Graduation Proposal

a landscape architect

in the subarctic “landscape as a bearer of sustainable development of the canadian polar region�

“How do people imagine the landscapes they find themselves in? How does the land shape the imaginations of the people who dwell in it? How does desire itself, the desire to comprehend, shape knowledge?”

Barry López, Arctic Dreams Imagination and Desire in a Northern Landscape

iii

Graduation proposal Silko van der Vliet landscape architecture Academy of Architecture, Amsterdam 8 February 2019

Content Fascination & Tradition

1

Preface

3

Problem Statement

9

Assignment

13

Moosonee

15

Planning, Process & Working Method

23

Schedule

25

Commission

27

Experts

29

Literature

31

Reference Projects

33

Bibliography

41

v

canoe -trip with friends in Sweden

Fascination & Tradition The fascination for my graduation derives from holidays together with friends, where I often find myself attracted by the northern or cold landscapes and the insignificant but peaceful feeling in nature that you can experience. On the other hand I have always been interested in the Dutch design tradition and how we as a country deal with water, with inspiring examples as a plan Ooievaar and the Delta Plan.

1

Peder Leonard Hendriksen polar expedition 1893-1896

2

Preface The current climate is changing. Worldwide, action is being taken to protect societies and their living environment - territory - against rising sea levels and to get water management in order. What fascinates me is why we hardly look at the area where the issues surrounding this are first visible and experienced, namely the Arctic. Global warming and the observable consequences of this are nowhere as visible as in the Arctic. This manifests itself in feedback effects related to melting sea ice that are related in a complex manner. They are self-reinforcing processes with a global impact, which means that the need to do something about it immediately is high. In the coming decades, four economic sectors are expected to be a driving force behind the inevitable transformation of the Arctic; winning mineral resources, fishing, logistics and Arctic tourism. However, it is not self-evident that this will be a sustainable development, which is crucial for the preservation of this unique landscape and its cooling function worldwide.

3

overview map arctic and several boundary principles

Arctic circle (60º 33’ 44’ north)

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna boundery

10ºC July isoherm boundery

Arctic tree line boundery

diagram showing the continuous decline of the sea ice in the Arctic Circle since the first measurements in 1979 towards the centerpoint where there is no ice left to cool the climatesystem of the planet

5

snowline retreat with warmer global

decrease albedo effect due to

air flows by temperature rise

less reflectivity of ice and snow

melt ice sheets & sea level

increasing intensity of Arctic

rise by temperature rise

river flows and wave action

+ H + H + H+ H H+

H2O(g) H2O(g) H2O(g)

H+

CO2 CO2 CO2

H+ H+ H+

CH4 CH4 4 H CH4 C 4 H C 4 O(g) CH CH4CH HH22O(g)

CH44

O2 C C O 22 CO

CO2 CO2 CO2

H2O(g)

natural effects chemical in nature;

effect through human activity;

increasing water vapor, acidification

black carbon emissions by forest /

oceans & methane gas

agricultural fires & industry

The accelerating effects of Arctic feedbacks alter the functioning of the global climate system 6

The Boreal forest is an ecological heavyweight, a massive ecosystem that wraps around the northern hemisphere like a green halo., with a gradient from close forest to open ice 7

CO2 CO 2

boreal forest

tundra

arctic

warmer air flows & reduction of permafrost cause the tree line to move north replacing tundra, as sea level rises

H2O(g)

CH

4

CH 4

CO2

CH4

H2O(g)

CO2

CH4 H+

boreal forest

dissolved tundra

arctic

tundra becomes forest, asmore greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, make ice mass melt and treats the coast

boreal forest and river 8

H+

H+

H+

Problem Statement An opportunity lies in the subarctic transitional zone from boreal forest to the open tundra plains with open waters.

The ecosystem is unique in its capacity for carbon storage, is the world’s largest freshwater reservoir and the largest remaining piece of intact forests. Due to climate change, this area is being rapidly removed from its isolation, raw materials become available and the accessibility of the area increases.

It is the place where most of the arctic feedbacks manifest themselves first. In this transition zone the snow boundary recedes as a result of warmer air steams in the Arctic. The melting water that is created in this process results in an increasing intensity of Arctic river flows. Together with the melting of the ice sheets, the sea level rises. Then there are natural effects that are chemical in nature, such as an increasing amount of water vapor H2O(g) in the atmosphere and the acidification of the oceans H+. One effect is directly related to human activity, namely the emission of black carbon CO2 in forest / agricultural fires and the burning of fossil fuel in industry. The small particles of carbon black are spread via air flows over large parts of the Arctic and again affect the albedo effect. The whiteness reflects much of the sun’s energy back into space and physically isolates the

9

ice-free waters around the hamlet of Ulukhaktok and the influence of mega-projects on the landscape 10

Arctic atmosphere from the underlying Arctic Ocean. With less sea ice, the door of the refrigerator is, as it were, set ajar and more dark open water is released, which in the summer absorbs the energy of the sun and the insulating function is lost. The most dangerous feedback effect is probably the potential emission of methane gas CH4 from seas and soils in permafrost regions of the Arctic. This greenhouse gas is released from the thawing permafrost and is 23 to 100 times as powerful per molecule as carbon dioxide in its heating potential. In short, the feedback effects are interconnected in a complex way and they are self-reinforcing processes, so the need to do something about it immediately is high.

The boreal forest is also a vital part of Canada’s landscape, economy and cultural heritage. Within the forest there are four main landscape types, the river landscapes, the wetlands and lakes, the praries and tundra. A very important factor for the climate in Canada are the Rocky Mountains, which form a blockade for the warm air flows from the sea. Large parts of Canada have very cold winters. Although in summer, especially the south, can be remarkably warm and often humid.

Then there is megaprojects by large multinationals that dominate the economic landscape of the Canadian North, which also have repercussions on the physical landscape with its indigenous populations. The problem here is that this economy is largely based on non-renewable resources and profits do not end up locally or benefit regional development.

In addition, there is a great dependence on the import of goods for livelihood, which increases as settlements are more northerly and more isolated.

11

sustainable tourism on Fogo Island

Assignment In order to give the inevitable transformation of the Canadian Subarctic region a soft landing, the landscape can be used as a bearer for the sustainable development of a selfsufficient way of life and to explore how forms of ecotourism can contribute to this. Niche products from a local culture and tradition can play a vital role and provide necessary income and support a disappearing way of life. In my graduation project I want to examinethe possibilities for making communities more resilient to a changeable transformation process, which in fact make a positive contribution to the issue of climate change. The main question here is: “How can a community develop in a sustainable way and what design tools are needed for Moosoonee, which is in the area where the perceptible effects of climate change are urgent?” By the following research questions I aim to get a grip on this: •

What synergy did the community originally have with the landscape?

•

How does this synergy translate into the present?

•

What could self-sufficiency be for this isolated community?

•

How does this contribute to maintaining the unique characteristics of the boreal forest and the cooling function for the planet?

•

Could this proposal be an conducive example of dealing with the overwhelming but at the same time vulnerable Arctic landscape?

13

aerial photograph of Moosonee at the Moose River

Moosonee The community that will serve as a test location for this proposal is Moosonee, a town in northern Ontario on the Moose River approximately 19 kilometres south of James Bay. It is considered to be “the Gateway to the Arctic� and has Ontario’s only saltwater port. SInce there are no roads leading this far north the settlement can be reaced by a small airport and a train service. While designated as a passenger train, the Polar Bear Express also carries specialized equipment. It operates 5 days per week year-round and connects Cochrane with Moosonee. The landscape is not suitable for conventional agriculture, import of goods also take place by this train.

This together illustrates the isolated character of the place.

Several landscape types and conditions do come together is this area, like forest, rivers and delta wetlands. Fur trading is what first drew explorers into the region and today it is the abundance of wildlife and the expansive open spaces that continue to lure travelers today. It is therefore not surprising that tourism is developing. With a selection of lodges, guesthouses and campgrounds to choose from, visitors can take guided boat tours to photograph wildlife and tidal marine fauna. Especially the coastal area has high ecological values and has a sanctuary for birds. Visitors have a chance to see many other species including: moose, black bear,

15

Moosonee can only be reached by train, plane or boat, no roads go up here

Ice road over the Moose River between Moosonee and Moose Factory Island, in summer watertaxi’s take over

deer, woodland caribou, marten, fox and beaver. Across the Moose River is also a reserve for First Nations, they live further upstream in the boreal forest.

Nearby on Moose Factory Island is the community of Moose Factory to which it is connected by water taxi in the summer and ice road in the winter. The term “Factory� refers to the jurisdiction of a factor (a business agent or merchant in charge of buying or selling) of the Hudson’s Bay Company, a fur trading business for much of its existence. The total population of both settlements is estimated about 3.000 people. About 85% of the population are native Cree. In general the mother tongue is English and for about 20% the aboriginal language is.

However, these settlements and habitats close to the river will be subject to intense water currents and rises due to climate changes, which will change conditions of establishment. In addition, there is a trend of increasing population in the north, so that dependence on imports is becoming increasingly poignant. That is why it is good to examine in this place what self-sufficiency can be in relation to the surrounding landscape with underlying natural processes.

17

Marshes

Boreal Forest Moosonee Creeks Tidewater Provincial Park

Moose River

Coastal Wetlands James Bay

Bird Sanctuary Tidal Mudflats Riverdelta

Moose Factory Island

Hill Ridges

First Nations Reserve

19

Industry

Increase Creek Flows

School

Train Station Moosonee

Hydro-Energylines

Danger of Flooding Services Cluster

Health Centre

Watertaxi / Ice Road

os

eR

ive

r

Moosonee

Mo

Railway Line

Charles Island

Maidmans Island South Charles Island

Hospital Waste Water Plant

Mo

os

eR

ive

r

Waste Water Plant

Tidewater Provincial Park

Upstream

Sawpit Island

Downstream to James Bay Airfield

M

Tomisidenik Island

r

ive

eR

s oo

Big Duck Island

Moose Flats r

ive

eR

os

Mo

Butler Island

Landfill Pigram Island

School Moose Factory Island

Cree Cultural Centre

Community Centre Moose Factory

We Tum Winter Road

Moose Cree Indian Reserve

Danger of Flooding School

School

21

analysis and research step 1 writing the graduation proposal step 2 reading and analysing of the location, subject

and reference projects through different methods;

layer approach, historical research, interviewing

experts, mapping, reference studies and so on. step 3 explaining the interrelations of findings on 3 scale

levels; the arctic, the Canadian boreal forest and on

Moosonee village level step 4 defining the conceptual meaning of the topic step 5 intensive site visit for analysis and meeting locals step 6 complete analysis and research phase, presentation

of conclusions, choosing design approach design step 7 concept design and spatial research through models step 8 preliminary design chosen spot(s), presentation and conclusions step 9 second site visit for the chosen location(s) step10 completing final design; zooming in on details,

creating images and final models step11 graduation presentation

Planning, Process & Working Method To keep the process on the right track, the planning consists of various parts. Starting with reading about and analyzing the assignment through, among other things, historical research, map studies, inteviews and studying reference projects. I want to do this on three scales and indicate the interrelationships; those of the North Pole, the boreal forest of Canada and at the settlement level of Moosonee. Because of the remote project area, which is also located at a large distance from the Netherlands, special attention is paid to the preparation of preferably two long site visits and in addition the most favorable approach to the community.

The next page shows the planning based on data that is already available. The schedule is an assessment of work that needs to be done. The planning is constantly updated and acts as a checklist for graduation activities.

Arctic Boreal Community

23

Graduation Thursday 3

12‐9‐2019

13‐9‐2019

1

Graduation Thursday 3

Cie 3

22‐6‐2019

14‐9‐2019

84

Cie 3

Cie 4

15‐9‐2019

15‐11‐2019

61

Cie 4

16‐11‐2019

10‐1‐2020

55

11‐2‐2019

10‐1‐2020

333

T4 Total Graduation

Task Name Preparations and Graduation Clinic

Start Date

End Date

Duration

T4 Total Graduation

Start Date in Number Form

12‐21‐18

42

Preparations and Graduation Clinic

9‐2‐2019

1

Submit Graduation Propasal

5‐5‐2019

85

Organisation Field Study

22‐2‐2019

1

Cie 0 | Presenting Graduation Proposal

22‐2‐2019

8‐3‐2019

14

Inventory and collecting data

1‐3‐2019

12‐4‐2019

42

Analysis and conclusion maps

7‐3‐2019

20‐3‐2019

13

Formulating vision Check and sharpening assignment

21‐12‐2018

1‐2‐2019

Submit Graduation Propasal

8‐2‐2019

Organisation Field Study

9‐2‐2019

Cie 0 | Presenting Graduation Proposal

21‐2‐2019

Inventory and collecting data Analysis and conclusion maps Formulating vision Check and sharpening assignment

13‐3‐2019

20‐3‐2019

7

Cie 1 | First Findings

21‐3‐2019

22‐3‐2019

1

Cie 1 | First Findings

21‐3‐2019

5‐4‐2019

15

Problems & Opportunities

6‐4‐2019

4‐5‐2019

28

Scenarios & Strategy regional scale

Practical assesment year 4

17‐4‐2019

18‐4‐2019

1

Practical assesment year 4

Scenarios & Strategy community scale

20‐4‐2019

17‐5‐2019

27

Graduation Thursday 1

16‐5‐2019

17‐5‐2019

1

Problems & Opportunities Scenarios & Strategy regional scale

Field Study in Moosonee Vision and combined strategy concept

19‐5‐2019

9‐6‐2019

21

2‐6‐2019

16‐6‐2019

14

Cie 2 | Spatial Transformation Strategy

17‐6‐2019

21‐6‐2019

4

Mentor Conversation

21‐6‐2019

22‐6‐2019

1

Sketch Design and expert meetings

22‐6‐2019

19‐7‐2019

27

Preliminary Design

18‐7‐2019

10‐9‐2019

54

Summer Holiday

22‐7‐2019

5‐8‐2019

14

Graduation Thursday 3

12‐9‐2019

13‐9‐2019

1

Cie 3 | Strategy & Design

10‐9‐2019

14‐9‐2019

4

Final Design

10‐9‐2019

18‐10‐2019

38

19‐10‐2019

29‐10‐2019

10

4‐10‐2019

14‐11‐2019

41

30‐10‐2019

14‐11‐2019

15

Site Visit Moosonee Details and Elaborations Test pitch final presentation Cie 4 | Design & Elaboration

14‐11‐2019

15‐11‐2019

1

Sharpening proposal

15‐11‐2019

29‐11‐2019

14

Maps, schemes, sections and visuals

22‐11‐2019

26‐12‐2019

34

Chirstmas Holiday

23‐12‐2019

30‐12‐2019

7

Maquette and booklet

27‐12‐2019

8‐1‐2020

12

9‐1‐2020

10‐1‐2020

1

T4 | Presentation

Scenarios & Strategy community scale Graduation Thursday 1 Field Study in Moosonee Vision and combined strategy concept Cie 2 | Spatial Transformation Strategy Mentor Conversation Sketch Design and expert meetings Preliminary Design Summer Holiday Graduation Thursday 3 Cie 3 | Strategy & Design Final Design Site Visit Moosonee Details and Elaborations Test pitch final presentation Cie 4 | Design & Elaboration Sharpening proposal Maps, schemes, sections and visuals Chirstmas Holiday Maquette and booklet T4 | Presentation

43455,00

Use this number for the Minimum Bound of the Horizontal Axis to set the beginning of the chart.

2‐9‐19

3‐31‐19

5‐20‐19

7‐9‐19

8‐28‐19

25

End Date

10‐17‐19

43840,00 12‐6‐19

commission overview

expert overview

Commission Mentor Jana Crepon is a broadly experienced German landscape architect who has worked in Amsterdam since 1995. She graduated with a Masters in Landscape Architecture from the Technical University of Dresden and completed her education with studies at the Edinburgh College of Art. Committee member Lodewijk van Nieuwenhuijze was employed as a landscape architect at Staatsbosbeheer between 1976 and 1990 and later at the Forest and Landscape Construction Department (Ministry EL&I). In 1990 he founded H+N+S Landscape Architects together with Dick Hamhuis and Dirk Sijmons. His expertise lies in the field of regional landscape planning and landscape architectural conceptualisation.

Committee member Sjef Jansen is an ecologist who advises to make a responsible approach to nature. He strives for projects that are ecologically accurate and excel in architecture and sustainability. With his consultancy Planecology he wants to ensure that ecology provides added value for spatial projects.

27

Canadian designer in the Netherlands Cynthia Hathaway is a designer based in the Netherlands.

She focuses on design research, concept development and final designs often based on social themes such as alternative and accidental visions about designing a sustainable future and forming new communities.

Photographer with a Inuit man in Amsterdam Ellis Doeven is a Dutch photographer and made the photo project Maktak and Gasoline, about the community of Point Hope, the oldest permanently inhabited Inuit village on the North American continent. She lives in Amsterdam with her Unuit man and their daughter, who can introduce me to the customs of indigenous Candanese peoples.

Product development and marketing Thijs Verheugen is director at psCity and founder of CleanPicnic. He is an entrepreneur, inventor and creative marketer who specializes in meaningful marketing and communication, social Brandscaping and brand activation.

Board member of the Impactmakers Fund for social entrepreneurs and guest lecturer Avans Hogeschool.

Experts Dutch advisor worked 12 years in the James Bay region Floris Ensink is interested in the relationship between man and nature. He is an analytical person and has master degrees in both Nature Management and Business Administration, working as a consultant at Wing. Before that, he spent twelve years in Quebec in Canada restoring the habitats of animal populations that the indigenous population was hunting for.

Canadian ‘polar’ architects Mason White en Lola Sheppard lead Lateral Office in Toronto, an experimental design agency that operates on the interface between architecture, landscape and urban design. They have published an extensive design study of the Canadian Arctic and are also active in the academic world.

Building with Nature Erik van Eekelen is Lead Engineer at the environmental engineering department of Van Oord, working worldwide on the full range of environmental aspects of their projects. On behalf of Van Oord he is part of the Management Team of the EcoShape-consortium, that develops knowledge via pilots and research on the topic of Building with Nature.

29

The Canadian North Robert M. Bone

Last Imaginany Place Rober McGhee

Canadian Nordicity Louis Edmond Hameln

Literature

Arctic Dreams Barry Lopez

A Farewell to Ice Peter Wadhams

31

Many Norths Lateral Office

plan for resolute bay by ralph erskine ca. 1973

Reference Projects On the following pages I have collected a selection of projects that inspire me, in relation to the subject and the related issues. Projects such as the Benesse Art Site Naoshima, the sustainable tourism on Fogo Island and on Lanzarote show that the landscape can be a good basis for this. It is essential that the importance of local people is central to sustainable development.

33

Fogo Island The initiatives of the Shorefast Foundation on Fogo Island show that sustainable sea tourism benefits the environment and the local community. Factors that are mostly ignored with regard to the development of tourism have proven that Fogo Island is successful. For example, the community has been involved in the development process from the beginning; they have been the only focus of every initiative. By involving the community in the process, the community gets economic and cultural benefits. In return, they accept and welcome tourists who visit their home. A seemingly small gesture, such as allowing residents to stay for free in the luxury hotel, shows the willingness of the foundation to work together with the local residents. By understanding the traditions of the local community, the foundation successfully reduced the amount of cod caught in the area and created a luxury fish brand with a low supply and high demand. Fogo Island is an ideal example of sustainable marine tourism and how it can be implemented in more remote areas. We as residents, travelers and entrepreneurs can look at this example to understand how we can support sustainable tourism.

35

Lanzarote Effect Lanzarote is ahead of every other place on the planet. It is a campaign that proposes a different way of experiencing the destination through its cultural, historical and natural values.

Lanzarote was the first international destination to achieve certification ‘Biosphere Responsible Tourism’, unique and recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, an international organization that offers a worldwide system of accreditation, approval and accreditation in certification programs for sustainable tourism. Since then, the strategy of Lanzarote Tourism has focused on positioning the destination in international circuits, drawing the distinction and benefits under this brand. In this context, the launch of Lanzarote Effect is planned, an original promotional campaign focused on the island’s commitment to sustainable development and the balance between art and nature. Under this suggestive claim, a new way is shown to experience Lanzarote than the traditional sun and the beach. Attention to their cultural, historical and natural characteristics through the eyes of those who inhabit it. The Lanzarote effect will discover the spirit of the island, told by its people, artists, scientists and winemakers, among many others.

37

Benesse Art Site Naoshima The Benesse art site Naoshima, initiated by billionaire Soichiro Fukutake in the late 1980s, is an ambitious cultural project that emphasizes connections between art, nature, architecture and local communities on Naoshima, Teshima and Inujima, three islands that are part of the Seto Inland Sea archipelago in western Japan. Compared to unsuccessful attempts by a previous company to develop the island as a tourist resort, Benesse encouraged site-specific, locally inspired works of art, made by international artists, and more importantly, the company ensured that it was at the right distance from the local population. Benesse soon discovered that it is vital to support the local community in sustainable development efforts. In the beginning, the aging local population had little interest in modern art, but Benesse’s decision to take the project out of his own possession and in the local community aroused enthusiasm among residents. Local residents started helping to develop outdoor artworks that complemented the local natural environment.

39

PBL. (2015). Ecosysteemdiensten in het buitenland: Toepassing in pilots en beleid. Den Haag: Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving.

Schwartz, M. (2016). Beyond Practice: Landscape Architects and the Global Eco-Crisis. Philadelphia: Landscape Architecture Foundation.

Sheppard, L., & White, M. (2017). Many norths: spatial practice in a polar territory. Barcelona: Actar.

Timmermans, W., et al. (2015). The rooted city: European capitals and their connection with the landscape. Wageningen: Blauwdruk.

United Nations Environment Programme. (2007). Tourism in the Polar Regions: The Sustainability Challenge. Paris: United Nations Publications.

Vesselovsky ,M. (2018) Canada’s State of Trade: Trade and Investment Update. Ottowa: Global Affairs Canada Wadhams, P. (2016). Farewell to Ice: A Report from the Arctic. Bungay: Allen Lane.

40

Bibliography Austin, S. (2017). Can we get to zero? Landscape Architecture Magazine.

Bone, R.M. (2016). The Canadian North: Issues and Challenges (5th edition).

Don Mills: Oxford University Press.

Brandt, J.P., et al. (2013). An introduction to Canada’s boreal zone: ecosystem processes, health, sustainability, and environmental issues.

Ottowa: Environmental Reviews 21(4):207-226.

Bruin, D. de, et al. (1987). Ooievaar : de toekomst van het rivierengebied.

Arnhem: Stichting Gelderse Milieufederatie.

CAFF International Secretariat. (2010). Arctic Biodiversity Trends 2010 – Selected indicators of change. Akureyri: Ásprent Stell.

EASAC. (2018). Negative emission technologies: What role in meeting Paris Agreement targets? Halle: European Academies’ Science Advisory Council.

Emmerson, C. (2012). Arctic Opening: Opportunity and Risk in the High North. London: Lloyd’s.

Lopez, B. (1986). Arctic Dreams: Imagination and Desire in a Northern Landscape. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.

41

Š 2019 all rights reserved