellings.

Local vive

businesses the

to re-

combined with housing can help

neighborhood.

People

should

want

there rather than pulling away from the area.

live

cre-

ating favorable conditions concerning the living environment as well as the work environment, this neighborhood

can

than

attraction.

touristic

restaurant along the water can work for and together

with the local businesses, tourists and locals.

The

water

becomes an attractive point while today it is disconnected.

When

having all the necessities close by

the inhabi-

tants have more time to enjoy life rather than being on the road all the time.

Everybody

could benefit from the-

se close relations on different levels.

By re-using the reLauweres, new life is environment. There are

maining structure of the brickyard given to the old factory and its

too many vacant spaces squandering while building ground is scarce.

Renovation

and attention towards the buil-

dings is needed to force the reduction of vacant spaces.

Fig 45 : Picture front ensemble site Lauwers (11) De Ben, Jan. Information protection site and reallocation area.

299

Fig. 46 : Sketch built scale in and around noeveren

Fig. 47: Image of nature present in and around noeveren

300

FRAMEWORK

Through emphasizing the built space and nature in noeveren, you become more aware of the impact on the environment. Nature is very present where the built structures are intertwined. This is one of the important characters in the region and should be preserved. The abundant green spaces are often remaining clay pits and are repeated throughout the area together with dwellings, heritage artifacts and industries.

Fig. 48: Noeveren situated in the rupel region

Fig. 49 : Site situated in noeveren

301

5 6

3 4 1 2

Fig. 50 : Map locating the â&#x20AC;&#x153;sloepkesâ&#x20AC;? that are still present around the site.

302

INQUIRY OF NOEVEREN

“SLOEPKES”

Fig. 51: Pictures taken on site of the present “sloepkes” surrounding the specific research area.

303

3 4

Fig. 52 : Map situating location from which point pictures are taken.

304

INQUIRY OF NOEVEREN

EXPERIENCE OF NATURE INSIDE THE CLAY PIT

Fig. 53 : Pictures of the abundant nature present in the claypit and near the water.

305

Fig. 54 : Map situating local street at the edge of the claypit.

306

INQUIRY OF NOEVEREN

AT THE EDGE OF THE CLAY PIT

Fig. 55: Pictures taken on site of a local inner street at the edge of the claypit.

307

1 3

Fig. 56 : Map situating brickyard Lauwers.

308

6 5

INQUIRY OF NOEVEREN

DEBRIS BRICKYARD LAUWERS

Fig. 57: Pictures inside the remaining brickyard factory of Lauwers.

309

7 5

6 2

Fig. 58 : Map with the location of the situations shown on the picture.

310

INQUIRY OF NOEVEREN

CONDITIONS SURROUNDING BRICKYARD LAUWERS

Fig. 59: Pictures showing the surrounding situation of the brickyard lauwers.

311

Fig. 60: Protected monuments, listed heritage and relicts in noeveren. Protected monument Heritage Relicts of the brickyard industry but not protected

312

INQUIRY OF NOEVEREN

When

asking locals more information about the brickyard

history of the region they immediately referred to the touristic information center of noeveren. ‘There is a whole museum around the topic’. And indeed when visiting noeveren you

are taken back in time with relicts of the brickyard industry still intact.

Local volunteers that acknowledged the impor-

tance of the remaining relicts of the brick industry found-

Emabb, Eco museum and archive of the Today it has grown and been successful

boom brickworks. in restoring and

preserving several relicts in the rupel region, as such cre-

ating an open-air museum. In 1975 the first step was taken in protecting the townscape of noeveren. They first focused on protecting the artisan brickyard of the

Frateur, but it wasn’t Eventually

until 1986 that it was protected as monument.

they were able to buy some remaining debris of the brickyard

Lauwers where they started the renovation of the oven in Few remaining workers houses are also restored with some office spaces. Their goal is to proceed in extending the heritage patrimony of the rupel region. (12) 1997.

Fig. 61: Buildings part of the emabb office and touristic visit.

(12) Emabb vzw. http://www.emabb.be/Nl/nl_0.htm

313

INQUIRY OF NOEVEREN RETAIL AND SERVICES

When investigating the amount of retail or services that are available for the locals within 1km perimeter you can make a distinction between small and larger services. The larger activities are often services provided for clients outside the perimeter, while the smaller businesses are intended for locals.

mapping these activities you can conclude what is

still missing in the neighborhood.

Fig. 62: 1km proximity of the site

314

osteopath

& physical therapist

beautician

cafe â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;de koophandelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bar baguette cafe noeveren

pharmacy

Fig. 63: Indication small retail and services within 1km proximity of the site

thrift shop

mostien ceiling mounting

jama nv. tiler vzw pagode organisation that helps people with a disability

lezze architecten

spirit yacht shipstorage/maker aarts bvba transport cleys industrial burners yacht-basin addit

marintec ship restoration

garage

frateur railway material

frateur bathrooms

Fig. 64: Indication large retail and services within 1km proximity of the site

possemiers electricity material

315

316

Fig. 65: Indication industrial zones in and around Noeveren

INQUIRY OF NOEVEREN

INDUSTRIAL ZONES

Industrial

zone with

SME’s (small

and medium-sized businesses)

- TNT express belgium - C&A distribution centre - STACI belgium (transport company) - Roma confiserie chocolaterie - ... Fig. 66: Image industrial terrain Krekelenberg, Boom

Former tile factory Today it has become a business center called ‘hoek 76’ Fig. 67: Image Scherpenhoek

The New Belgica former shipyard now a touristic information center about the new belgica

Fig. 68: Picture taken in front of the New Belgica

Former Zinc factory

Fig. 69: Overview picture Zinc factory was located

of where the former

317

Fig. 70: Situation business center in Noeveren

318

INQUIRY OF NOEVEREN

BUSINESS CENTER ‘SCHERPENHOEK’ The

Huybrechts repRupel in Noeveren, together with the brickyard of Lauwers, Frateur and Peeters Van Mechelen. Today you retrieve an innovative business center Scherformer

resented

the

ceramic brick

brickyard

industry

factory

along

the

penhoek where the emphasis lies in an ecological approach and that on different levels.

Ecological in the sense of flexibility, recyclable Scherpenhoek is a follow-up of the business center ‘hoek 76’ that is located near the recreational park the schorre in Boom. The huge success there made the investors want to extend. The idea is to give young entrepreneurs materials and green infrastructure.

the chance to focus on their company without worrying about the management of their building.

external company

the management of the business center the whole plot.

Paco Nv

does

like the maintenance of

lot of thought is put into ensuring a flexible

work environment. Different companies can rent or buy a unit, from

100m2 to 850m2. Aside from the 11 different units, there are 4 units provided with housing or office function.

Unfortunately

they are

not used as housing, but as extra office space next to the unit. concept of a business center does not miss success.

Only 1

This

small

unit is still for sale. All the others are sold to diverse companies. The biggest company situated on site is ‘Sky man international’, but you can find all kind of small and medium-sized businesses. (13)

Fig. 71: Overall image of the business center ‘Scherpenhoek’ in Noeveren

Fig. 72: Image of the housing connected to the unit (13) Hoek 76 business center. Phone call information about business center. http://www.bedrijfsunittekoop.be

319

DESIGN STRATEGY The

project of scherpenhoek was promoted as a unique and

lovely place to work and live. Unfortunatly this concept did

not work here. Even new plans for developing apartments on the main road were canceled and sold to an investor.

The

relation between living and working was so close that it was hard to realise the idea of living and working on the same space. Companies who bought the plot use the extra space as office space.

From this project several conclusions can be 3 different types can be made within the relation of working and living. made. First

_ Work environment is predominant _ Living environment is predominant _ Living and working is equally dominant When one function is more dominant than the other there is the danger of the dominant type completely taking over. This is what happend at Scherpenhoek. It is a business center with 15 large units for industrial activities and 4 housing units plugged on the outside. Secondly, both

functions have very different programs and

thus quite opposite characters.

home is not the same as

Scherpenhoek, it

does not look inviting to

your work place. As you can see on the interior pictures of a housing unit in live in.

The

dominance as well as the character is very im-

portant to consider during the development of the project.

A balance between working and living should be maintained.

By using in between spaces, it creates a transition zone from This in-between space can be translated to open green spaces, common used spaces and passways. that could strenghten the local meshwork. work to living space and the other way around.

Fig. 75 : Sketch dominance work or live environment and balance

Fig. 76: Pictures showing the interior of the housing unit 320

Fig. 73: Live-work environment during the brickyard activity

Fig. 74 : Live-work environment 21e century

321

Dwellings

322

DESIGN STRATEGY As

seen on the previous maps there is no need for big busi-

nesses.

Small

retail is missing in the area that can support

the local inhabitants.

For

the moment there are 2 cafes, a

Other

services that are provided, reach

sandwich bar, a pharmacy, a beautician and an osteopath within walking distance.

a wider public. But why would people want to work here?

_ Possibility to live close to your work _ Near the water _ Recreation facilities spread _ Good connection to Antwerp and Brussels _ Networking with other local businesses _ Surrounded by nature _ Great historical neighborhood The

site of the old brick factory

Lauwers

has the poten-

tial of creating a transition between the industrial zones and dwellings. A place where working and living can co-exist again.

A bakery

and local convenience store are located inside the

factory on a more central location towards the street.

removing an extention in front of the factory, the sidewalk is reintroduced.

Today the road, the bike path and the sideOn the right side you find smaller units that can be rented by small businesses. They share a common hall in front of the shared facilities. On the left you have the shared space for the inhabitants where extra space is provided that they may lack inside their house. The dwellings are located around the community space, creating different layers between working and living. walk are one.

Former brickyard Lauwers

Business center Scherpenhoek

Fig. 77: Section site Lauwers in Noeveren. 323

Fig. 78: Paper model showing the fragmented meshwork present in Noeveren.

Fig. 79: Paper model showing the possible extention of the meshwork.

324

DESIGN PROCESS

Fig. 80: First proposal masterplan in Noeveren

Fig. 81: Second proposal masterplan in Noeveren

Fig. 82: Third proposal masterplan in Noeveren

325

326

Fig. 83: Proposed Masterplan site Lauwers in Noeveren

PROJECT masterplan

A little

forest is hidden inside the building block and pro-

vides a beautiful view for the surrounding houses. It is important to maintain this for the residents as well for the fauna and flora that is present. By using water buffers along the pathways, the biodiversity is upheld and a natural border is created between the houses and the common path.

The fragmented meshwork that is present in the landscape is reinforced through the new pathways that connect living and working.

keeping the pathways to a minimum width neces-

sary for fire regulations, they stay informal.

Cars

are able

to reach their houses when needed, but the narrow walkway ensures no car can stay there for a long time.

The in between spaces create a balance between working and living. Green, common spaces or pathways define these spaces. The common space for the residents creates extra space they might lack in their own houses and becomes a social meeting ground.

The

hall shared by the local businesses creates a

platform for interaction, networking and events. The individ-

ual units are provided as workspace, while the hall provides the necessary facilities.

Looking at the existing structure of Lauwers some parts are The central

removed that could not have a valuable reuse.

hall was divided in small cells that were used to dry the bricks.

removing this hall a courtyard replaces this dark

hall and creates a transition zone between working and living.

The

extension of the old lavatories is also removed to

make space for a sidewalk, a meeting ground, a square. Today

the street is the road, the sidewalk and the bike path. Opening up the front gives back a center to

Fig.84: Existing situation today in Noeveren

Noeveren.

32791

Studio #persons

2 bedroom #persons

50-55 m2

110 m2 2-4

Fig.85 : Concept scheme. Organisation houses within structure. 328

1 bedroom #persons

1-2

3 bedroom #persons

110 m2 3-5

56.5 m2 1-2

4/5 bedroom #persons

160 m2 4-8

CONCEPT

Living

There is need for a lot of new houses in the area that meet a varied proposal. The houses are clustered with a mix of different types of living units so a mix of inhabitants can be achieved.

The

structure is a flexible timber construction

that can easily be adapted to the composition of the households.

The

structure maintains the same height everywhere

but varies in width according to the surface area needed. The common spaces provide the extra facilities that they may lack in the houses and by doing so the houses can stay compact.

The

houses frame the shared garden so a more community

feeling is created. The clusters follow the extension of the existing meshwork so it can strengthen again.

Fig.86 : Structural scheme houses 329

Common pathway

Private house Common garden

Water buffer natural border

private space

330

CONCEPT

Common space

The

local meshwork is of great importance to strengthen

the qualities of the region. It is one of the only things that remained from the brick industry and is of great cultural sig-

nificance. By extending the meshwork a new connection comes to existence between the new work environment and living spaces.

balance between both these new areas is created

through a common garden in the middle and a shared space for the inhabitants. Along the new pathways a water buffer creates a natural border that will

take in the surplus of

water during rainy seasons. Different layers between private, public and common are created through the water buffer, the

pathway, the brick wall, the private garden and private house

towards the common area. The shared space is a reused hall from the brickyard

Lauwers. To maintain its authenticity the

structure is preserved and insulated volumes for the facilities are placed inside the existing structure.

The

authentic

walls are kept and by using the composition it has today, no big constructions are needed. A concrete beam supports the

wall and makes it possible to create openings as they have done as well.

Shared space Common garden

Fig. 87: Section scheme showing relations between public and private. 331

332

Fig. 88: Plan Bussinesses. Compostion structure.

CONCEPT

Businesses

The existing structure provides a regular plan where several units can be created. On the left 8 individual units are provided of 65 m2 to 85m2. On the right side 6 units are provided of 130 m2 to 170m2. An insulated volume is placed inside the structure so it remains in its original state. The edges of the boxes are bending open towards the existing structure.

You

are always aware of the existing structure

and not hidden in the box.

The

common hall in front pro-

vides the extra facilities needed, such as a kitchen, lavatory, workshop space,.. It is an ideal place for social interaction and networking. Starting businesses can help each other. The

same as the offices, the services are located inside the insulated volumes. The spaces melt into each other. The boxes do not limit the space of the insulated volumes.

The common garden that is used by the locals as well

as the people working here.

On the left side the units are divided into smaller offices can be rented and on the right side larger units are available that take in two levels.

Local convenience store Bakery and coffee shop

Common hall where the facilities are provided

333

334

Fig. 89: Section through two housing units. Scale 1/50.

PROJECT

Living

335

Fig.90 : North elevation

336

Fig.91 : Clusters of houses. Groundfloor plan

337

Fig.92 : South elevation

338

Fig. 93: Clusters of houses. First floor plan

339

340

Fig. 94: Section shared space. Scale 1/100.

341

342

Fig. 95: Details section and plan of the houses. Scale 1/20.

PROJECT

Details 1:20

The

houses form a brick shell in the forest.

did not want

the new developments to overpower the site but rather be present inside the nature that is there.

Today

you find sev-

eral relicts of the brick industry hidden inside the abundant nature areas.

locating the houses along the informal

pathways and where collapsed relicts were, the surrounding nature stays untouched.

343

344

Fig.96 : Details section and plan of the houses. Scale 1/20.

PROJECT

Details 1:20

345

346

Fig. 97: Section shared space. Scale 1/100.

PROJECT

Common Space

347

Fig.98 : Details section common space. Scale 1/20. 348

PROJECT

Shared Space Details 1:20

The

shared space uses an existing structure from the for-

mer brickyard

Lauwers. It

is important to keep the features

the building has and that is why

chose for minimal inter-

ventions. By using insulated volumes inside the structure no extensive constructions had to be done. Insulating the complete building would have covered important features.

Only

the roof needs to be replaced by new roof cladding. A hidden profile at the edges creates a simple barrier so no pigeons or leaves could come inside.

349

Fig. 99: Section office units. Scale 1/100. 350

PROJECT

Working

The

same applies for the office spaces that reuse a large surface

of the former brickyard. The composition of the structure already creates different units that can be reused.

The

insulated volumes

are found within these units and are disappearing at the edges. The existing structure is visible and is not cut off.

seperated from the existing walls that are visible.

The

volumes are

351

352

PROJECT

Final Reflection

Through the historic and social research done on the region I use the qualities that are present to shape a new live-work environment. This demanded attention to several aspects specific of the neighborhood. The

project in

Noeveren

shows how new development can

be added into the existing tissue in a better way than investors are doing today with high-rise apartments along the water.

diverse neighborhood can develop again through

the new functions the area has been given and by building further on the meshwork that connects the local community.

This

social connectivity is of great significance in this

region whereas it is the only remaining structure left for the community. Today this connectivity is rather fragmented

and situated within the street. By tackling the fragmentation that repeats itself over the region, new transition zones are created without any hard borders. The strategy consists of

creating a balance between two different functions, living and working, and how they can revive the site of

This

Lauwers.

balance is achieved through the in between spaces that

become the transition zones.

Green

areas, common areas or

the meshwork that is strengthened, define the composition of the site. Through reviving the site of

Lauwers,

it regains

function while building further on the existing meshwork as well as adding value to the area. The new businesses create a new center that

Noeveren,

Noeveren had lost.

as well as many areas in the

waiting for a new vision. character in the area.

The

Rupel

region are

local heritage is an important

heritage lies within the people,

the landscape and the history.

Attention

to these qualities

gives new perspectives on how to deal with this fragile tissue.

There

is so much more potential for the region than just a

new waterfront filled with apartments.

353

354

Table of contents Introduction The Cuesta (‘kwԑstә) of the rupel region. 243

Rupel Region abstract the flow of the rupel momentary impressions inquiry of the rupel

257

noeveren and hellegat surviving hamlets understanding scale hidden typologies informal encounters cultural matrix

277

Masterplan into the fragile tissue perception

285

Architectural implementation framework inquiry of noeveren design strategy process concept project

297

Case shaping an idea

355

Bibliography and Citations 363

355

DnA House | BLAF architecten This

design is a great example of how to approach sustain-

ability on different levels besides energy values. The orientation of this building is very specific to obtain as much solar energy as possible and uses the slope that is present in the landscape to define the project.

Even structurally the design is very efficient. The walls form

a protective barrier in which you are free to organize the inner space.

With

a wooden insulated structure on the in-

side, reconversion of the place is easily possible. This makes it flexible and adaptable to the needs of the users over a long span of time.

356

Fig. 100: Plan and pictures of the project DnA. 357

House BS | Jo Taillieu | Francesca De Fonseca The project consists of a renovation of an old farm in Semmerzake where the construction of the house is hidden inside the remaining walls.

The

walls form a protection barrier

around the house as well as frame outside spaces surround-

ing the dwelling. Semmerzake also has a protected townscape to keep in account. Jo tallieu kept this into account while having an added value to the living quality.

Fig. 101: Images of the spacial qualities of the house BS in Semmerzake.

358

House N | Sou Fujimoto The concept approaches living in a whole different level. Inside or outside is not defined but intertwined. Each space has the quality of an outdoor space as well of an indoor space.

Fig. 102: Section and plan showing the different relations from inside to outside and vice versa. 359

NSDM â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kunststadâ&#x20AC;? | Amsterdam A

redeveloped factory in the nothern ij-bank in

has become an art city for more than

Squatters

200

Amsterdam

creative minds.

started this project by apropriating the empty

spaces and creating a place where working and living was possible. The motivation behind this grouping is both political as pedagogical.

The

project joins the diverse knowledge and

skills of its clients, users or collaborators.

The

converted

factory is now a haven for artists, designers, craftmen and supporting businesses.

You

can buy or rent a lot on which

you are free to design it to you needs. A steel construction is provided and the rest is your choice. part of the whole

NSDM

Kunststad

is only a

development along the water. It

has become an attractive place where working, living, leisure is combined.

Fig. 103: Picture and overview project NDSM in Amsterdam.

360

Business The

Scherpenhoek | Noeveren

center

Huybrechts represented, Lauwers,Frateur and Peeters Van Mechelen, the brick industry along the Rupel in Noeveren. Today you find an innovative business center Scherpenhoek where the emphasis lies in an ecological approach and that on different levels. Ecological in the sense of flexibility, recyclable materials and green infrastructure. Scherpenhoek is a follow-up of the business center ‘hoek 76’ that is located near the recreational park the schorre in Boom. The huge success there made the investors want to extend. The idea is to give young entrepreneurs the chance to foformer ceramic brickyard factory of

together with the brickyard of

cus on their company without worrying about the management of their building. An external company of the business center

Paco Nv

does the management

like the maintenance of the whole plot.

lot of thought is put into ensuring a flexible work environ-

ment.

Different

850m2. Aside

companies can rent or buy a unit, from

from the

different units, there are

vided with housing or office function.

Unfortunately

100m2

they are not

used as housing, but as extra office space next to the unit. concept of a business center does not miss success. unit is still for sale. nies.

The

All

units pro-

Only 1

This small

the others are sold to diverse compa-

biggest company situated on site is

‘Sky

man internation-

al’, but you can find all kind of small and medium-sized businesses.

Fig. 104: Overall image of the business center ‘Scherpenhoek’ in Noeveren

Fig. 105: Image of the housing connected to the unit 361

362

Table of contents Introduction The Cuesta (‘kwԑstә) of the rupel region. 243

Rupel Region abstract the flow of the rupel momentary impressions inquiry of the rupel

257

noeveren and hellegat surviving hamlets understanding scale hidden typologies informal encounters cultural matrix

277

Masterplan into the fragile tissue perception

285

Architectural implementation framework inquiry of noeveren design strategy process concept project

297

Case shaping an idea

355

Bibliography and Citations 363

363

364

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ARTICLES Bastiaens, Jan. “Onroerend erfgoed en natuur: een pleidooi voor samenwerking”. Ons heem, vol. 61 no. 4. 2008. p.34-40. Devuyst, Dimitri. “De kleiputten van de Rupelstreek: een uniek landschap in het gebied der grote rivieren”. Monumenten en landschappen,

vol. 8 no. 1. 1989. p.24-35.

De Vuyst, Hilbrand; De Schepper, Jo; Stevens, Kathy. “Herbestemmen van industrieel erfgoed”. Monumenten en landschappen, vol. 24 no. 1. 2005. p.6-21. Dubois, Marc. “Hergebruik van gebouwen in Europees perspectief”. Vlaanderen, vol. 47 no. 3. 1998. p.121-127. Dubois, Marc. “Voorbeelden van herbestemming in Vlaanderen”. Vlaanderen, vol. 47 no. 3. 1998. p.128-131. Dubois, Marc. “Nooit te oud om te renoveren: hergebruik van oude gebouwen”. Reflector, no. 5. 2006/2007. p.26-29. Lejon, Hugo. “Een industrieel-archeologisch site langs de Rupel”. Monumenten en landschappen, vol. 9 no. 4. 1990. p.21-28. Mampaey, Katrien. “Herbestemming van steenbakkerijen en kleiputten: toekomst voor de Rupelstreek?” De Aardrijkskunde, vol. 23 no. 1/2.

1999. p.95-106.

Plomteux, Greet; Vandenhoudt, Ingrid. “Voorstel tot bescherming van een dorpsgezicht: Noeveren bij Boom”. Monumenten en landschappen, vol. 2 no. 4. 1983. p.8-25. Van Cauwenberge, Sabine. “Gemeenten gebruiken erfgoed creatief”. Lokaal, no.21. 2005. p.27-29. ARTICLES AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET Met de milieuboot op de Rupel, de Nete en het Zeekanaal Brussel-Schelde Driemaandelijkse uitgave van De Milieuboot vzw / nummer 46 / september 2006 http://www.milieuboot.be/nieuwsbrieven/NBMB46_T2.htm REPORTS | PUBLICATIONS “Bedrijvencentrum Noeveren. Eeenfrisse wind aan de oevers van de Rupel.” pdf file. (2008) Accessed 21 may 2015. http://www.dimension. be/cms/grafisch/artikel/pdf/183-708%20NL.pdf “Cijfers bevolking 2010 - 2014”. excel file. Belgian federal government (2014). Accessed 09 may 2015. http://statbel.fgov.be/nl/modules/ publications/statistiques/bevolking/bevolking_-_cijfers_bevolking_2010_-_2012.jsp “Kaderplan ‘kleinstedelijk gebied en ontginningsgebied Boom-Rumst’. Eindrapport”. pdf file. Provincie Antwerpen (2014). Accessed 07 april 2015. http://www.provincieantwerpen.be/content/dam/provant/drom/dienst-gebiedsgericht-beleid/20141211_EINDRAPPORT_totaal_DEF_tg.pdf. “Profielschets gemeente Boom”. pdf file. Agentschap binnenlands bestuur, Studiedienst Vlaamse regering (2014). Accessed 09 may 2015. http://aps.vlaanderen.be/lokaal/pdf/gemeente-2014/Boom.pdf. “The Burra Charter: The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance”. pdf file. (2013) Accessed 08 may 2015. http://australia.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Burra-Charter-2013-Adopted-31.10.2013.pdf. Boodts, G., Van den Bergh, K., Maes, A., Dur- inck, P. “RUP poort tot noeveren”. pdf Accessed 07 may 2015. http://www.lne.be/merdatabank/uploads/nthnvg2090.pdf.

file.

Grontmij Vlaanderen, Gemeente Boom (2010).

365

De Winter, W. “Fusie van de parochie Sint-Jozef met O.-.L.-Vrouw-Geboorte Niel”. pdf file. Niel Parochie (2013). Accessed 23 march 2015http://www.kerknet.be/admin/files/assets/subsites/4/decreten/140220-samenvoeging%20parochies%20Niel%20(eindrapport). doc.pdf.pdf Immo rupel, Paco nv. “Verkoop en verhuur van bedrijfsunits en woningen. Bedrijvencenter Noeveren 56. Een nieuwe KMO zone voor kleine 76 Boom. Accessed 21 may 2015. http://www.hoek76.be/upload/noeveren56voorstelling.pdf.

volumebedrijven.” pdf file. Hoek

PERSONAL COMMUNICATION De Ben, Jan. Emabb guided tour of the ecomuseum and archives of the boom brickworks. (Personal communication, 06 february 2015, 23 february 2015). De Ben, Jan. Information protection site and reallocation area. (Email, 22 may 2015, 26 may 2015). Hoek 76 business center. Phone call information about business center. (Personal communication, 21 may 2015). Swenden, Luc. Guided tour of Wienerberger in Rumst. (Personal communication, 24 fberuary 2015). WEBSITES http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Sullivan (accessed

07 may 2015).

http://home.scarlet.be/~camaja/Artikels/Een%20steen%20en%20weinig%20meer%20in%20de%20maag.pdf

(Accessed 21 may 2015). https :// inventaris . onroerenderfgoed . be / dibe / relicten ? naam =& provincie =10000& gemeente =11005& deelgemeente _ naam =N oev eren&straat_naam=&typologie=&context=&datering=&stijl=&persoon_naam=&zoeken=zoeken (Accessed 20 may 2015). http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boom_(gemeente) (Accessed 12 march 2015). http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niel_(België) (Accessed 12 march 2015). http://www4.vlaanderen.be/dar/svr/Cijfers/Pages/Excel.aspx (Accessed on 09 may 2015). http://www.academia.edu/1909402/Archeologisch_onderzoek_naar_baksteenovens_in_Vlaanderen_een_overzicht (accessed 16 may 2015). http://www.archdaily.com/?p=423660 (accessed 12 may 2015). http://www.archdaily.com/7484/house-n-sou-fujimoto/ (accessed 13 may 2015). http://www.bedrijfsunittekoop.be (Accessed 21 may 2015) http :// www . dearchitect . nl / projecten /2006/11/S emmerzake +T aillieu +W oning +BS/ galerijen / galerij . html ? pic I ndex =1& pic Name=01-BS%20House%20150806.JPG#foto (accessed 24 march 2015). http://www.emabb.be http://www.geopunt.be http://www.ndsm.nl/gebouw/kunststad/ https://www.rainproof.nl/toolbox/maatregelen/wadis

366

WORKS Bosma, Koos; Kolen, Jan. Geschiedenis en ontwerp. Handboek voor de omgang met cultureel erfgoed. Nijmegen: Uitgeverij Vantilt. 2010. Corten, Jean-Paul; Geurts, Ellen; Meurs, Paul; Vermeulen, Remco. Heritage guide book. Rotterdam: Nai 010 publishers. 2014.

as an asset for inner-city development:

urban managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Ecomuseum en Archief van de Boomse Baksteen vzw. and EMABB vzw. Ten oever aan de rupel. Turnhout: Adrem intermediagroep. 2002. Linters, Adriaan; Vinck, Alex; De Keyser, Vic; Lejon, Hugo; Apers, Luc; Stuer, Eddie. Ecomuseum en archief van de boomse baksteen. Boom: EMABB. 1985. Meijer, Michael; Dubbeling, Martin; Marcelis, Antony. Sustainable Blauwdruk. 2010.

urban design.

The

next step.

Examples

and perspectives.

Wageningen:

Pieper Jan. Ritual Space in India: Studies in Architectural Anthropology. London: Art and Archaeology Reasearch Papers. 1980. Segers, Ruth; Van Den Broeck, Pieter. Handboek ruimtelijke kwaliteit : implementatie en evaluatie van ruimtelijke kwaliteit. Brussel: ASP. 2013.

het

Spindus-project :

praktische methoden voor de beoordeling,

Van dyck, Victor. Inventaris van de bestaande relicten van de steenbakkerijnijverheid in de Rupelstreek. Boom : Samenwerkingsverband Rupelstreek. 2008. Van dyck, Victor; Van Den Broeck, R. Niel en Hellegat uit potjeir gevormd en in vuur gebakken. Niel: Open monumentencomitĂŠ Niel. 2003. Van de Mosselaer, Wilfried. Hellegat. Niel: Wilfried van de Mosselaer. 2012.

367

368

CITATIONS

NOTES (1) Assignment Gisèle Gantois for the master dissertation (p7) (2) Assignment Gisèle Gantois for the master dissertation (p17) (3) ‘Being Alive: Essays on Movement, Knowledge and Description’ by Tim Ingold (p17) (4) Pieper J., 1980. Ritual Space in India: Studies in Architectural Anthropology. London: Art and Archaeology Reasearch Papers. Brought to our attention by Marc Dujardin. (p19) (5) Mampaey, Katrien. “Herbestemming van steenbakkerijen en kleiputten: toekomst voor de Rupelstreek?” De Aardrijkskunde, vol. 23 no. 1/2. 1999. p.95-106. (p25) Plomteux, Greet; Vandenhoudt, Ingrid. “Voorstel tot bescherming van een dorpsgezicht: Noeveren bij Boom”. Monumenten en landschappen, vol. 2 no. 4. 1983. p.8-25. Van dyck, Victor; Van Den Broeck, R. Niel en Hellegat uit potjeir gevormd en in vuur gebakken. Niel: Open monumentencomité Niel. 2003. (6) http://www.academia.edu/1909402/Archeologisch_onderzoek_naar_baksteenovens_in_Vlaanderen_een_overzicht. / Plomteux, Greet; Vandenhoudt, Ingrid. “Voorstel tot bescherming van een dorpsgezicht: Noeveren bij Boom”. Monumenten en landschappen, vol. 2 no. 4. 1983. p.8-25. (p26) (7)Plomteux, Greet; Vandenhoudt, Ingrid. “Voorstel tot bescherming van een dorpsgezicht: Noeveren bij Boom”. Monumenten en landschappen, vol. 2 no. 4. 1983. p.8-25. (p27) (8) Plomteux, Greet; Vandenhoudt, Ingrid. “Voorstel tot bescherming van een dorpsgezicht: Noeveren bij Boom”. Monumenten en landschappen, vol. 2 no. 4. 1983. p.8-25. (p29) (9) Van de Mosselaer, Wilfried. Hellegat. Niel: Wilfried van de Mosselaer. 2012. (p34) (10) Cultural significance “The Burra Charter: The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance”. (p41) (11) De Ben, Jan. Information protection site and reallocation area. (Email, 22 may 2015, 26 may 2015). (12) Emabb vzw. http://www.emabb.be/Nl/nl_0.htm (13)Hoek 76 business center. Phone call information about business center. (Personal communication, 21 may 2015). http://www.bedrijfsunittekoop.be

FIGURES Fig. 01: Models representating the density today of different zones and how they actually claim the landscape. relative to each other. Fig. 02: Picture shows how the booming brickyards were representing the riverbank. Picture taken inside the Museum frateur from EMABB. (06 february 2015) Fig. 03: Section representating the landscape found today. Section through the existing site of the brickyard Frateur and surroundings. Fig. 04: Map showing the situation of the rupel region. Fig. 05: Picture taken from the dike towards the water, near hellegat in Niel. Fig. 06: Map explaining the situation of the rupel river. Fig. 07: Pictures on site showing unique characteristics of the region. (11-12 november 2014) Fig. 08: Scheme of the fragmented zones scattered over the region. Fig. 09: Scheme of experiencing thresholds. Source: Pieper J., 1980. Ritual Space in India: Studies in Architectural Anthropology. London: Art and Archaeology Reasearch Papers. Brought to our attention by Marc Dujardin. Fig. 10: Global map of the rupel region. Emphasis on the Rupel itself. Fig.11: Section sketch explaining how the brickyards claimed and altered the landscape. Source: Ecomuseum en Archief van de Boomse Baksteen vzw. and EMABB vzw., 2002. Ten oever aan de rupel. Adrem intermediagroep, Turnhout. Fig.12: View over the brickwork activity along the rupel. Source: http://www.tenboome.webruimtehosting.net/IIZludr/sites/default/files/imagecache/ node-gallery-display/ddb/images/luchtfoto%20steenbak kerij%207-18.jpg Fig.13: Scheme of the representing typolgy of the brickyard industry. Drying sheds - Ringoven with chimney. Fig.14: Left to right: 1.Screenshot of a field oven. 2.Picture taken of an old ‘Paapoven’ ruin. 3. Picture of a ‘Klampoven’ ruin. 4. Sketch of the ‘Hoffmann’ ring oven and picture. Source 1&4: http://www.academia.edu/1909402/Archeologisch_onderzoek_naar_baksteenovens_in_Vlaanderen_een_overzicht. Source 4: Linters, Adriaan; Vinck, Alex; De Keyser, Vic; Lejon, Hugo; Apers, Luc; Stuer, Eddie. Ecomuseum en archief van de boomse baksteen. Boom: EMABB. 1985. Fig.15: Scheme process: shaping the clay - drying the clay on the fields - drying the clay in the drying sheds. Fig.16: Screenshot of an excavator. Picture of a model present in the emabb museum display a clay excavator. Source screenshot: Devuyst, Dimitri. “De kleiputten van de Rupelstreek: een uniek landschap in het gebied der grote rivieren”. Monumenten en landschappen, vol. 8 no. 1. 1989. p.24-35. Fig. 17: Previous situation Schorre in Boom. Source: Mampaey, K., 1999. Herbestemming van steenbakkerijen en kleiputten: toekomst voor de Rupelstreek? De Aardrijkskunde, 23 (1/2), pp.95-106. Fig. 18: Situation 1998. Source: Mampaey, K., 1999. Herbestemming van steenbakkerijen en kleiputten: toekomst voor de Rupelstreek? De Aardrijkskunde, 23 (1/2), pp.95-106. Fig. 19: Sketch section of the contours of the manmade landscape.

369

FIGURES Fig. 20: Sketch axonometric view of an existing typology adapted to the landscape. Before and after situation. Fig. 21: Schoolpaper announcement of july 1946. Source: Van de Mosselaer, Wilfried. Hellegat. Niel: Wilfried van de Mosselaer. 2012. Fig. 22: Demographical and geographical data of Niel and Noeveren. Source: “Cijfers bevolking 2010 - 2014”. excel file. Belgian federal government (2014). Accessed 09 may 2015. http://statbel.fgov.be/nl/modules/ publications/statistiques/bevolking/bevolking_-_cijfers_bevolking_2010_-_2012.jsp “Profielschets gemeente Boom”. pdf file. Agentschap binnenlands bestuur, Studiedienst Vlaamse regering (2014). Accessed 09 may 2015. http://aps.vlaanderen.be/lokaal/pdf/gemeente-2014/Boom.pdf. Fig. 23: Demographical and geographical data of Noeveren(Boom) and Hellegat (Niel). Source: De Winter, W. “Fusie van de parochie Sint-Jozef met O.-.L.-Vrouw-Geboorte Niel”. pdf file. Niel Parochie (2013). Accessed 23.03.2015. http://www.kerknet.be/admin/files/assets/subsites/4/decreten/140220-samenvoeging%20parochies%20Niel%20(eindrapport).doc.pdf.pdf Fig. 24: Images taken on site during the informal conversations. Fig. 25: Axonometry of typology built on the slope. Fig. 26: Axonometry of built in the slope. Fig. 27: Axonometry of the existing typolgies in the area. Fig. 28: Models showing different sections present in the landscape. Fig. 29: Picture taken in “lepelstraatje” Noeveren. Fig. 30: Pictures taken on site of several sloepkes, tunnels and passways in the area. Fig. 31: Map representing the amount of “Sloepkes”, passways and tunnels that are spread over the vicinity. Location pictures on map. Fig. 32: Pictures of the ‘averechtse root’ inner street. Fig. 33: Panoramic view of the ‘averechtse root’ on street level. Fig. 34: Mapping situation ‘Averechtse root’ in Noeveren. Fig. 35: Cultural matrix. Section sketch. Pictures taken on site. Section explaining how the brickyards claimed and altered the landscape. Source: Ecomuseum en Archief van de Boomse Baksteen vzw. and EMABB vzw., 2002. Ten oever aan de rupel. Adrem intermediagroep, Turnhout. Fig. 36: Map of the rupel region pointing out the accessibility along the water. Fig. 37: Sketch representing the built scale in and around Hellegat and Noeveren. Fig. 38 : Global plan where all existing sloepkes, tunnels and passways are indicated. Privatised and public. Fig. 39: Masterplan defining the project zones, visions on the area and the existing meshwork that is part of the studied area. Fig. 40: Section and 180o pictures of the current situation concerning new developments along the water. Fig. 41: Visions on how to approach the waterfront for further development. Fig. 42: Section and 180o pictures of the current situation concerning the edge of the walenhoek. Fig. 43: Vision on how to approach the edge of the walenhoek. Fig. 44: Evolution of noeveren in time. http://www.geopunt.be. Accessed 15 may 2015. Fig. 45: Picture front ensemble site Lauwers Fig. 46: Noeveren situated in the rupel region. Fig. 47: Site situated in noeveren. Fig. 48: Sketch built scale in and around noeveren. Fig. 49: Image of nature present in and around noeveren Fig. 50: Map locating the “sloepkes” that are still present around the site. Fig. 51: Pictures taken on site of the present “sloepkes” surrounding the specific research area. Fig. 52: Map situating location from which point pictures are taken. Fig. 53: Pictures of the abundant nature present in the claypit and near the water. Fig. 54: Map situating local street at the edge of the claypit. Fig. 55: Pictures taken on site of a local inner street at the edge of the claypit. Fig. 56: Map situating brickyard Lauwers. Fig. 57: Pictures inside the remaining brickyard factory of Lauwers. Fig. 58: Map with the location of the situations shown on the picture. Fig. 59: Pictures showing the surrounding situation of the brickyard lauwers. Fig. 60 : Protected monuments, listed heritage and relicts in noeveren. https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/dibe/relicten?naam=&provincie=10000&gemeente=11005&deelgemeente_naam=Noeveren&straat_naam=&typologie=&context=&datering=&stijl=&persoon_naam=&zoeken=zoeken. Accessed 20 may 2015. http://www.emabb.be. Accessed 20 may 2015. Fig. 61: Buildings part of the emabb office and touristic visit. http://www.emabb.be. Accessed 20 may 2015. Fig. 62: 1km proximity of the site. Fig. 63: Indication small retail and services within 1km proximity of the site. Fig. 64: Indication large retail and services within 1km proximity of the site. Fig. 65: Indication industrial zones in and around Noeveren.

370

FIGURES Fig. 66: Image industrial terrain Krekelenberg, Boom. https://www.bing.com/maps/#Y3A9NTAuODQ5OTk4fjQuMzUwMDAwJmx2bD04JnN0eT1yJndoZXJlMT1ub2V2ZXJlbiUyMGJvb20= (Accessed 4 june 2015) Fig. 67: Image Scherpenhoek. http://www.bedrijfsunittekoop.be (Accessed 4 june 2015) Fig. 68: Picture taken in front of the New Belgica ( 6 february 2015) Fig. 69: Overview picture of where the former Zinc factory was located ( 6 february 2015) Fig. 70: Situation business center in Noeveren. Fig. 71: Overall image of the business center ‘Scherpenhoek’ in Noeveren. http://www.bedrijfsunittekoop.be (Accessed 21 may 2015) Fig. 72 : Image of the housing connected to the unit. http://www.bedrijfsunittekoop.be (Accessed 21 may 2015) Fig. 73: Sketch live-work environment during the brickyard activity. Fig. 74: Sketch live-work environment 21e century. Fig. 75: Sketch dominance work or live environment and balance. Fig. 76: Pictures showing the interior of the housing unit. http://www.bedrijfsunittekoop.be (Accessed 21 may 2015) Fig. 77: Section site Lauwers in Noeveren. Fig. 78: Paper model showing the fragmented meshwork present in Noeveren. Fig. 79: Paper model showing the possible extention of the meshwork. Fig. 80 : First proposal masterplan in Noeveren. Fig. 81: Second proposal masterplan in Noeveren. Fig. 82: Third proposal masterplan in Noeveren. Fig. 83: Proposed Masterplan site Lauwers in Noeveren. Fig. 84 : Existing situation today in Noeveren. Fig. 85 :Concept scheme. Organisation houses within structure. Fig. 86 : Structural scheme houses. Fig. 87: Section scheme showing relations between public and private. Fig. 88: Plan Bussinesses. Compostion structure. Fig. 89: Section through two housing units. Scale 1/50. Fig.90 : North elevation. Fig.91 : Clusters of houses. Groundfloor plan. Fig.92 : South elevation. Fig. 93: Clusters of houses. First floor plan. Fig. 94: Section shared space. Scale 1/100. Fig. 95: Details section and plan of the houses. Scale 1/20. Fig. 96 : Details section and plan of the houses. Scale 1/20. Fig. 97: Section shared space. Scale 1/100. Fig.98 : Details section common space. Scale 1/20. Fig. 99: Section office units. Scale 1/100. Fig. 100: Plan and pictures of the project DnA. dnA House / BLAF Architecten, 2013. ArchDaily. [online] Available at: <http://www.archdaily. com/?p=423660> [Accessed 12 May 2015]. Fig. 101: Images of the spacial qualities of the house BS in Semmerzake. De architect, Woning Bs in Semmerzake door Jo Taillieu. [online] Available at: <http://www.dearchitect.nl/projecten/2006/11/Semmerzake+Taillieu+Woning+BS/galerijen/galerij.html?picIndex=1&picName=01-BS%20 House%20150806.JPG#foto> [Accessed 24 march 2015]. Fig.102 : Section and plan showing the different relations from inside to outside and vice versa. Archdaily, House N, Sou Fujimoto, 2011. [online] Available at: <http://www.archdaily.com/7484/house-n-sou-fujimoto/> [Accessed 13 may 2015]. Fig. 103: Picture and overview project NDSM in Amsterdam. Fig. 104: Overall image of the business center ‘Scherpenhoek’ in Noeveren Fig. 105: Image of the housing connected to the unit

371

rico buratti

373

an ecomuseum for the rupel region

An Ecomuseum for the Rupel Region

375

This work is dedicated to the region of the Rupel, to all the people who were gentle and helped me, with the hope of a better future.

Thanks to: Marianna, and my family. All the mates of the International Master in Sustainability. All the friends who advised me ( you know who you are). Vanni & Gabi. My pc, which didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t abandon me when more in need.

Index

1. Preface..................................................................................381 •Visual introduction...............................................................................385

2. Introduction to the Rupel Region:

history & environment..........................................................389 •Context and anthropic structures......................................................... 394 •Old brickmaking in pictures................................................................ 402

3. Research Question................................................................410 4. Research methodology..........................................................413 •Ground mapping..................................................................................414 •Jotbooks for a spatial practice................................................................417

5. Design Proposal pt. I............................................................ 414 •The ecomuseum as a tool of territorial planning.............................................................................. 420 •What is an ecomuseum?............................................................................. 420 •Ecomuseum as a generator....................................................................421 •Community map and landscape ...........................................................422 •Ecomuseums and future challenges.........................................................426

378

Index

6. Ecomuseum, evolution of an

anthropological phenomenon.............................................. 430

7. Landscape, Society, Heritage.............................................. 434 8. Framing the Site and intervention outline.............................................................. 436

•Framing the Site................................................................................... 437 •Intervention outline............................................................................... 452 9. Design Proposal pt. II.......................................................... 456

•Masterplan and reconnection................................................................ 457 •Building in the pit................................................................................ 457 •Node of the Meshwork.........................................................................460 •Industrial area and the case..................................................................464 of Hoek76

10. Design Proposal pt. III Additional Drawings & Plans 11. Bibliography................................................................. 492

379

380

Preface

he age we are facing is rich of dark clouds at the horizon. Many issues which have gathered concerning are reaching critical dimensions at a global level, meaning that each of us will inevitably be involved in the huge changes that will occur during our lives; therefore these new conditions and constraints will shape the behavioural and developmental models we are to adopt. Globalization has impregnated our world at such an extent that much more awareness is necessary in regards to management and governance, science and techniques, culture and society, demanding multi-layered approach that goes in depth, tackling multiple causes, and understanding multiple dynamics. The economy has been far overrated as a parameter of well-being, since it has been detached from the physical production of value, and projected into a speculative dimension where finance grows at uncontrollable levels, and land is used as building platforms where to develop services and industries. Society, composed by a heterogeneous ‘foam’ of people, practically behaves like herds, in following systems that are so complex that no one can fully understand them: a typical example is the amount of chemicals we use, their interactions with the different ecosystems, and/or the amount of laws and bureaucratic procedures in place. Our present scenario is one where the real impact of our choices is not totally understood, since we live in a world which is too complex, and we tend to convince ourselves that we know everything, or enough, about it. The word is then, simplify. The act of simplicity is an act of essentialness, and what is essential always goes back to what is human, and to nature. It is through this statement, which can be openly ideologically said – considering the economy and unregulated flows a priority, as well – that a line of thought could be established. The next assumption is that ‘improvement’ is better than ‘growth’; choices that can define an approach towards the economy, environment, and society.

381

The objective is then the tendency towards a ‘zero degree of architecture’, not in the stylistic sense that has been put forward by critics and architects [see for instance Bruno Zevi “Il Manifesto di Modena: Paesaggistica e scrittura di grado zero” – Venezia 1998 ; reflections and notes by Rem Koolhas on public spaces ; ‘White Cube’ paint by K. Malevic etc… ] but as conceiving elements in a completely new logic, which would effectively answer present and future urgencies. The broad significance of the ‘zero degree’ concept, as a kind of ‘reformative essentialness’, can be applied to a landscape assuming a sort of active preservation of social and natural value, by stimulating essential knots of a meshwork where multiple systems come in contact: watery areas for instance, are useful for improving life quality, controlling land heating, increasing biodiversity, purifying pollutants, as a leisure space, and more. Most of the time, we have neglected the landscape around us, and with it our fellows citizens, because of values and priorities that have proved themselves wrong. Therefore, the resources necessary to cope with future challenges lie just out there, waiting to be re-arranged into a new logic that would be more sustainable. For shifting towards the landscape as a complex system at different scales, and composed by different actors and elements, it is essential to plan a mitigation strategy of negative impacts, trying to reach stability by taking up the opportunity of establishing new positive dynamics in nature and in society. These two elements are the most important, implying that economy and development are bonded to limits, for instance in land usage and the impact of buildings on communities. By giving priority to the fore mentioned factors, it is possible to recover large parts of landscape that has been damaged by the industrial era, conceiving landscape as a multiplicity of complexities, among them, human societies.

382

Communal spaces and activities, places where to share different expertise and experiences, where to have social encounters, or some time alone to think, are fundamental to connect individuals that the consumer society has produced, in order to re-establish that general social bond that it is now broken down to strips like a torn blanket. Zero degree of architecture is therefore the zero degree of a resilient socio-environmental platform that constitutes itself in a living being, with landscape and nature as the body, and humans with their social bonds as the soul of that landscape. This systemic conception cannot avoid implying that ‘body and soul’ are strictly related to one another, which leads to the objective to pursue, tracing back the link with a territory. A link which is individual and then extends to a whole community and even a group of communities, as far as the extents of the landscape and its features allow it. There is indeed a connection with the concept of ‘resilient landscape’ (the capacity of a landscape to provide support to the communities living in it, which eventually translates in ‘health’ at local scale and ‘well-being’ at a personal one [4th Global Forum on Urban Resilience & Adaptation – Bonn, june 2nd 2013] but this idea has to necessarily relate with the shape of the landscape itself, which constitutes our domain of action. It is nevertheless necessary to explore the points of contact between landscape and individuals, landscape and society, and therefore with the economics.

383

If we see the landscape as a value, from a perspective of environmental degradation of conditions in general, and if we recognize the link between man and nature, nature and future, and we go back to a logic of layering and depositing, saving and planning, but merging it with a rigorous contemporary approach to the upcoming issues of XXI century, we can hope to obtain some results. Of course there is still the problem that nobody owns a crystal ball, and what we conceive today as ideal will surely not be optimal – in the best odds – in the future. The zero degree solution is meant to allow the implemention of strategies in the future, thanks to the favourable conditions created in the present. These conditions would revolve around the themes already mentioned of relations between realms of nature, man and urbanity, and would be capable of undergoing transformations and used variably in the future. The goal hereto is to create added social value and revitalize the environment as a combination of ecosystems and urban forces, even with the economy definitely creating a spin-off, and one in which the extents of the common conditions (field conditions) on landscapes conceived as a meshwork of complexities can work as ‘cement’ between territorially and socially fragmented areas, at different scales. All such scales, at every level, would interact with each other, a bench, a building, an area, a relation between areas, a relation between people, constantly searching for the zero degree of landscape as an act of essentialness and as the medium between the old and the new world to come.

384

Visual introduction

From the top left, clockwise: Wetlands of the Rupel; houses in Noeveren; View of the riverside; ‘sloepke’ and backside halley. 385

On the next page, from the top left, clockwise: Free grazing in the morass; an old machinery for brickmaking; Abandoned chapel near Kasteel Battenbroek; a rusty extraction crane; Under the viaduct of the A1 motorway.

From the top left, clockwise: A restored drying shed nowadays; rubbles of a decayed drying shed; Abandoned tunnel, and its factory label. It is dated 1949. 386

387

On this page, from the top left, clockwise: Picture of a communication tunnel between brickyards, and close-up; Recovered drying sheds among more recent housing. 388

INTRODUCTION TO THE RUPEL REGION : HISTORY & ENVIRONMENT

[ General information sources: grofkeramiek.nl ; users.compaqnet.be/rupelstreek/; Steenbakkerij Museum of Noeveren ] 389

Fricx map, 1712.

The

river Rupel is situated in the Antwerpen province, just within its southern limits. It is a 13 Km long tidal river, rising in Rumst by the confluence of the Nete and the Dijle and flowing right into the Schelde between the municipalities of Hingene and Schelle, in front of Rupelmonde.

the Scheldt estuary – KU Leuven – doctorate thesis by Maarten Stevens – promotor prof. dr. F. Ollevier ]. The etymology dates back to the Roman time as ‘rupe-ra’, meaning ‘powerful and turbulent waters’. This toponym descends by the celtic germanic ‘rim’ (flow) and ‘-pel’ (lake, marsh). This kind of geographical toponym is very diffused in the region, and can be revealing the The region is wet, basically marshy and still original nature of a town and the character of the partly subject to flooding; the landscape has been land. Niel, for instance, comes from ‘nihwulia’ or influenced by human activities for a long time : the ‘niwaialho’ meaning ‘forward and downwards’ (to excavation of clay pits and brick production have the shores of the river). [ “Nederlandse Plaatsnamen”, shaped the land, and the Brussel-Schelde canal, Moerman, 1956 ]. since 1927 has furtherly shaped its hydrography. This infrastructure in the end helped preserving the Rupelian tidal ecosystem, by avoiding intensive he river has a celtic and exploitation of the river. The Rupel river is, as part of the Schelde, in fact a rare example of soft then roman name root, which water tidal stream in Europe. [ W. Baeyens, B. van is linked with its turbulent Eck, C. Lambert, R. Wollast & L. Goeyens “General character. description of the Scheldt estuary” 1998 ] , [ Sigma Plan], [ Intertidal and basin-wide habitat use of fishes in

390

The main town of the Rupelstreek is Boom. It presumably originated in Roman time, when they settled a first clay extraction and brick production industry, which eventually declined and disappeared at the fall of the empire. The town rose on the road between Rumst and Schelle, where a remarkable tree was standing in or near the marshy lakeshores (from where the name Boom, tree), probably gathering the attention of the ones who were passing by there. Such a tree could in fact serve as a reference point for the travellers. [ J. Molemans; Profiel van de Kempische toponymie (Mededelingen van de Vereniging voor Limburgse Dialect- en Naamkunde, Nr. 6; Hasselt; 1977 ]. In 1290 Boom, along with Rumst, Terhagen, Willebroek, Ruisbroek and Heindonk, was united under the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Land of Rumstâ&#x20AC;?, the brick industry was slowly rebuilt in a spontaneous way, and benefited by the traffics and trades along the Rupel. In 1246 the Bernardines order have in fact settled the first factory in Hemiksem, and later on replaced by the Trappist ( Cistercian ) order. [ www.emab.be ]. In 1645 Boom acquired its own independence, being allowed to have its own fleet on the Rupel.

From this period on, the region starts to be shaped in a way that is still recognizable, also thanks to the economic push from the great fire of Antwerp in 1546, which helped the brick industry thanks to the reconstruction of the city. The brick cooperatives were then thriving, from 14th to 20th century when they finally faced decline, mainly for economic and technological reasons. The aspect of brick production is central in the development of the region, for both roles in social and landscape structures.

The bricks cooperatives were then

thriving, from 14th to 20th century when they finally faced decline, mainly for economic and technological reasons.

View on the Rupel river, in direction of Boom, 1984.

391

It is notable that from the 14th to 19th century, the cooperatives basically maintained an agrarian character: this was because the processing from clay to brick was seasonal, and ancillary to the farms, but with the expansion of the demand and industrial revolution, new techniques of production were achieved, especially new types of brick ovens. What we see now as relics of the infrastructures of the past, are actually relics testifying this second productive phase, the more industrialized one.

Factories were then built in place of the old steenbakkerijen, (brickyards) just to be dismantled from around 1975 on, and declined due to neglect, except in some cases, until recent recovery operations in a more third-sector approach fashion, along with large demolitions and planning.

In Noeveren in particular, the landscape is more representative of what the Rupelstreek was, with some remnants of traditional droogloodsen (drying sheds) and brick ovens. The scale of the In the Rupelstreek, the production was kept production in 18th-19th centuries was impressive, handcrafted until the latest possible, but around and regarded as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;biggest in the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. 1875 the competitors from Kempen were selling bricks at such lower prices that the crisis in Rupel Of course the production of modern day factories became inevitable. Many steenbakkerijen (brickyards) is much faster, automatized and standardized went bankrupt, and the mechanization put the than the main factory in the area, Wienerberger, can tell. In the past the various stages of clay traditional productive system aside. excavation, brick drying, baking and shipping required precise buildings, areas and spatial n the past the various stages of clay layout, along with a defined schedule of tasks and excavation, brick drying, baking and timing the permanence of bricks in the ovens.

shipping required precise buildings, areas and spatial layout.

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s morass ecosystem.

392

Aerial view of the whole region in late 70’s.

The Rupel river represented the main infrastructure in the region, through the Schelde upstream and downstream. Lys, Durme, Nete, Zenne, Dijle and Demer were urban markets accessible by this route. The channels Brussels-Rupel and Brussels-Charleroi, facilitated trade with Brussels and Wallonia, as the supply of coal, required for the newly created landscape of chimneys and smokestacks that were characterizing the area. The ground is generally plain, crossed by slightly elevated roads. The terrain was covered originally by woods (that only survive in small patches today, far from being savage natural areas), and ponds. These ponds are mostly man-made (resembling the natural marshy landscape that existed long ago in history), and obtained by depleted clay quarries.

Belgium – 2012 ; G. J. Vis & J. M. Verwerij “Geological and geohydrological characterization of the Boom Clay and its overburden” – march 2014 ] and for this reason the landscape is very different and much more agricultural). The level differences in the ground are caused by hundred years of clay extraction, which determined the road infrastructure with its characteristic elevated profile, which is actually at ground level and excavated around, giving the effect of an elevated road.

The settlements were not planned, and grew spontaneously, following the directions of brick entrepreneurs (and later on, sprawling up in the 20th century, giving the present character to the region). Such settlements were built in an affordable typology of housing both socially and economically, on the model of the typical European working class dwelling of the 19th/20th century. The arbeiderswoningen (laborer’s dwelling) These Clay pits shaped and dictated the expansion – many of them dating before 1919 – were mostly of the various little settlements scattered on the built in series, standing in groups on the edges northern bank of the Rupel (on the southern of the clay pit, along a street, or an alley, bank there is in fact no clay, [see Rupel Formation following a linear pattern. (geolog y); “A CONCISE GEOGRAPHY OF BELGIUM” National Committee of Geography of 393

Today’s satellite view.

Context and anthropic * structures The dwellings were closely integrated with the

working environment, growing along elevated roads that backbone wharfs and passages, linking the Rupel river with more inland clay pits in N/S direction. When the drier sheds were in use, they were mostly located besides the quarries, while the bakeries were located near the river, for transportation needs.

constitutes the genius loci of the Rupelstreek. These dynamics are still recognizable in the very small scale of the informal realm: for instance in the sloepkes – informal passages to the clay quarries, between the houses – or in the infrastructural tunnels that pass under the elevated roads, connecting (former) clay pits and (former) baking plants. Also the typology of housings is strongly influenced by a productive factor, being the house built on the pit’s slope a typical sight in the area.

Of course the global infrastructural morphology is modelled on these functions, banding parallel to the Rupel river: the territorial layout is recognizable in the transportation network, where the Rupel river is the primary infrastructure, backed at short distance by a (generally) elevated As it becomes evident, the large scale overall road. In-between are placed industrial plants that character of the Rupelstreek is defined by need relation both with water and land. Further the industrial vocation of the region, inland there is a third communication way, such and presents peculiarities inherent to the as a road or a railway, that marks the limit of the production methods, that interweave with the clay pit lying between the two inland roads. living spaces and social world; and that is what *Anthropic, from greek ‘antrhopos’ (man) means “of or relating to human beings”, or the period of their existence on earth. In our case, it is an anthropologic view that brings us to focus on the modifications that each human generation left on the landscape (under the form of built environment or shaping the land by activities) and in their social groups. [General references: P. Van den Broek “The Changing Position of Strategic Spatial Planning in Flanders. A Socio-Political and InstrumentBased Perspective” ; personal observation and ground mapping, historical maps on www.geopunkt.be; informal interviews and talks with locals] 394

Aerial picture of Samenwerken brickyard, showing the parallel layering of the landscape, 1970 circa.

Droogloods (drying sheds) in an old postcard, and the same place in a picture taken in 1984.

395

From top left, clockwise. A Ring Oven in Noeveren, in use until early 20th century. Steel bridge in Klein Willebroek, linking the Rupel to the Brussels-Zee channel, in front of Boom. Ferraris map, 1771 - 1778.

396

This system of successive parallel bands was crossed vertically by a network of paths and service railways for internal transportation, and workers’ walking paths that eventually became part of a diffused typology. The worker house of 19th and 20th century rose on the typical narrow gothic lot, made in bricks on one or two stories often by the entrepreneur or even the worker himself. It was a humble typology, internally having a small bedroom and a living room heated by a characteristic stove. The toilets were outside and collective for the street or the housing block.

But what is the situation nowadays? The answer to this question must be articulated. First of all, the de-industrialization process produced a fragmentation: the predominant function was the clay-related production, which gave unity to the region from the functional point of view, along with land usage and social structures operating in such homogeneous environment.

The linear array of the houses along the pit echoes the present urban general layout along a single road (linear city) and its interweaved by sloepkes, narrow alleys that linked the main road downwards to the drying sheds area.

landscape was produced, due to the de-industrialization

When the factories gradually converted to modern manufacture, and eventually shut down, these housing mostly went under restoration but kept their humble yet grim look. The formation of typical deep backyards also allowed expansions on plot, which regularly took place, constituted by different, uneven and self-made volumes added to the original houses which were now supported by an additional path on the backside.

The departure and dismissal of productive structures and the fragmentation of social cores due to known globalization processes, occurring in Europe from the 70’s on, as the outsourcing of production to cheaper workforce, caused the traditional bond between living and working to disappear. Today it only persists in individual private properties under a ‘domestic’ form.

A fragmentation in the structure of the

Row houses in Hellegat.

397

This transformation had two major effects: the former is changing the conception of the Rupel from a productive area, to an area “between” big cities such as Brussels or Antwerp, or Mechelen, where you can move quickly to and from. The latter is the start of the sprawling phenomenon: in practice the dwellings were still developing in a linear way, but without a main function to integrate with, neither community spaces to gather around. Also the traditional worker’s house typology was (predictably) swapped with the usual Belgian cottage with garden.

Everywhere there’s a bit of everything and the landscape has nowadays no precise structure.

The result is a typical sprawled environment, where the streetscape conceals the agricultural space and confines it beyond a housing curtain, fraying between patches of agricultural land, built areas of residential and/or industrial use (a mix that typically persists in Belgian settlements) and neglected lots containing rubbles of factories, or informal woodland with apparently any use.

398

The infrastructuring of the city of Antwerp during late 19th and 20th centuries, created a radial network of highways, railways and provincial roads. These communication lines vertically cut the Rupelstreek in multiple sectors, hindering all kinds of local E-W mobility, except car based one, and contributing to the feeling of fragmentation. The contradiction lies in the fact that the same infrastructures are responsible for linking the region to the metropolitan areas of Brussels, Antwerpen and Mechelen. The result of this evolution is a kind of arlequinesque landscape, where everywhere there is a bit of everything: cars are almost always audible, industries are almost always visible; and the endless deserted house rows, without any shops or people hanging around, just offer a monotonous accompaniment along the road, sometimes providing a little, revealing, window of landscape behind them. The real element of diversity in the streetscape is constituted by the competitive creativity among housing styles and yard decoration. This, as a counterpoint, shows the care with which the private properties are maintained, a potential for making the everyday environment a little better. The backside of the row houses is where to unleash some creativity.

What is described is a not unusual postindustrial landscape. Attempts to recover and invert the tendency of decline have been accomplished by the Antwerpen Province and the local municipalities, eventually designing an infrastructural territorial management program, a partial heritage preservation, sustainable mobility and new constructions. Although this strategy is interesting, undoubtedly beneficial for the territory, and a first positive deed for the tangible heritage recover, it is mainly conceived for tourists coming from outside the region, newcomers and users who possess a different stakeholder profile than the local inhabitants. This view influences the developments in the area, preferring alien typologies for new buildings that do not fit the local physiognomy of the built environment, as the newly built linear high-rises along the Rupel dike are. Focusing on intercepting

Although the spatial fragmentation

is physiological, a social fragmentation is also present.

town administrations is rather stiff and not flexible towards the different conditions and gradients along the region: for instance there is little debate around what heritage to keep and what to remove, scarce respect of local building typologies and proportion in the new constructions, there is attention to regional connectivity but still communities are on their own. In a few words, it is something that is not achievable only with bike lanes and brick museums, but instead with work on communal spaces and the relations that occur thanks to them. One element that greatly hinders the formation of a unified community is, as introduced, the presence of a sprawled environment, rather than its own fragmentation as one can be induced to think. This spatial fragmentation can instead be seen as added value, directly descending from the heritage of the region and

Backside of row houses. Functions different than dwelling are very rare in these streets.

testifying the close relation between living and working, through the mixing of industrial, urban and rural domains. the money of healthy visitors coming temporarily Without a predominant unifying function, in the area does not bring any real advantage to the spatial fragmentation induced social local development, as it submits the local fragility fragmentation, creating a diffuse feeling, among to market laws; on the contrary, enhancing the the inhabitants of the area, of belonging strictly social relational tissue of local communities, to their hometown rather than a region. means subverting the lack of ‘everyday life’ and associative spaces towards a more These are self-imposed and environmentallyvibrant social environment. In words of a induced psychological limits that prevent the local woman “it’s a boredom”, and the provincial people in an area to interact with others, when administration is not doing enough to tackle this they actually share much in common, although precise aspect, because it has to do with the local these limits are often set aside for instance in occasion of regional feasts, showing the communities. existence of a ‘feeling of belonging to the region’. The approach followed up to now by regional and 399

Paradoxically when initiatives and events take place in single municipalities instead, something fails at a regional level and there is no feeling of participation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; nor much interest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in people from other towns. This is evident when speaking to locals and emerged constantly in the talks. Interviewing the local inhabitants could be quite a diplomatic effort: after gaining their trust, often the counterpart confidently stated his/her opinion about general or particular situations, unveiling the background political views, social status, desires and ambitions. It is obvious that this kind of data mining is necessarily informal and subjective, and that the depicted view is the result of a filtering of many individual views, and therefore an opinion by itself. The intention is, at any rate, to provide an impression that is as much general and agreeable as possible.

From top to bottom, left to right, the scheme of the evolution of morphologic layers connected with human activities in the region.

Typical sections of a former clay pit, showing the progression from the river to inland, in present days.

400

The theme of the sprawl, of the shape of the territory, adjoined with the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;shapeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of society is central: repairing the negative effects of the sprawled physical environment, means also acting on the intangible sprawl of society.

The link between these two aspects and the landscape as a resilient active subject, is a design that takes into account both spatial and social domains, which eventually merge up in one or more operative questions.

401

Old brickmaking in pictures The clay was excavated using cranes and machines

402

The clay was then bunched in humps.

These humps became roads and hosted housings on them.

403

404

Through service railways the clay was brought to the

drying sheds, where it was molded and shaped in form of bricks, and then stored for months to dry.

405

406

Once the bricks were dry enough, they

were carried to ovens (in the left page, a ring oven), where they were laid to fill up completely the building.

The baking was a non-stop process, thanks to the shape of the building, and when the bricks were ready, they were taken out to be loaded on carriers. The last step was the storage along the river and the subsequent shipping.

407

408

409

RESEARCH QUESTION

410

Having defined the general character of the

This vision has to, nevertheless, cope with reality. The reality of the region is that spatial region, along with its particular features, it is fragmentation almost always imply the presence possible to have an overview of deficiencies of elements that are normally perceived as and potentials in the whole area. As previously a extraneous, as the industries for instance. introduced, the theme of urban sprawl along with social sprawl becomes central in this analysis, underlining how the two aspects are interrelated, It is therefore a challenge to integrate, once again, meaning that the solution of the former cannot the productive structures with living and leisure, transcend the latter. this time updating the traditional model with the needs of a post-industrial region. The In practice this would translate into a filling-up interweaving aspects of working and living must operation of the voids in the sprawl, through the be considered as fundamental to approach the placement of collective and public functions, region and respect its identity ( or identities ), in order to fill both the physical and the as they overlap with the theme of filling up the social void, to increase alternative connectivity sprawl. (informal paths) in the physical world, and social connectivity in the intangible realm.

The research question:

â&#x20AC;&#x153;How to recover heritage, by integrating and re-interpreting the diverse cultural significances present in an area? How to empower the recovered heritage in a broader territorial meshwork of governance and awareness, effective even at the smallest scale?â&#x20AC;?

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412

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

413

Ground Mapping The

data mining supporting the theoretical framework and operational approach, is based on the concept of mapping. Mapping means to gain knowledge about certain aspects of interest and represent them in a way which is useful for one’s own purposes and at the same time understandable to external viewers. We recognize two main ways of mapping, which are ‘the cartographer’s way’ and the ‘walker’s way’, meaning a map from above, and a map from the ground. They express completely different approaches and outcomes, different sensitivity and goals, but they are both useful and can produce interesting combinations if rightly utilized as research tools. The process of synthesis and representation in the cartographer mapping leads to a ‘navigational platform’ as interface with a complex environment, that distances itself from the personal and intangible experience of space.

Example of a ground map as a linear map. 414

A mapping from the ground, on the other hand, is a more artistic, perceptive way of relating with the landscape, able to express intangible aspects otherwise difficult to communicate. A sort of ‘pedagogical process’ is required when producing a collective mapping, as an exchange of information, which resolves itself into an ‘ontological mapping’, a combination of cartographer and ground mapping which focuses on both specific spatial and intangible aspects. [ CAQUARD, S. et al. (eds.), Mapping Environmental Issues in the City: Arts and Cartography. Cross Perspectives, Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011, chapter 1, Mapping from Above/Mapping from the Ground: Mapping Environmental Issues in the City ].

Mapping from the ground means to envision the personal experience of the space .

Following the protocol of walking, [ “Protocol of Walking” – drs. Gisèle Gantois, KULeuven, 2014 ] it is possible to produce maps from the ground, showing the real individual perception of the environment, the space, the feelings that a cartographer map cannot provide. On the contrary, the latter kind of mapping allows total control on the territory as a whole, giving precise coordinates and proportions. Moreover, the ground map can even bypass these conventions, resembling more an ancient map, where graphical conventions are different, proportions do not always matter, and spatial reference points acquire importance.

interest, infrastructures and zoning of the region. On the other hand, for the detailed knowledge of the micro scale, which is implied in the social environment, a ground map suits better as it allows to grasp the intangible realm of collective space, informalpaths, appropriations of space and everyday life of the people living in a restricted area.

The act of walking becomes then a spatial practice because involves the individual in a sort of exploring quest ( curiously, a word similar with cuesta, it sounds the same but etymologically it has nothing to do with one another) of an unknown place. [ de Certeau, M. , The Practice of Everyday Life. As stated, a multi-scale approach becomes University of California Press; oorspr. L’invention du necessary, and the same is for different quotidien. (1980) ] mappings approach, since they can provide With more and more experience of the place, the insight on different aspects at different scales. knowledge starts to layer and sediment, first impressions give way to more refined and balanced The fly-over method (cartographer) suits more thoughts and, as one comes more and more in the territorial scale, showing the relations contact with a new reality, it helps the mind to between urban centres, location of points of open up on previously unseen dimensions.

Example of an unfolded jotbook.

415

416

Jotbooks for a spatial practice

Walking

and mapping are not necessarily coincident. When walking and experiencing space, a person notices the important landmarks, the configuration of space and other sensory perceptions, aspects related with the senses, producing a remembrance, a mind map. This mind map can be noted down on the go, on a small notebook, showing the progression along the followed path. It represents the subjective relevance of the space. These small pocket notepads are called jotbooks and are a specific part of the Protocol of Walking [ “Protocol of Walking” – drs. Gisèle Gantois, KULeuven, 2014 ] as they are used to picture the line of walk from the ground, and can be further worked into a linear map. Walking again a previously ‘jotted’ itinerary is very useful for this purpose.

design purposes, along with explanatory goals. They will resemble a parish map, which is a concept that will be explained further on (see chapter on Ecomuseum). They are in the end tools of knowledge, the medium between a personal experience and a territory. For these reasons, the jotbooks produced try to avoid the usage of current spatial representation, and rather focus on a ‘linear walking path’ seen from ground level. This is a low-tech approach, to favour perception of the human scale and eliminate the dependence from technological devices that cannot record more subtle aspects of the ground. [ Jo Vergunst ‘Technolog y and Technique in a useful ethnography of movement – 2011 ]

Constantly roaming around, noting down, talking, and observing in different periods and weather conditions, allow to grasp the dynamics at play in the landscape, the behaviour of nature in the area, and that of the people through the seasons, helping to establish strategies based upon this As a rough material, the jotbooks become understanding, such as water management, distilled in a way that is functional for mapping\ connections, invisible boundaries, and the like.

417

The water system of the Rupel region.

418

DESIGN PROPOSAL pt. I

419

The ecomuseum as a tool of territorial planning

Many ecomuseums have been instituted in the

world, they are all different and focused on a broad variety of subjects. However, they have a common approach â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and that is what makes them ecomuseums, contrary to wrong interpretations that can lead to failures and pure branding. But what exactly distinguishes an ecomuseum s previously evaluated, the main from a traditional museum? In what ways do they concern on the large scale discourse over the operate differently? Rupel region is that, despite a general character unifying a landscape by its morphology, urban structure, and its fading heritage, this continuity he Rupel region needs is not present in its social fabric. The physical revitalization in its social structure. sewing of patches of land alone is not effective, and needs to be accompanied by an approach that involves various communities, people and associations at different levels, in order to favour A traditional museum is an institution that aims the interaction of people and communities at the exposition, temporary or permanent, of with their own landscape and its resources, in some sort of collection. It has a building in which terms of heritage and potential, going beyond the to house this function, along with research and limits of single municipalities, literally opening preservation activities. Moreover, the patrimony minds to a territorial web of consciousness of a country or a region is generally classified as and economy. Through this process, a multi- the whole of the collections, monuments, natural directional mesh of relations builds up at once wonders and cultural sites, under the responsibility the management of the territory, and the conscience of museums, that are eventually participated of the community, or communities, inhabiting it. by governance organisms and foundations. This concept can be summarized through the Despite the different kind of activities that such museum institutions may put into practice experience of ecomuseums. around their collections, they will never use them actively, meaning an activity with the collection, or whatever is the object of the museum preservation. This approach, little changed since the XIX century, leads to a sterile preservation that will eventually freeze forever the cultural heritage, declaring its death.

What is an ecomuseum?

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A museum is an institution that aims at the exposition, of some sort of collection. Such concept of museum and conservation, configures a fruition that is somehow elitist, being culture at the disposal of researchers and students, tourists and the high strata of society mostly. Many people, for a variety of reasons, do not have access to this circuit of ‘milieu’ (cultural, environmental, social…) and formalizing the concept “ territory, patrimony, community”.

An ecomuseum uses its ‘collection’ actively to produce preservation and innovation.

The ecomuseum is a participative practice of valorization of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Ecomuseum as a generator By not being busy in preserving unaltered

its collection, the ecomuseum uses actively its patrimony of people and knowledge, heritage and materiality, setting upon itself a mission, aimed at contributing to the social and possible economic development of a region, and/or the build-up of a collective conscience. This last aspect is crucial, especially in a historic phase in which economic forces have mauled the traditional social bonds among individuals and communities, removing reference points, creating opportunities and at the same time suffocating vitality of certain customs. The Chart of Catania, in 1999, recognizes the ecomuseum as a strategy to valorize the “scaffolding of the places” [ Carta, 1999 ] and most importantly, its continuous evolution. [ conference “Giornate dell’ ecomuseo. Verso una nuova offerta culturale per lo sviluppo sostenibile del territorio”, Catania 2007 ]. The museum specialist Fredi Drugman in 1997 imagined the metamorphosis of the museum into a public square, an agora, recalling the concept of sharing and exchanging information on a common ground. “The ecomuseum is a participative practice of valorization of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, conceived and developed by an organized subject, expression of a local community, in the perspective of sustainable development”. [ Carta di Catania, October 2007 ]. 421

The ecomuseum is based on a mesh/webbased logic (note the slight gradient in the meaning of these terms, in respect to ‘network’) [ L. Gavinelli “ Le condizioni per la formazione e lo sviluppo della rete: una verifica empirica sugli ecomusei” 2006 – doctorate thesis – Catholic University Milan ] it nevertheless needs promoters as “key knots”. The promoters of the ecomuseum – who can be a variety of people – assemble an operational web of groups around them, usually talking with the associations already present in the area, in order to let them work together and exchange competencies and objectives. Progressively, a number of successive knots (associations) join up the mesh, through the generative process that is started. It relies still on singles, called “resource-person”, that are local people holders of knowledge and particular experience on certain aspects of the community life. [ Hugues de Varine – introduction to ‘Gli Ecomusei Una risorsa per il futuro’ 2014 – Marsilio ].

The ecomuseum is made of people who, at various levels, contribute to the life and cohesion of the ecomuseum.

MUSEUM Building Collection Public Disciplinar, specialized management Museal administration Static museography Detached cultural project 422

Domain

Therefore, an ecomuseum should be constituted also by physical people who may promote the publ ic image of the museum, its yearly l ife, contribute with their k nowledge and be the leaders of workgroups.For this reason it is important to provide some sort of train ing to these people, in order to make them able to fu lf il the mission of the museum, and to comply with the social funct ion of given responsibil it ies, which is a pract ice cal led empowerment.

Community map and landscape The method of the community map, or

parish map, helps to picture the relations in the web and construct it at the same time. Born in 1987 in England, the community map aims to picture the little familiar things in their landscape, to assign them a value and enforce the awareness of locals and visitors, to appropriate and vitalize them.

By elaborating parish maps, the people are able to picture their environment and construct relations.

ECOMUSEUM Territory Patrimonium (tangible & intangible) Population, active visitors Multidisciplinair management Collective administration Dynamic museography Cultural project integrated with its social milieu