CIRCULAR SUSTANABILITY dutch lowlands | agriculture AR1LA051 landscape as cultivated environment Tutors | Gerdy Verschuure-Stuip | Denise Piccinini Liaw Su Xin | 5091993
NETHERLANDS Groningen
Amsterdam
‘s Hertogenbosch Breda Eindhoven
broek in waterland Maastricht
part i (pair work)
Overall Vision -Challenges -Opportunity -Values -Vision Design exploration: -Scenario 1 & 2 -Evaluation
part ii (individual)
Design Intervention -Site analysis (water management, openness) -Overall strategy: Circular Sustainability -Design plan (program) -Cycles -Spatial quality -Process Design Intervention Reflection -4 Perspective Annex -Ecology matrix -Eendragtspolder -References
CURRENT WATERLAND (i) climate change: too dry/ wet (ii) seepage into lower lake bed polders requiring constant pumping (iii)unwanted nutrients from agricultural drainage contaminating peat irrigation (iv) monoculture, Photo source: https://www.ccmaknowledgebase.vic.gov.au/brown_book/images/01_Compaction/compaction_tj.jpg https://schlijper.nl/120616-18-belmermeer.photo https://issuu.com/crv-publishers/docs/cmuk-september_2017 https://www.bbc.com/news/ https://getinthering.co/land-subsidence/ https://www.inlandbays.org/blog/oating-wetlands-explained/ https://www.ad.nl/alphen/henk-begon-tegen-alle-adviezen-in-een-wijngaard-maar-vond-ultieme-rust~a55e2752/?referrer=https://www.goo gle.com/
CU RRE NT CHA LLENGES Laag Holland is characterised by its unique open landscape, peat from 1000AD. Some of the land has been converted into productive farm land, contributing to the food supply Netherlands as the world second largest agricultural exporter. Peat requires nutrient poor water and the excess nutrients from agricultural run off contaminates the water supply, threatening the valuable resource. Also, with climate change, there is more intensed precipitation and longer dryer periods. There is a need to have an adaptive system to cope with such fluctuations in water volumes. Monoculture. the Waterland area is mainly cattle farming. Such farms require low water table level for cows to be on the grass. With seepage from the higher peat areas into the lower lake bed polders, constant pumping of the water from the agricultural polders to the boezems is required. This prompts us to rethink the agricultural type.
Synthethis fertiliser Herbicide Insecticide Bactericide
ISOLATION
directing away from natural elements provided by ecosystem
CROP FAILURE DISEASE MULTIPLICATION reuse same soil
DAMAGE TO ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM toxins
PROFITABILITY high reward, high risk
NATURE
single crop > provide limited nutrient > snmall range of insects
source: https://www.challenge.org/knowledgeitems/the-dangers-of-monoculture-farming/
Laag-Holland region: Geomorphological, water management and programmatic analysis to understand the site.
The dangers of monoculture.
polluted ground water
PEAT
FUTURE WATERLAND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (i) closed nutrient cycle (ii) resilient water cycle (iii) habitat diversity/ ecological enrichment (iv) robust farmers network Photo source: google.com/maps https://www.fwi.co.uk/business/markets-and-trends/dairy-markets/huge-dutch-cow-cull-good-uk-dairy-prices https://oudolf.com/ https://underthesunseeds.com/products/broadleaf-cattail-reed-seeds-typha-latifolia-500-seeds
VALUES VALUES OPENNESS
FARMING
PEAT
The values are the unique characteristics of the Waterland. The openness is closely linked to both the grasslands for cattle farming and peat polders, Focusing on the Agriculture as the main programmatic driver, the vision for Waterland is sustainable agriculture; closed nutrients (from crop to plate) cycle, closed water cycle, and the incorporation of nature networks.
peat layer by Vaclav Krizek https://www.laagholland.com/en/over-laag-holand/nationaal-landschap-laag-holland-1 https://docplayer.nl/67467091-Ruimtelijke-perspectieven-laag-holland-ontwerpend-onderzoek-naar-de-relatie-tussen-veenbehoud-en-landbouw.html
DECREASING YIELD CORN -Nurtrient uptake in the long run
S WETNES
SINGLE CROP SYSTEM LOW YIELD CORN -Soil nutrient depletion
FERTILISER -Environmental impact -Contaminate water with nitrates and phosphate and nitrate
(i) monoculture, (ii) soil compaction by cattle
OPPORTUNITY (1) A rotation of crops provides for maintaining the soil in good tilth. (2) Supplies organic matter and nitrogen. (3) Prevents destructive outbreaks of insect pests. (4) Reduces plant diseases. (5) Provides for the economic destruction of weeds. (6) Maintains crop yields.
shifting & scattering pressure on landscape (i) more water in the system (resilience), (ii) environmental friendlier farming (water quality) (iii) more space for nature
(7) Distributes the labor of men and horses. (8) Saves labour in the cultivation of land. (9) Keeps the soil occupied. (10) Provides for a balanced removal of plant food. (11) Systematizes farming. (12) May control the spread of toxic substances.
additional layer over open peat landscape
PROBLEM
shifting & scattering pressure on landscape
Sustaina
scenario 1: Wetness Rotation
(i) monoculture, (ii) soil compaction by cattle
(i) more water in the system (resilience), (ii) environmental friendlier farming (water quality) (iii) more space for nature
-close -high -care for l
SCENARIO 2: CONSOLIDATED WATER TRANSFORMER
Sustainable Agriculture (i) closed nutrient cycle, (ii) resilient water cycle (iii) higher water levels (iv) care for landscape elements
(i) climate change: too dry/ wet (ii) seepage into lower polders (iii) nutrient contaminating waterway
SCENARIOS OPPORTUNITY
VISION
PROBLEM
OPPORTUNITY additional layer over +20cm open peat landscape
+80cm
(i) climate change: too dry/ wet (ii) seepage into lower lake bed polders requiring constant pumping adjusting (iii)unwanted nutrients from agricultural drainage contaminating water peat irrigation
table level
+0cm
(i) more water in the system (adaptability& resilience), (ii) more control over water system for localised areas (iii) additional layer preserves peat landscape (iv) improved water quality through vegetated ďŹ ltration (iv) potential for recreation
Azolla, Duckweed fern
Wild rice, Cattail
Veenmos, Sphagnum
VISION Sustainable Agriculture
-closed nutrient cycle, H -resilient water cycle -dynamic -higher water levels -care for landscape elements.through wat
-30cm
Miscanthus grass
scenario 2: Layered Water Transformer
PROBLEMS
PROBLEM
EXCESS NUTRIENTS
SEEPAGE PRESSURE
SEEPAGE PRESSURE
APPROACH
HIGH YIELD CORN
FILTER
WIDER BOEZEM
ISOLATED STORAGE
-time per -create di soil -create -resilie so -resilient
SCENARIO 1: WETNESS ROTATION
WETNESS ROTATION Noordmeerpolder
Concept - big scale, rotation amongst the 3 polders, greatest variety of crop type, share produces and resources - dynamic water system through water level variation to create different soil conditions/ biotopes -time period : approx 5 years before programme of polder plot changes - different crops have different root penetration depth allowing for resilient soil regeneration - empty program = relieve pressure from the soil - encourage plant type diversity hence attracting natural systems (birds, insects) - reduce relience on fertilisers - more water stored in system
Noordmeerpolder
Broekmeerpolder
Belmermeerpolder
legend Important waterway between polders Cycle in lakebedpolders Meadows for cattle
Noordmeerpolder
Broekmeerpolder
Meadows for nature & birds
Belmermeerpolder
Cattail
Broekmeerpolder
+ Kept dry Noordmeerpolder
Wet
Belmermeerpolder
Broekmeerpolder Alternate
+
Low amount of water
Kept dry
Kept dry
Alternate
Low total amount of water
=
+
Reed or wild rice
Belmermeerpolder
=
+
Much higher amount of water
Very wet
Relatively dry
)*
(
rotation of soil with wet, dampare and If conditions metdry condition in the 3 polders increases overall water retention capacity Alternate
Alternate
-Grass -Cattle
-Azula -Cranberry -Elephantgrass
-Peatmoss
-Cattail -Wild rice
a sustainable cycle of nutrient depositor and receiver
case study: benefits of crop rotation
Cranberries
1
low/ intake
N
2
3
4
1. Nitrogen intake/ deposit 2. Waterlevel 3. CO2 intake/deposit 4. Ph (acidic/basic)
Ph
H2O
high/ deposit
CO2
Nutrient Rich
Nutrient Poor
H2O
+0,5
Ph
CO2
N
Azola (Duckweed)
H2O
H2O
Ph
N
CO2
Ph
CO2
N
+0,2
Typha latifolia (Cattail)
Zizania (Wild rice)
Ph
N
Ph
CO2
H2O
N
Ph
HO
CO2
N
2
Vaccinium macrocarpon (Cranberry)
Sphagnum (Peatmoss)
CO2
H2O
0,0
Miscanthus (Elephantgrass) CO
N
2
-0,5
Ph
H2O
Cattle/Grass
table of crops water table level against crops’ nutrient uptake
S cen a r io 1 eva lu at io n Noordmeerpolder
Broekmeerpolder
Belmermeerpolder
Low total amount of water
( Alternate
)* If conditions are met Alternate
intercropping and rotation within and amongst polders
PROS - Allows for soil regeneration - Crop diversity within a polder promotes biodiversity - Better closed loop nutrient and water cycle promotes sustainability - Direct purchase by Broekinwaterland cisitzens from farmers reduces energy wastage
CONS - Reduced profitability in the short run due to higher fixed cost - Requires reorganisation of plots - Farmers might not be willing to diversify their crop range
EVALUATION By a simple act of changing the water level, different soil conditions are created for various agriculture types. The next step will be to consider how to create the different water level in separate polder plots within a polder. The time period between the change of water level would be around 10 years for ample time to reap the profit, for soil recovery and also increase the likelihood that the farmers would adopt crop rotation permaculture method.
Concept -to preserve the peat landscape, an additional layer of intervention is added - water is stored in expanded boezem and towers - critical points are identified for tower placement - tower has fixed radius for natural gravitational irrigation - agriculture is contained within lake bed polder SCENARIO - water is cleansed by halophytes vegetation such2:as WATER TRANSFORMER cattail and lemon LAYERED grass - towers can be connected to provide for recreation
(reduced nutrient)
SCENARIO 2: LAYERED WATER TRANSFORMER
Broekermeer Polder Water Management legend
Broekermeer Polder Water Management
Precipitation (nutrient poor)
Storage
WET SEASON
(nutrient poor)
Storage & Filtration (nutrient poor)
Precipitation
Peat Lake
(nutrient poor)
Cleansing Biotope
ase into g Biotope
d nutrient)
SCENARIO 2: LAYERED WATER TRANSFORMER
LAYERED WATER TRANSFORMER
(nutrient poor)
Precipitation
Storage & Filtration
(nutrient poor)
Expanded Boezem with filtration banks
Release
(nutrient poor)
(nutrient poor)
Storage
(nutrient poor)
Agriculture drainage
Peat Polder
(nutrient rich)
Peat Lake
Storage
(nutrient poor)
Cleansing Biotope
(nutrient rich)
(reduced nutrient)
Peat irrigation (nutrient poor)
Expanded Boezem with filtration banks
Lake Bed Polder
Peat Polder
Release into ring dyke (reduced nutrient)
Expanded Boezem
DRY SEASON with filtration banks
Peat Polder
Direct release into ring dyke (nutrient rich)
Release
(nutrient poor)
Release into Cleansing Biotope
Peat irrigation (nutrient poor)
(reduced nutrient)
Irrigation from ring dyke
Release into ring dyke
(reduced nutrient)
(reduced nutrient)
Lake Bed Polder
Expanded Boezem with filtration banks
self-contained water cycle in wet and dry seasons
Peat Polder
S cena r io 2 eva lu at io n PROS -Landmark icon for Dutch agricultural lowlands (just like how windmill is an icon for keeping the land dry) - Water storage function for wet & dry seasons - Serve as a high look out tower with panoramic view - Filtered water improves water irrigation quality for peat landscape - Gravitational discharge of water CONS - Stark contrast against open landscape (might be radical) - Require huge amount of energy to pump water up for storage at a height - Immense land pressure (small area massive weight) EVALUATION The amount of water required in the Broekermeer polder is 140 million litres. Assuming that there is 20 water towers in Broekermeer, each tower would have to store 7 million litres of water. That would translate to the following possible designs: cylinderical water tower with diameter of 20m and height 22m positioned (i) within the polders and (ii) surrounding the lakebed polders. Design (i) emphasizes the linear road but impedes the openness of the lakebed polder. Design (ii) emphasizes the polder as an entity in the landscape. However from the section, the towers scale is imbalanced with the polder dimensions and the the cons of this strategy is quite influential. As such, this prompts me to explore more water storage iterations. 10 x water towers 10 x water towers
storage capacity= 7M litres
storage capacity= 7M litres
towers within the lakebed polders
towers within the lakebed polders towers surrounding the lakebed polders
towers surrounding the lakebed polders
understanding scale of towers in Broekermeer polder
storage capacity= 7M litres
towers within the lakebed p
layered landscape approach
Aerial view of a 33m tower in Broekermeer polder
towers surrounding the lake
PROBLEM
(i) monoculture, (ii) climate change (iii) nutrient contaminating waterway
OPPORTUNITY
VISION
cyclical agrarian metabolism
Sustainable Agriculture
(i) more water in the system (resilience), (ii) environmental friendlier farming (water quality) (iii) more biodiversity, nature inclusive (iv) enhance polder identity
(i) closed nutrient cycle, (ii) resilient water cycle (iii) higher water levels (iv) care for landscape elements
3 Noord meer Polder
1 peat lake storage
Broekermeer Polder
2 Volgermeer Polder
Belmermeer Polder
VISION: SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 4
through water management
1 cyclical sustainable agriculture 2 permaculture 3 nature connection 4 city relation
OV E RAL L ST RAT E GY Polde r system : 3 k ey a ppro a c h
EMPHASISING AGRICULTURAL LAKEBED POLDERS
SUPPORTING NATURE DEVELOPMENT
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Polde r entity : T ransfo rm at i o n before
after
NATURE WATER STORAGE RECREATION
CULTURE polder identity
NATURE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
UND E R STA ND ING B ROEK ER MEER’S S PAT IAL Q UAL IT Y
i
Openness and perception of space ii 1 iii 2 3
iv 4
i. Linear view line in Broekermeer polder i. Main spinal line splits polder into 2 and is demarcated by wide highway ii. Secondary path along side highway. one lane. Perceive height diff as sandwiched by 2 water channel iii. Perpendicular axis demarcated by plot division iv. Polder plot openness, boundaries defined vaguely by houses, tree lines and polder dike. v. Panoramic view from boezem looking into polder and across peat landscape
v
1. Along boezem
1. View from boezem into polder
2. Along secondary one lane pathway- pronounced height diff
1. View from secondary path into polder
1. Along main highway spine
2. View from highway into polder
4. Along polder plots- trees accentuate linearity
4. Trees frame view
Calculation
Maximum storage requirement = 45l /sq m * 3,197 k sq m = 143 M l Driest Apr month = 45 mm Calculation WAT E R STORA G E EXP LORATI ON Assuming Maximum storage requirement = 45l /sq m * 3,197 k sq m = 143 M l Wettest Nov month= 90mm Driest Apr month = 45storage mm height = 1m Storage area required = 143,000 sq m storage height = 1m Assuming 1mm of rainfall = 1l/ sq m/ hrWettest Nov month= 90mm Storage area required = 143,000 sq m 1mm of rainfall = 1l/ sq m/ hr
OPTION 1 EXPANDED BOEZEM
OPTION 2 POLDER PLOTS
OPTION 1 EXPANDED BOEZEM
OPTION 3 FLOOD NATURE
OPTION 2 POLDER PLOTS
OPTION 3 FLOOD NATURE
Noordmeer polder Noordmeer polder
Broekermeer polder Area: 3M sq m Peri: 8 K m Current Boezem: 37m Expanded Boesem: 20m
Broekermeer polder Area: 3M sq m Peri: 8 K m Current Boezem: 37m Expanded Boesem: 20m
NNN peat area
Broekermeer polder
NNN peat area
Broekermeer polder
Broekermeer polder Broekermeer polder
PROS Thicker outline of boezem emphasizes lake bed polder - Filtering facility with extensive strips of cattail - Natural gravity flow of water to lower lands during dry spells -
CONS ImmensePROS manpower and sand resources required - Thicker outline of - Drastic effort required boezem emphasizes - Encroach peat lake bedinto polder landscape - Filtering facility with - 57m wide boezem extensive strips =lost of of relation with cattail peat landscape - Natural gravity flow of
PROS Emphasize patterns of CONS polder lots - Immense manpower and - sand Water storage in resources required agriculture - vicinity Drasticofeffort required to be irrigated - land Encroach into peat - Avenuelandscape for different habitat= nature =lost - 57m wide boezem
-
-
of relation with peat landscape
water to lower lands during dry spells
WAT E R MA NA G EMENT
-
CONS Less area for agriculture PROS Cause seepage to of - - Emphasize patterns adjacent agriculture polder lots plot in wet soil - resulting Water storage in vicinity of agriculture land to be irrigated - Avenue for different habitat= nature
Purmerend
PROS - Protect peat and CONS growth - encourage Less area peat for agriculture - Create different habitat - Cause seepage to in the nature area plot adjacent agriculture - resulting Create more in wet soil recreational opportunities - Natural extension of the Het Haven rak pond
4
2 Secondary ring ditch 1 3 Tertiary polder plot ditch Noordhollandsch Kannal
5 Pump house
2
3 5
Amsterdam
recreational opportunities - Natural extension of the Het Haven rak pond
-
CONS - Seepage pressure Either a layer of peat have to be removed or dikes have to be built around flood area before raising water levels
Broek in Waterland
1 Boezem connects to main river
4 Water storage peat lake
CONS - Seepage PROSpressure - Either a layer of peat - Protect peat and have to be removed dikes encourage peat or growth have to be builthabitat around - Create different flood area before raising in the nature area water more levels - Create
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2 ST E PS LA ND PREPARATI O N Schematic representation of shifting soil to create 3 biotopes
To create plots with different water depth within the polder, I have considered various options such as having a dike for each polder. Finally, I have derived with a 2 step land preparation method to achieve 3 characteristics typologies. (i) shifting of sand from one plot. This is a form of tilting which is beneficial to the soil. Orgnic fertiliser compound can be added in this stage. (ii) raising water level to protect the remaining peat in the polder This allows for a unified water level within the polder and reduce the need for water management system within each polder.
3 B I OTOPES CYCLES
Water level would fluctuate by approximaely 50cm within the 3 biotopes during wet and dry seasons. As such, different plants and activities with high and low water requirements are considered to suit the water condition. At any one point in time, there is a mixture of vegetation in each biotope: intercropping, DIfferent plants have different root penetration and uptake of nutrients. The rotation of crops results in improved soil structure, carbon sequestration and nitrogen fixing.
original polder
pond
P L AN T I NG Lake bed polder identity & Nature Emphasise given to the boundary of the lake bed polder through the double row of Carpinus betulus lining the Boezem. They are spaced 10m apart to allow for porous visibility to maintain the openness characteristic, Along the pathway and under the row of Carpinus, the flowering ground cover and shrubs attracts insects and pollinators. The green network along the boezem connects the NNN areas and encourage nature to participate in the lake bed polder plots.
Experiential Pathway The pathway adjacent to the highway is slightly lowered and is sandwiched between 2 dikes. Visitors perceives the height level difference clearly with the planted slopes. Along the path, visitors enjoy different plolder plot characteristics.
Carpinus betulus
boezem
peat
NAP -1.1m NAP -1.8m
NAP -2.2m
ring ditch NAP -4.0m
3.0
13.0
8.0
11.0
section- carpinus framing the space and insect attreacting shrubs
Liquidambar styraciflua
N247 road
aquaponics polder plot
experiential path flowers & herbs
ring ditch
NAP -3.8m
ring ditch
NAP -4.2m NAP -4.4m
NAP -5.1m
5.8
11.0
5.2
5.0
4.5
experiential path
5.0
section- visitors experience with shrubs and ground cover along path and highway
AXO N O METRIC 1 :10 ,0 0 0
E CO LOGICA L CO NNECTI ON
1 IN 1 0 Y E AR S C RO P ROTAT IO N
CI R CU LA R SYSTEMS Sustainable farming encompasses a selfsustaining system through a closed loop cycle. This reduces the dependency on external systems for animal feed and fertilisers. The interconnected and complex nature of the relation between entities in an agriculture farm is explored. Circular Nutrient Flow By creating interdependency on the elements (example aquaponics and hydroponics), we can create a self-sufficient agrometabolism. Manure and compost fertilisers are valuable sources of organic material that replenishes the soil and completes the circular agrofood system. Nutrients is utilised by crops with high nutritional demands and filter reed beds. These generates materials for building and also create habitat diversity for nature. Nature brings in an added layer of system which helps with pollination and soil reselience. Circular Water Cycle The peat lake increases the reselience during dry seasons. Stored water is released to the peat land and the farm land. The cleansing biotope removes excess nutrients in the water before water is pumped to the boezem and release back to the natural system. This minimise the impact on the environment and to protect peat.
Wat er Cy c l e
Nutri ent Cycl e
1:1000 plan
3 FA R M BIOTOPES
Temporal ex p er ient ia l deck
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Fluctuation (NAP -4.8m)
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SCALE BAR 1:10000
Wet season (NAP -4.4m)
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RO UT ES & S E Q UENC E
path on plan
SPAT I A L EXPERIENCE & TEMP O RAL
RA ISE D L A ND
POND
W E T L A ND
D RY S E AS O N
W E T SE ASON
REF L E CT ION OF DES I GN (4 P ER S P ECTI VES ) PERCEPTION Perception focuses on the link between people and the landscape through a physical experience of the environment. From the case study of the Schokland island reclamation design strategy, the design seeks to enhance the users’ understanding of the site as an entity of a lake bed polder through the double row planting of the Populus along the Boezem. The ability to perceive this results in people being able to understand and use the design. Architectural intervention in the form of a tiered viewing plates allows visitors to experience the changing water level through the seasons. The steps would be flooded during wet seasons; emerge and becomes accessible when the water level is low. The decks are placed in plots with different biotopes to showcase the 3 conditions of biotopes at a specific instance. The crops and plants grown during different seasons and wet/dry conditions also help to curate the experience of the visitors along the deck. Currently the polder plots are monocultural cattle farming. With permaculture, mixture of plants and crop diversity, users experience a more vibrant sight through different colours, biotopes and habitats.
PROCESS The design work with a few time scales. Firstly, the design consider the necessary steps to prepare the current landscape to create the 3 biotope conditions. By shifting the sand from one polder to another, this creates a closed resource cycle within Broekermeer polder and eliminates the need for external resources. This also contributes to soil tilting. The water level is raised. The design considers how the landscape changes through different season with wet/dry conditions with the exaggeration of the change with the tiered viewing plates.
PALIMPSEST Palimpsest builds on physical traces left behind. The concept derived from textual material where text is scraped off for new documentation, resulting in traces of earlier writings. It is highly related to the specificity of the site. The unique quality of the 3 polders in Broek in Waterland is that they have been pumped dry for productive land use and agricultural activities. With such understanding, agriculture is set as the main theme. Nature and recreation would be secondary.
The concept of having a closed cycle impacts not only the water and nutrient management systems but also the social, environmental and economic aspects. With crop rotation, farmers share resources and expertise and hence the farmer network would be strengthened. This means that the fixed cost is distributed amongst the farmers and collectively, they achieve economies of scale which eventually result in higher profit reaped in the long run. There would also be more direct purchase whereby dwellers from Purmerend city and Broek in Waterland residents would engage the farmers directly for their dairy and food products. With permaculture, there is more variety of crops for sale and hence this is more appealing and comparable to the commercial supermarket distributors. This not only reduce transportation cost and CO2 emissions, but it also helps the farmers to earn more income as third party distributors are no longer required. The quality and freshness of the products would be better and hence the shoppers would have higher quality of life.
Soil condition: Waterland has peat from 1000AD. To preserve this precious resource, the only way is to raise the water level . As such, Broekermeer polder is redeveloped to host more water-based crops and plants. In addition, to leverage the need for water storage for peat and agriculture irrigation (especially during the dry season), the peat landscape has been chosen as the ideal location to raise the water level. This would protect and encourage peat growth. The peat dikes responds to the peat patterns and takes shape of the pre-existing peat polder plots and peat water channels. The staggered lines of the raised dikes indicate the more irregular plot division of the peat landscape as compared to the lake bed polder plots. Within Broekermeer polder, during the allocation of the 3 biotopes programming, the polder plot pattern has been preserved and land has been allocated to suit the existing division.
The design understands the landscape as a system and hence considers the nutrient cycles and the water cycles. Given more time, there could be an exploration of the energy cycle of the Broekermeer polder and plans on how a sustainable energy network can be weaved into the current plan.
SCALE-CONTINUUM
On an even larger scale, the concept of a closed cycle can be applied to smaller areas within Netherlands. It is crucial to understand the elements of the cycles (the stakeholders, the products, the resources) to create a suitable cycle network tailored specially to the specific location. It is envisioned that there would be more closed loop systems within a larger landscape.
E CO LO GY MATRIX WO R KS HOP Nothing
Peatbog/ Marshy birch forest
Swampy peat with small trees and shrubs
Peat reedlands
Peatbog
Lakeside No distinguisable edges
Wet hayland
Grazing
Mowing
Willow hedgerows
Swampy peat Open with clumps of peat
Mowed reedlands
Wet ‘Schraal’ hayland
Lakeside Rough edges
Lakeside Defined edges
Wet clayforest
Meadow
Winterhostmeadow
Nothing
Grazing
Mowing
Peat
Clay
Sphagnum Odontoschisma sphagni Oxycoccus palustris Eriophorum vaginatum Betula pendula
Sphagnum Salix alba Dryopteris cristata
Sphagnum Phragmites australis Typha latifolia Dryopteris cristata Salix alba Carex acutiformis
Poaceae Salix alba Cardamina pratensis Caltha palustris Carex acutiformis
Phragmites australis Typha latifolia Salix alba
Poaceae Alnus glutinosa Salix alba Betula pendula
In the ecology matrix workshop, we explored the landscape characteristics as a respond to soil, water level and maintenance levels. Horizontal axis: Soil type and ground water level Vertical axis: Maintenance Surface plates: Resulting landscape The lack of trees in peat bogs indicates the acidic condition of the ground cover even though it is water and nutrient rich. The peat bog is rain water fed. As the gradient shifts towards lower water table level, the subsidence of peat to the level of ground water forms a swampy marsh typology. The open landscape with unobstructed view is favourable to marshland birds as they are constantly on the look out for predators. There is no trees as the water table is too high. With the water table lowered, pioneers such as birch appears and there is possibility for productive landscape such as cattle grazing.
E E N DRA GTSPOLD ER WO R KSH OP
The Eendragtspolder multifunctional water storage facility arose because of the issue of climate change. With the pressing need for more water retention capability, the District Water Authority considered multiple options: create automated weirs, widen water courses, increasing pumping capacities and construct retention basin. The last option was chosen. Eendragtspolder is able to hold 3 million m3 of water. The site is devided into 2 areas: rowing facility area and marsh recreational area. The rowing course incorporates strips of cleansing helophyte vegetation to filter the phosphorus from the water ensuring cleaner water quality. There are elements in the polder such as the rowing facility, and the iconic biological composite bridge which was a key feature during opening day.
AN N E X REFERENCES Watts, B. (2018, October 8). The Dangers of Monoculture Farming. Retrieved December 18, 2019, from https://www.challenge.org/knowledgeitems/thedangers-of-monoculture-farming/ Impacts of Nitrogen and Phosphorus: From Genomes to Natural Ecosystems and Agriculture. (2017). Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 5, 1–70. Retrieved from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2017.00070/full Guzmán, G.I., Aguilera, E., García-Ruíz, R., Torremocha, E., Soto-Fernández, D., InfanteAmate, J., & Molina, M.G. (2018). The agrarian metabolism as a tool for assessing agrarian sustainability, and its application to Spanish agriculture (1960-2008). Crenshaw, C. (2014). Clark Crenshaw Photography | Boardwalk through marsh surrounded by cattails. [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://clarkcrenshaw. photodeck.com/media/95f61912-8f51-11e3-832e-617aabbd68e4-boardwalkthrough-marsh-surrounded-by-cattails Schieland en de Krimpenerwaard. (n.d.). Eendragtspolder. Retrieved January 22, 2020, from https://www.schielandendekrimpenerwaard.nl/ons-werk/ruimtelijkeordening/eendragtspolder Recreatieschap Rottemeren. (n.d.). Eendragtspolder. Retrieved January 5, 2020, from http://www.eendragtspolder.nl/ SMARTLAND height field map of Noordholland https://ahn.arcgisonline.nl/ahnviewer/ https://maps.google.com/
CREDITS The initial project was a group work with Floris. A big appreciation to Floris for the team work and effort in deriving the scenarios and vision for the Broek in Waterland site! Thank you! Also I would like to thank Gerdy for the weekly tutoring and mentorship for this whole of quarter 2 and Denise for the feedback given during the mid-term presentation.