WATER URBANISM
Preserving Room for the River Design projects for the Red River Floodplain in Yen So, Hanoi, Vietnam Master of Applied Sciences and Engineering: Architecture
Authors
Stefanie Dens
Laura Rijsbosch
Promotor
2010-2011
Prof. Dr. Kelly Shannon Co-promotor
Prof. Guido Geenen
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WATER URBANISM
Preserving Room for the River Design Projects for the Red River Floodplain in Yen So, Hanoi, Vietnam
Thesis presented to obtain the degree of Master of Applied Sciences and Engineering: Architecture 2010-2011
AUTHORS Stefanie Dens, Laura Rijsbosch PROMOTOR Prof. Dr. Kelly Shannon CO-PROMOTER Prof. Guido Geenen READERS Prof. Dr. Bruno De Meulder, Tuan Pham Anh,
Dr. Loan Pham Thuy
INTRODUCTION Following the conclusion and design strategy pointed out in the booklet of Hanoi, this booklet puts forward 2 design proposals focussing on the floodplain.
The design will focus on the questions of how to prevent room being taken away from the river, how to set free the floodplain from urbanisation and how to make it a common tread amongst the inhabitants of Hanoi. The goal is to make Hanoians aware of the river their city is founded next to in stead of the lacking attitude that nowadays rules in ways which it is feeling safe inside dyke while neglecting what is outside dyke until it crosses front doors.
In this strategy the design projects focus on the floodplain of Yen So, as it is the place where the river is at its widest between the dykes and were the landscape of meanders is still an ongoing process. It is the place where the floodplain gathers a rich amount of villages with a traditional culture in crafts and agriculture. As Yen So is the lowest point, this is the area where the water issues come together and where the Yen So Pumping Station is grafted on the dyke. Moreover, located in the periphery of Hanoi, the floodplain of Yen So is not yet fully urbanised, but as the city keeps on growing, settlements are sprawling in the floodplain in the north already. This factor combined with the fact that the floodplain is at its widest and that this area is seen as possible building space in case of a canalised river as proposed by lots of master plans, a strategic project that puts the floodplain in the mental map of the Vietnamese can be seen as establishing a precedent. 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2 Introduction 6 Design Strategy 10 Design project: Reconnecting Hanoi to the river Laura Rijsbosch 24 Design project: Across the floodplain Stefanie Dens 3
4
5
across the floodplain: a common tread
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“so I would like to go for a hike in the floodplains of the red river - is this at all possible, and if so, where should one enter?� Asked on newHanoian.com on the 17th of april 2011 by Peacock, living near the West Lake, Quang An.
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overview route - accesibility from dyke to dyke, spanning the floodplain at its widest point
route
0 100
250
500m
ACROSS THE FLOODPLAIN: a common tread It is remarkable that the river as the biggest spatial structure of Hanoi, being the original reason of founding, is not part of the mental map. As such, nor is the floodplain, giving rise to an attitude that lacks rules and claims land for settlements, forming a threat for both city and river. An intervention that creates space for the river in the Hanoian mind is needed.
The gesture is a route. Making the floodplain accessible in ways that citizens of Hanoi can wade through the area known for its crafts and agriculture and in ways that villagers in the floodplain can easily reach the city with their harvest,
the
route will become a common tread, rendering the floodplain visible.
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interweaving roads The route interweaves the existing roads that follow the logic of the shortest way to the highest point, being the dyke. Sewing qualities and adding a layer of small scale intervention, the route links the east and west dyke from the Yen So pumping station to the Van Giang crossing, passing the villages of Yen My, a floating village, Chu Xa and Xuan Hung Yen .
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stiltroad existing road
interventions main roads
fish ponds pagoda
agriculture village
cemetery house boat
school, station highest point 11m
0 100
250
500m
The gesture however is not to be found on the scale of the big arterial roads of industry as they are carriers for urbanisation, but on the scale of the
orientation gates to the floodplain, line of orientation in the landscape
small mud roads
that
maze
the
floodplain. A secondary network for motorbikes and bikes is traced, taking along the qualities of landscape and culture by means of interweaving the existing roads
with a new line of transportation
network layer that takes into account the notion of time
.
secondary network for pedestrians bikes and motorbikes
Acknowledging the
river has little space left to shift in time in between the rigid dyke system, the route spans the floodplain at its widest section, linking the Yen So pumping station with the Van Giang crossing. The first is the kidney in the water management of Hanoi and a
linking safe levels most efficient way to highest point, the dyke
collector for future urbanisation, the second is a social collector grafted on the dyke.
So if this route can combine points of orientation with a secondary network for light traffic, if it can follow an interaction with the landscape and link
landscape interaction from river to dyke: drawing the inverse topography
highest points of safety in times of flood and if it can sew the current values of the floodplain and generate possibilities alongside, the floodplain and moreover the river might get traced into the mind, making people think twice before claiming land.
sewing values, adding opportunities linking qualities of the floodplain and generateing new possibilities 31
lateral moves The dykes at its widest, the river flows over time are traced. In between the curves villages raised. 2010
2000
1996
1935
1911
9th century
holocene
0
250
750m
stiltroad top view Triangulation is possible over a width of 1m for each clamped bamboo branch. Extra crossings are foreseen under the deck in order to increase stability.
stiltroad front view Floating 2,3 m above the landscape, the stiltroad needs a slope of 10 m to reach ground level. This length coincides the width of an average agriculture plot.
stiltroad deck The deck is created by cutting bamboo branches into 4, which makes it possible to thread the shingles together . This way rainfall pass through and rhythmic shadow is created. Reference project: “A bridge too far� from Eduard Ng.
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As the landscape in the floodplain is subjected to the river in ways that it is continuously redrawn by the shifts of the river over time and by the game of flooding and withdrawal, the new network layer can not have the pretension of being permanent. It must be a temporary structure. A ‘stiltroad’ seems to fit: having a minimal footprint on the ground and knotted out of bamboo,
it
might
resist
a flood or two, at its best it stands a few years, but if a devastating flood comes along, there is the possibility that it gets demolished. If the stiltroad is a story of success, villagers and citizens will cooperate and fix it or built it again,
as bamboo is
widely available in the immediate area, making both (re-)construction and maintanance cheap and easy.
bamboo stiltroad detail drawing The deck size of 2,7m is based on the typical bicycle used to transport vegetable harvest and coincides with the width of the current mud roads. Depending on the topography the stiltroad flies 0,5 to 3,4 metres above the landscape with an average of 2,3m. Knotted together with a red knotting rope, the stiltroad gets its transversal and longnitudal stability from the triangulation of the supporting bamboo branches that are clamped in the ground.
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F
E
G C
D
topography and location of sections
A B
12-13m
11-12m
10-11m
9-10m
8-9m
7-8m
6-7m
4-5m
0
250
750m
Several sections from river to dyke along the left bank show the decline in topography while coming closer to the dyke as the height of the stiltroad is contiuously levelling 8.5metres.
sections A B & C Closest to the river the stiltroad lies on top of the landscape.
sections D & E
sections F & G Closest to the dyke the stiltroad floats 2.3m above the landscape.
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Furthermore, levelling a constant height of 8.5 metres above sea level the stiltroad draws the inverse topography of the floodplain and provides
7-8m flood
safety in times of flood by linking the current concrete roads, villages and subdykes that measure an equal height.
8-9m flood
9-10m flood
0 0.2
1 km
flood maps The route, linking the existing concrete roads of 8,5 m above sea level and the stiltroad of equal height, will provide safe acces to the dyke in case of flooding . When the flood reaches 9m, both villages and roads are drawn.
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gates and ferry 2 bamboo knotted structures form the gates to the floodplain. By introducing a second ferry that is accessible at all times by a floating deck, the route spans from dyke to river and from river to dyke. Yen So Pumping Station & Van Giang crossing
gates
existing road
stiltroad
0
250
750m
Knotted out of bamboo and given direction with corrogated iron roofs topping equal hight, two viewpoints span the route across the floodplain. Materials: reference project: “Handmade School� from Anna Heringer
Yen So Pumping Station control room Topped with a viewpoint the control room accesses the floodplain from the west dyke.
Van Giang crossing Providing shadow for social gathering, collecting and replacing the current bus stop, few bars, a taxi rank and adding a terrace to dry rice.
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So, where should one enter? Creating
significant
gates
along
the
dykes
that monotonously border the floodplain is indispensable. On the west dyke the route accesses
west dyke main movement along the dyke, parallel to the river
the floodplain at the Yen So pumping station, by means of a small surveillance building for the sluices topped with a viewpoint
overlooking the
surrounding paddies, row contest lakes and the
east dyke main movement crossing the dyke, from village to river
river - as the lattere isn’t visible from the dykes -. At the east dyke, the route connects to the Van Giang crossing where a viewpoint will generate shadow: the first condition of social gathering. Added with a long terrace on which rice can be dried, this second slim bamboo tower links a pagoda, a bus stop, few bars and the main street of the village. A new ferry is introduced at the end of the pumping station canal. Pointing out 2 metres from the concrete quay, a small deck provides a river overview
.
The floodplain being well known by the villagers the pleats of the river are a maze for anyone else: each mud road ends in a crossing, and is surrounded by vegetables, some electricity wires and a village somewhere at the horizon. Therefore, introducing the stiltroad means creating a line of orientation.
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mapped opportunities and added values
fish ponds pagoda
cemetery village
school, station house boat
opportunity
existing road
added viewpoint providing water on topographical isle of 11m
high school in Chu Xa
Chu Dong Tu Pagoda in Chu Xa founded based upon the legend of Chu Dong Tu main road surrounded by lakes, Chu Xa
Pagoda, Chu Xa
added viewpoint providing water and market near fish ponds
added public space in Xuan Hung Yen possibility of creating a village market under tree near stiltroad cemetery near fish pond
paddy field near Van Giang crossing
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stiltroad
0
250
750m
Traced on the edge of landscape structures the stiltroad passes hectares of vegetables and paddy fields alternated with orchards and ornamental tree plots and crosses Yen My, a floating village, Chu Xa and Thong Trung Quang village (from west to east).
I would like to go for a hike
Traced on the edge of different landscape structures the route sews villages, religious places and crafts together, linking local values and adding opportunities. Potentials are found in the extending, widening or heightening of the stiltroad based upon location. Purely possibilities are generated.
cemetery
fish market and viewpoint in midst of agriculture
bamboo tower at highest point -11m- of the floodplain
concept of the viewpoint
Lying higher than Bat Trang and easy accessible by the subdyke this point generates a total overview over the length of the Red River.
A water pump provides water for both irrigation as other agriculutre purpose. above a market can take place. The two remaining floors give an overview as these bamboo towers are located in the midst of agricultural areas
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stiltroad existing route fish ponds pagoda
40
interventions
school, station
2010
highest point 11m cemetery house boat
1996 1911 holocene
2000 1935 9th century
meandering dykes and subdykes 2010 1996 1911
2000 1935
2000 2010
holocene
1911 1996 2010 2000 1935 1996
landscape of meanders
main roads agriculture village
floating village
ferry
ferry
1911 1996 2000 2010 1935
Yen My
Yen So gate
pumping station
sewing qualities adding opportunities
Van Giang gate 1935 1911 1996 2000 2010
9th century
market
Xuan Hung Yen
viewpoint
pagoda
pagoda holocene
junior school
Chu Xa
high school
pagoda
2010 2010 1996 1996 2000 2000 1911 9th century
Trung Quang 1935
cemetery viewpoint
cemetery
0
100
300m
notions of time, sewing qualities Overview of mapped qualities along the route that crosses edges of temporality in a landscape that is in continuous process of being redrawn by the interplay of river and dykes 41
sewing religious places
cemetery
42
pagoda
village
existing road
stiltroad
0
250
750m
The village of Chu Xa is known for its pagoda that is erected based on a legend known by every single Hanoian. The legend of Chu Dong Tu is celebrated every year from 10 to 13 February with a procession that crosses the floodplain and goes from city centre to the village of Da Hoa and ends in the Nha Da Lagoon located more eastwards. Chu Xa is the village of birth of Chu Dong Tu.
The Legend of Chu Dong Tu The third King of the Hung Dynasty had a daughter, Princess Tien Dung. At the age of 18, Tien Dung was a most beautiful girl. Yet, instead of settling down to a married life, the Princess preferred to sightsee at various places of interest in the country. In spring, particularly she used to travel by boat on rivers, and even on the sea.
Meanwhile, a very poor fisherman, Chu Cu Van and his son, Chu Dong Tu, lived in Chu Xa village (now a part of Gia Lam district, Hanoi). There was only one piece of loin cloth for both: when one of them wore it, the other had to stay in the water. Finally, when the father, struck by grave illness, was about to pass away, he told his son to bury him naked so that the latter might use the loin cloth. But filial affection did not allow the son to follow this advice. Instead, he buried his father along with the loin cloth. Thereupon, the son had to stay in water all the time.
One day, while he was fishing on the river, Chu Dong Tu was deeply frightened as he heard sounds of music, and saw boats, with fluttering flags, coming. To keep himself out of sight, the young man rushed to the bank and buried himself deeply in the sand near a bush of reeds.
Indeed, it was Princess Tien Dung boating in the river. As she found the scenery poetic and inspiring, she ordered to stop the boat for some time in this section of river. As fate ordained it, she ordered that a certain place on the bank, with a bush of reed, be surrounded by a long and wide strip of gauze cloth so that she could have a bath there. That happened to be the very place where Chu Dong Tu was hiding himself. The water which she poured on herself removed the sand all around and soon exposed to sight the naked body of Chu Dong Tu. Shyness and surprise seized the Princess, but, after a few minutes, she composed herself and started questioning the young man. After listening to what he said, the Princess came to the conclusion that this was, indeed, the husband which God had chosen for her, and she decided to marry him. On hearing reports from escort officials, the King was mad with anger and no longer recognised Tien Dung as his daughter. Therefore, she and her husband had to remain at that place, which was in fact the estuary of a river. She opened a shop and the place soon became a market and a port which was called at by foreign ships.
One day, Chu Dong Tu accepted the invitation of a foreign trader and embarked on a long sea voyage to foreign lands. He reached Quynh Vien island where he met a monk who had attained enlightenment. At his earnest request, the monk agreed to teach him. After Chu Dong Tu had completed successfully his studies, the monk, on bidding farewell, gave him a conical hat and a stick and said: “Remember, these two objects are sacred.” On his return, Chu Dong Tu and his wife gave up business and travelled extensively here and there in order to preach religion and provide medical care to the population. Once, they had to spend the night at a deserted place on the bank of a river, as crossings could be affected only in daytime. They planted the stick on the ground and put the conical hat on one end of the stick in order to have a small roof to sit under. Yet, during that very night, a castle with ramparts and a populated city sprang up in that very place. A kingdom indeed! The angry Hung King soon sent troops to attack the city. As the troops reached the other bank of the river at sunset, they had to spend the night there and wait for the dawn before attacking. But at midnight, the whole area was overwhelmed by winds, lightning, thunder and violent rains and, as a result, Chu Dong Tu, Princess Tien Dung, their castle and city vanished into the sky and the whole area became a lake which was later called as “Nhat Da” Lagoon, that is, “One Night Lagoon”.
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network interactcions Nowadays the pleats of the landscape form a mosaic of microscale agriculture maintained by households that crop about 0.24ha. Tracing a line of efficient transportation the stiltroad could reinforce the current economy that is based on flexibility. Interacting with the concrete industry roads, an evolution to an industrialised agriculture that could yield more for the government is envisioned. Micro and macroscale agriculture are interweaved to reinforce the floodplains economy. current road network: -mapped- main roads for industry, earthen roads for agriculture
industrialisation of agriculture: near concrete roads
industrialisation of agriculture: spreading over the current mosaic microscale agriculture existing concrete road 3m existing concrete road 6m existing road
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stiltroad
0
250
750m
Is this at all possible? Acknowledging the fact that the floodplain is part of the 5 districts that provide about 70% of Hanoi’s fresh vegetables, the route is a meaningful line of transportation for the agrarians as well. Levelling the route higher than the ground, no more struggles through the mud roads with motorbike and bike is needed in order to reach the city centre with harvest. Supporting the agrarians with the secondary network that cooperates with the bigger infrastructure, efficient access to the city is guaranteed, resulting in a reinforcement of the local economy, making land more valuable and less easy to expropriate. scales and agriculture
Nowadays the mosaic of small scale plots forms a flexible economy maintained by the household,
microscale agriculture based on flexibility and the scale of the household are connected to the route, the bigger roads can be used to support a future industrialised agriculture as an alternative to the current master plans that envision urbanisation in the floodplain.
giving the freedom to adapt cleverly to changes in natural circumstances by switching crops easily. This micro scale agriculture measures only 0,24 ha/ household and stands in big contrast to the power of the city, the area they grow for
.
Cooperating with the concrete roads that can access bigger plots in the future, a possible
rape seed A conceptual calculation: planting rape seed - a yellow crop used for biodiesel, nutrition products and as soil fertilizer- under the stiltroad is providing 1.250 ha of farmland, giving 5 households an income.
evolution towards macro agriculture is envisioned. This way a route that treads across the floodplain can show that developing does not necessary mean urbanising.
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