Safe and Dynamic Vlaardingen Revitalization the outdike industrial area through integrated water management and landscape urbanism
Prof. Dr.ir. V.J Meyer Ir. I. Bobbink dr. Meta Berghauser-Pont Si Xiao
Content
Project background --Context --Problem statement --Research questions --Oppotunities and challenges
Design with Research --Regional strategy --Sub-regional strategy --Intervention area --Historical evolution --International comparision --Site analysis --Planning background --Site images --Vision&Desirable future --Processing ----Phase1(Now-2020) ----Phase2 (2020-2035) ----Phase3 (2035-2050)
Conclusion
References
Cover page: Vlaardingen - gevelsteen voormalig postkantoor Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/33932522@N07/3645027272
01
Context The water is rising Global warming leads to sea level rise, and affect the river discharge fluctuations. If the Rhine discharges increases, the discharge capacity of the Nieuwe Maas will have to be increased as well. Higher discharges combined with sea level rise have consequences for flood protection at ‘critical’ locations. The flood risk map on the right side shows that mainly the Rotterdam areas is vulnerable and hazardous, due to the fact that floods may occur suddenly since the cities is located too close to the embankment, and this area is highly urbanized as the economic engine of the whole country (De Bruijn et al. 2009, p.15). Therefore, the flood risk management is a pressing issue right now, especially taking into account that these high density cities are also increasing in value along the time.
Source: Mapping casualty in the Netherlands, Deltares
Topography map helps to define which areas should be allowed for controlled flooding, and which should be protected on the first place. These are respectively lowest areas and lowest areas with urban settlements on them. Source: AHN
02
Delta region is in danger Nearly 9 million people live immediately behind the coast, in the low-lying plain areas of the Netherlands below sea level, protected by dikes and dunes along the main rivers and the lakes, while roughly 65% of GNP is generated here (Deltacommissie. 2008, p.21). This region is also the centre of the nation’s economy with heavy transport network as well as important locations for the goods and services industries. These are important reasons for maintaining such strict standards for flood protection. According to the results of the second safety audit of the primary flood defences (2006), the economic and social damage of a flooding in this densely populated and intensively utilized delta is unimaginable.
Intense rainfall creates flooding in the city Source: Rotterdamse adaptatiestrategie
Flood risk map shows areas which would be subjected to the flooding, and to what scope in case of dike breaches. Source: D.EFAC.TO
03
Problem statement As can be seen from the right side of the diagram, nowadays there is a big gap between natural processes and human activities. Indeed, the construction of the Haringvliet dam has dispelled all threat from the sea and ensured a freshwater supply, but the long and shortterm problems concerning water management, socioeconomic status and landscape qualities have been uncovered gradually (Kundzewicz, 2000) Besides, as can be seen from the right side the diagram, although currently the flood risk is quite small, potential probability and consequences of a flood are very high. Whenever there is an unpredictable disaster, the consequence is deadly; especially when we take into account this area is highly urbanized.
Source: Toekomstbeeld Zuidwestelijke Delta 2050, Essay in opdracht van de Stuurgroep Zuidwestelijke Delta H+N+S Landschapsarchitecten in samenwerking met Deltares, juni 2009
Loss of dynamics: Nature Before the Deltaworks was constructed, the Delta was part of a natural transitional area between the sea and the major rivers with large area of mud flats, sandbars and creeks. The tide and the changing discharge of freshwater from the rivers resulted in a continually changing and unique transitional area between saltwater and freshwater. After the 1953 flood disaster, it was immediately decided to enhance flood safety by implementing Deltaworks. However, firstly, closing off the estuary has resulted in the natural saltwater-freshwater interface largely disappearing. Secondly, the tidal difference has decreased from 2-3m to 20cm. The wash, which now hits the banks at approximately the same height every time causes the banks to cave in. The mudflats and salt marshes in areas outside the dykes that were created by tidal effects are gradually disappearing under water.
Source: Drawn by the author, based on historical maps and text from the book Dutch Lowlands. 04
Loss of dynamics: Human activities The expansion of port-related industrial site and the followed heavy infrastructure along the river, the large area of land reclamation and dike rings, and the sprawl of urban areas and the vanishing of former water system has kept people away from the water (Bosch Slabbers Landscape Architects. 2012, p.54-61). As illustrated by the images below, the dike area has reverted to be a barrier between the water and the daily life. Along with the higher river discharge and the sea level rise, the continually dike reinforcement will make the mono-functional dike areas increasingly become a hard barrier instead of a seam in between of the open landscape, rural village and the cities shelter.
Dutch traditional dike landscape
Current: huge infrastructure Source: Deltaprogramma 2014 | Bijlage A5, p.4
16th century
Port City
Source: Drawn by the author, based on historical maps from watwaswaar.nl Heightness data from AHN
Current: Urban fragment 05
Research questions Main question: How can the integrated industrial area transformation benefit the natural dynamics, spatial quality, and urban vitality in the context of sustainable development?
Discipline: This thesis project will encompass several disciplines throughout the process of research and design: Civil engineering, Landscape ecology, Spatial Planning and Strategy, and Urban design. The project will put considerable focus on involving flood risk management into restoring natural dynamics and enhancing spatial quality, it is therefore very important to understand the characters and effects of engineering structures, as well as the dynamic natural system. Besides, the project also involved landscape ecology, spatial planning and urban design, because of that it is important to realize how decisions at one scale will affect both of larger and smaller scales, especially taking into consideration the fact that integrated flood risk management requires coordination between national, regional, municipal and community scales, and it will also benefit to the variety of scales (Jha et al. 2011, p.494).
06
Oppotunities and challenges As explained before, the traditional flood risk management with many long and short-term problems related with the use of structural resistant measures are evident today (Kundzewicz, 2000). Besides, under the current closing regime of the Europoort barrier, a sea level rise of 1.30 meter would result in a closing frequency of 30 times every winter. This would lead to an unreliable shipping connection to the hinterland and a big blow to the port-related industry, which is very important to the Rijnmond-Drechtsteden region.
Current: closed system
The objects that currently control water flows in the Rhine- Meuse estuary are either dam with gates (the Haringvliet dam), or movable barriers like the Maeslant Barrier. Recently, the recommendations of the Deltacommission is a so-called ‘Closeable Open Rhine Delta’. This is a vision of open river mouths and estuaries, only to be closed in case of an extreme storm at sea or a major storm in combination with high river discharges. Therefore, it could stays open for most of the time. It would be a barrier with high capacity for shipping passage, river discharge and ecological flows. Fully open
Controllable: usually open
Controllable: occasionally closed (storm; heavy river discharge)
Drawn by the author, based on texts and diagrams from reports: Working together with water- A living land builds for its future. Findings of the Deltacommissie 2008-Closable open system. The Haringvliet sluices ajar. 07
Design with research Long-term vision We have developed a vision which considers extreme type of flooding as a result of climate change. On the long term, the New Waterway will be closed form open sea with a lock system. The concept involves the introduction of new openable storm barrier to replace the Haringvlietsluizen, the partial opening of movable dams, and making more room for the extreme river discharge in the south Delta region. New system of dikes rings would include both existing first and secondary dikes to protect most urbanized areas. The existing dike ring 14 protecting the Rotterdam North and the rest of the Randstad will be maintained. In Vlaardingen our interventions focus mainly on a redefinition relationship to the water given the decline of the post, and an attempt to reconstruct outdike area with the livable water landscape.
Playable water front in high urbanized area Source: Rotterdamse adaptatiestrategie 08
Regional strategy
Source: Drawn by the author, based on map Delta Atlas, Geulen, Prielen en Platen, P. 29
Short term 2020 Maintaining the role of Nieuwe Waterweg as main river channels; introduction of movable storm-surge barriers at all water entrances. Haringvlietsluis is partially opened to balance peak river discharge, which will start to positively affect the biodiversity of the area.
Source: Drawn by the author, based on map Delta Atlas, Geulen, Prielen en Platen, P. 29
Long term 2050 Upgrading the role of Nieuwe Waterweg, combined with introduction of controlled flood areas in the less urbanised area. upper creeks such as Lek and storm barrier Keringhuis will be temporary closed in extreme situation. The introduction of salty and brackish water in the Haringvliet, will provide a natural habitat and ecological diversity of the region and further increase the attractiveness of the area for tourism. 09
Sub-regional strategy Waterfront along Nieuwe Waterweg
This project focuses on the outer dyke areas of Vlaardingen which is a part of out dike belts from Rotterdam to Hoek van Holland. Based on regional strategy towards sea level rise and extreme river discharge, my sub-regional strategy will develop a controlled Nieuwe Waterweg system by openable locks and floodable south rural area. The water in front of Vlaardingen will be part of a controlled water system, with only a fluctuation of 0.30m between summer and winter level. It will create the condition that the outerdike areas can be lowered and the flood defence (locally) can be transferred.
Controllable dike system and out dike areas along Nieuwe Waterweg. Source: Drawn by the author, based on map by project group Afsluitbaar Open Rijnmond.
Diagram of flood risk of outer dyke area and dike integration of north bank of Nieuwe Waterweg. Based on map by project group Afsluitbaar Open Rijnmond. Unprotected outer dyke housing is shown in yellow.
Diagram showing the main road and railway accross the river and the route of existing water taxi 10
Overview of sub-strategic interventions in the out-dike belt along Dike Ring 14
Four engneering measures
Technical measures concluded from Project “River dike Rotterdam“
Strengthen dike body
dike as public urban domain
Dike slope as intervention place
dike body as an integrated building
DE URBANISTEN.
Example Westhavenkade, Vlaardingen The sidings at Vlaardingen station are the proposed place to combime dike reinforcement with new intervention. In this way the Westhavenkade could be converted into a continuous urban route linking inner-dike historical canal to out-dike waterfront.
Heightness data from AHN 11
Vlaardingen Vlaardingen is a city and municipality on the Nieuwe Maas in the Rijnmond area , in the Dutch province of South Holland . The municipality is part of the partnership Rotterdam City and the Metropolitan Region Rotterdam-The Hague . The municipality has 70,982 inhabitants (November 1, 2013, source: CBS) and has an area of 26.71 km ² . Within the municipal some old cores as the old village are Vlaardingerambacht (now the district Craft or Vlaardingerambacht) and the glory of Holy (now the core of the district Vlaardingen Holy). The municipality of Vlaardingen also runs a canal, called the Vlaardingervaart . Vlaardingen is best known as the herring capital of the Netherlands. Fishing is history. However, the fishery is past, especially around the Old Port and Harbour Queen Wilhelmina still recognizable. A monument to the Great Visserijplein Govert Brandwijk recalls the many fishermen who lost their lives at sea.
Vlaardingen location in Delta region
Detailed vision of the project Program: urban area residential commercial port infrastructure landscape water houses jobs
12
55 ha. 20 ha. 5 ha. 3 ha. 6 km. 15 ha. 6 ha. 5 hundreds 3 hundreds
Aerial view from Maas River
Source: Gemeente Vlaardingen 13
Historical evolution
Vlaardingen in 1933
Vlaardingen vanuit het zuid-oosten Historical evolution--section view
Heightness data from AHN 14
Source: Historische Vereniging Vlaardingen
1570 The Vlaardingen in the modern sense, was founded in 16th century after “Eight Years War“. the town formed surround a church and inside main dike.
1570
Sources: historical maps http://www.mapsplusmotion.com
Source: Drawn by the author
1690 After the war, the town but recovered slowly.
1690 After the establishment of the sovereign principality of the Netherlands, in 1813, Vlaardingen could develop into the most important port for the Dutch herring fishery. The town developed gradually in the out dike area as farmland.
2000 After World War II Vlaardingen increasingly bacame a commuter town in Rotterdam metropolitan.
2000 The city has made a city with a huge port industrial area. Besides a huge explosion in the number of dwellings, also developed industry and port activities. 15
International comparison Hamburg, Dublin, Copenhagen
Source: Bing maps
Hamburg hafen city The historical development of Hamburg and Rotterdam has occurred along similar lines. Bith cities grew from where a small river met a larger one. In addition, Dublin and Copenhagen grew from a creeks met sea. There is much to be learnt from the these cities development and how it deals with port transformation and water management. Multipal functions and waterfront landscape are two main principles. Diverse communities could revitalise monofunction industrial area; Soften waterfront could make existing dangerous and dull bank edge to safer and vital water activities place.
140 ha.
Dublin docklands 285 ha.
Copenhagen 470 ha.
16
Source: Bing maps
Upper: Scenario view of Hamburg hafen city from river perspective. Source: Architektur & Zeichnung Architekturillustrationen
Upper: Real photo of floating public space in Hamburg’s Hafencity. Source: Bretonisches Essen « N • T • C
Upper right: Sketch of idea how to deal with relationship of new development and water front. Source: sustainable watertowers hafencity, hamburg
Right: Detail diagrams Showing measures to transfer dike body and inside and out side zone. Source: Praxisprojekt osp urbanelandschaften, Hamburg 17
Site
City level context Urban radius Position of Vlaardingen. with radius 1km, 2km and 5km. The map shows a bi-dimention transition from Rotterdam urbanized core to farmland in the west and riverfront industries along Maas River to residential communities along A4 highway in the north.
Road network Main car traffic of Vlaardingen. The main esatwest route is A20 highway, the main north-south route A4 highway will be connected to Delft west.
Urban density Vettenoord, Centrum-West and Oost are most dense districts in Vlaardingen. Reletively low dense and FSI give outdike area posibility for future transformation.
18
Metro network Existing metro line(blue) with stations and proposed line(red) metro line pass through Vlaardingen. A new metro( Vlaardingen-Capelle) was proposed as an extention of east-west line in Rotterdam metropolitian area.
Dike system Existing dikes and river banks system of Vlaardingen. Comparing with flooded risk map in P. 10, the outdike area in Vlaardingen is reletively safe expect Koningin Wilhelminahaven.
Building ages Building ages from orange(17th century) to dark blue(21st century). Most new constructions are distributed in the north and west part. Few historical buildings in the intervention site will be reserved as site memory.
19
Site
Site level context
The site The site locates at the middle of out-dike area of Vlaardingen. Existing functions are R&D (Unilever), residential, open sapce and warehouse district. The lock of Vlaardingen canal and railway station both locate in the site. Station Area Largely unexplored area with a lot of infrastructure. New connection between inside and outside dike area. Peninsula Robust and industrial. Transfer function to urban waterfront and residentials. Queen Wilhelmina Kadesh Historic houses in the western part with space for trade and industry, new yacht harbor and waterbus station. Maaswijk Fragmented environment with strong focus on the Nieuwe Maas. New commercial function related to railway, metro and waterbus station. Maaspark Now a fragmented public space. Future location of bigger Maaspark. 20
Planning background From the structure plan of river zone, Vlaardingen by municipality, the transformation of industrial area is the main intervention. Based on this principle, old and pollted ondustrial functions will be gradually shift to new industrial zone in Maasvlakte2. The center area of river zone and the triangle area in the east are two main proposed sites for city future development. Multiple use for transfprmation is a main principle. Based on regional strategy, rotterdam metropolitan will be protected by a system consist of dams, dike rings and openable locks. So out dike zone will be developed into urban textile .
Structure plan of river zone Vlaardingen, 2004 Source: Gemeente Vlaardingen.
1
3
5
6 7
4
2 1
8
2
4
4
|
Images of site area
e n o z r e i v i r d e i b e g n r e k at o n e i t i b m a
Source: Gemeente Vlaardingen; Strait Solutions
3
5
e n o z r e i v i r d e i b e g n r e k at o n e i t i b m a
i
04
21
Site images 6
7
8
Images of site area
Source: Gemeente Vlaardingen; Strait Solutions 22
Vision & Desirable future As a first step to introducing this strategy for outdike industrial area Vlaardingen I have decided to focus on the center part which location shown in P.19. There are several reasons for selecting this location. Firstly, based on municipality plan outdike industry will gradually shift to Maasvlakte2. These industrial harbours for instance Koningin Wilhelminahaven are no longer used for port activities, and the industrial areas have started to be renewed, such as the Kop van Zuid development. New waterfront venues are redefining the area such as Delta Hotel. There is an opportunity for further development in this area given its location close to the centre of Vlaardingen. Secondly, the dyke ring 14 along railway and the industrial area alongside it acts as a barrier between inside historical center and the Maas River. There is a potential to improve the amenity of this “problem area� by reconnecting it to the water.
Past photo of port
Source: Historische Vereniging Vlaardingen
The harbours and the warehouses surrounding them used to be connected by the shipping activity, giving them a meaningful relationship to each other. This activity is now declining, leaving extremely large basins that are difficult to comprehend at the human scale. These harbours are of a much larger scale than others that have been redeveloped to residential areas, such as those in HafenCity or the eastern docklands in Amsterdam. The challenge here is to develop new activities, spatial objects that help a new inhabitant or visitor experience the scale of the harbour in a meaningful way and not destroy the long views you can currently experience. This project proposes a processing teansformation that bring a new diversity of environments and urban landscape to the area and provide a base for new types of activities and living with water.
Present photo of port
Source: Flickr, Bart van Damme
? Potential collage of outdike industrial zone Source: Drawn by author
23
24
Phase 1 (Now-2020)
50m
The first phase will starts from existing Maas park which located along the Maas River. Because of the currrent economic crisis, this phase could be regarded as soft start. The proposal is combining fragmented green space and parking zone into an integrated Maas park. The park will separates pedestrain and vehicle path. The vision will introduces Rotterdam spido water bus to Vlaardingen as well. The new water station located close to Maas park. New water connections will be added from Vlaardingen to Rotterdam, Maassluis and other tourisim places in the region. The Unilever R&D sector and Delta hotel are important local stakeholders in this phase. R&D activities will contributes working opportunities and site identity.
Image of Maas park
Source: Google street view
25
Opportunities & Weakness
26
Interventions
27
Vision
Vision of phase 1 , Maas park Source: collaged by the author
Existing section view of phase 1 area, Maas park Source: Drawn by the author 28
Proposed section view of phase 1 area, Maas park Source: Drawn by the author
29
30
Phase 2 (2020-2035)
50m
The second phase will transforms Vlaardingen station area. It is a extention of phase1, from both economical and physical perspectives. from municipality plan, a new east-west metro line will be constructed from Vlaardingen station to Rotterdam Oost. That will give lots of possiblities of not only station area, but also Vlaardingen city. So around this potential construction, new multipal communities will transform existing warehouse zone. in addition, a pedestrain and bicycle path will give a more convenient connection between inside and outside area.
Image of Vlaardingen station Source: Google street view
31
Opportunities & Weakness
32
Interventions
33
Vision
Vision of phase 2, Vlaardingen station area Source: collaged by the author
Existing section view of phase 2 area, Vlaardingen station area Source: Drawn by the author 34
Proposed section view of phase 2 area, Vlaardingen station area Source: Drawn by the author
35
36
Phase 3 (2035-2050)
50m
The last pahse will focus on Koningin Wilhelminahaven which is a harbor industrial warehouse zone. Because for the long-term, the river industry in Vlaardingen will move to Massvlakte2, so this industrial zone will transforms to multifunctional waterfront community. A new yacht harbor will uses existing industrial dock. Soften bank is a main principle to make vital urban landscape and introduce more water activities. The density of community will not be to high, a layered terrace should gives most buildings direct view to Maas River.
Image of Koningin Wilhelminahaven Source: Google street view
37
Opportunities & Weakness
38
Interventions
39
Vision
Vision of phase 3, Koningin Wilhelminahaven Source: collaged by the author
Existing section view of phase 3 area, Koningin Wilhelminahaven Source: Drawn by the author 40
Proposed section view of phase 3 area, Koningin Wilhelminahaven Source: Drawn by the author
41
Conclusion By studying different sites in Rhine Delta estuary we have tried to relate complex mechanics of delta landscape to existing urban patterns. This area has compact problems, but the unrealized potentials are even more prevalent. “Rebalance the natural and urban” is not an easy thing, especially when previous strategies were about “fighting with the water”. To turn these paradigms in a more sustainable direction sometimes requires an introduction of very strong interventions. In rural landscape it is relatively easy to implement big projects, while in the context of dense urban fabric actions must be much more delicate and elaborated as the cities are already densely built up, and it is very difficult to change an image of an area without introducing new problems. Nevertheless, the processing transformation of outdike industrial area tests how the vision of an openable delta shapes an urban environment on local scale. When elaborated these case studies can be applied to similar urban patterns all other the region. It is also important, that integrated design of water management and landscape can be a practical tool to improve the quality of the cities and, when consciously applied, can help to solve not only safety issues, but also contribute to solution of economical, social and environmental problems of Vlaardingen.
42
References Rotterdam Climate Initiative, Rotterdamse adaptatiestrategie, oktober 2013 Inge Bobbink, Suzanne Loen, Water inSight: An exploration into landscape architectonic transformations of polder water, Delft University of Technology, 2013 Verkenning Mogelijke strategieĂŤn voor Rijnmond-Drechtsteden, Deltaprogramma RijnmondDrechtsteden. Achtergrondrapport bij het Deltaprogramma, 2013 Deltaprogramma | Rijnmond-Drechtsteden, Bijlage A5 Deel 2, Deltaprogramma 2014 Han Meyer, Inge Bobbink, and Steffen Nijhuis, DELTA URBANISM THE NETHERLANDS, ISBN: 9781-932364-86-6, 2009 Henk Saeijs, Toine Smits, Willem Overmars, Daphne Willems. Changing estuaries, changing views. Erasmus University& Radboud University. Gebiedsvisie Vlaardingen De Rivierzone, Gemeente Vlaardingen, September 2010 Meyer, H., Hermans, W.,2009. Adaptive strategies and the Rotterdam floodplain, TU Delft: s.n. Zandbelt&vandenBerg, Big and beautiful comparing Stadshavens in Europe, ISBN 90-8094871-3, 2nd print, November 2005 H.C.J. Roijers, Structuurplan Rivierzone, Gemeente Vlaardingen, Januari 2004 Tjerk Bruinsma, UITVOERINGSPLAN CITYMARKETING, Februari 2013 Stephen Hodes en Birte Querl, Stichting Citymarketing Vlaardingen Citymarketingstrategie Vlaardingen, Januari 2012 Ambitienota Kerngebied Rivierzone, Gemeente Vlaardingen, November 2011 Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation, West Don Lands Precinct Plan, Toronto, Ontario, May 2005 Grad.Lab Urban Regeneration, Sustainable Urban Environments & the existing building stock, prof.dr.ir. A. van Timmeren, Oktober 2013
Weblinks http://www.vlaardingen.nl/default/projecten/id_14437 http://www.hvv-vlaardingen.nl/ http://www.vlaardingen.nl/default/id_707 http://infrastruct.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/tweede-oost-west-metrolijn-in-rotterdam/ http://rijnboutt.nl/articles/696
43