Recovering the dynamism of the Belgian coast

Recovering the dynamism of the Belgian coast A landscape urbanism approach on infrastructure and urbanization

Yu-Ting Chen MaUSP Master of Urbanism and Strategic Planning EMU European Master of Urbanism Faculty of Engineering Science and Department of Architecture

Winter, 2012/ Leuven

Spring, 2013/ Barcelona

Winter, 2013/ Venice

[Acknowledgement] I would like to express my very great appreciation to my promoter professor Bruno De Meulder for his valuable and constructive suggestions, inspirations and patience in every discussion.

I learned a lot in the period of my master study, especially during the last semester while developing the thesis.

Thank Wim Wambecq and Erik Van Daele for their advices and assistances in keeping my progress in the studio work.

Because of their abundant knowledge and experiments, it truly helped me a lot and we togrther imagined many scenarios for the studio production.

Thank all the collegues who had ever assisted me in each semester.

Thank all the people helped me for the study, living and visiting me during the past 2 years, no matter where I was, in Leuven, Barcelona, Venice and back to Leuven again.

Sincerely thank my dearest family for the love, supports, company and everything you gave me during the two- year study.

Although the distance between Europe and Taiwan is so far, you always comfort and encourage me in time, when I was stressed and felt confused.

Thank all the experiences I have gained and all the efforts I spent. whether it was a good experience or it was a bad fortune, I have challenged myself and finish one of my goals.

Now, I am keeping moving forward to the next stage of my life journry :) 謝謝你們 所有幫助過我在這兩年學習的老師和朋友 以及我最親愛的家人 Fall, 2014/ Leuven

[Recovering the dynamism of the Belgian coast]

A landscape urbanism approach on infrastructure and urbanization

Yu-Ting Chen Thesis submited to obtain the degree of European Master of Urbanism (EMU)/ Master of Urbanism and Strategic Planning (MaUSP) Academic year: 2013-2014 Promoters: Professor Bruno De Meulder U.P.C. Universitad Polytecnica de Barcelona Spring semester 2013 I.U.A.V. Istituto Universitario Architettura Venezia Fall semester 2013 Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Faculty of Engineering Department of Architecture, Urbanism and Planning (ASRO) Permission for Use of Content: The author herewith permits that the present dissertation be made available for consultation; parts of it may be copied, strictly for personal use. Every other use is subject to strict copyright reservations.

Particular reference is made to the obligation of explicitly mentioning the source when quoting the present dissertation’s results.

[Contents] Chapter 00 The research question and the thesis structure

[Part 01] The coastal region of southern North Sea Chapter 01 The exploration of high-density of urbanized coastline and water landscape in the risky coastal region of southern North Sea 1.1 High density of urbanization and the diversity of landscape on the coast: 3 urbanization patterns constructed with infrastructure 1.2 Urban morphology: cities integrated with water landscape and water infrastructure since the past 1.3 Erosion and flooding risk in the coastal area +intermediary conclusion: Re-defining the meaning of the border for environmental balance

[Part 02] The Belgian coast Chapter 02 The isotropic Belgian coast 2.1 The evolution of the Belgian coast: a process from dynamics to fixture 2.2 The coastal urbanization strucutred by 2 infrastructure systems: Sea protection system and transport infrastructure +intermediary conclusion: The role of infrastructure in unban evolution

Chapter 03 The vulnerable Belgian coast and on-going protection projects 3.1 The vulnerable coast condition and the threats of climate change 3.2 The on-going coastal protection project for seeking a safe coast in 2100 +intermediary conclusion: The landscape functioning for the protection strategy and sustainable future

[Part 03] Studio design Chapter 04 Recovering the dynamism of the Belgian coast 4.1 Recovering the dynamisms to seek the environmental balance with the risk of climate change 4.2 The Belgian coastal landscape, the past and today 4.3 Building up a new vision of the Belgian coast: From Oostende to Zeebrugge 4.4 Articulating a new urban structure with landscape framework Biblography

Summer/ Beach/ Oostende

Winter/ Dune/ De Panne

0.0 What if the landscape recovering can be a strategy to re-shape the structure of urban pattern and regulate the unbalanced environmental problem for the future risks?

In the past centuries, in order to overcome those environmental issues, such as flooding risk, over-flooding discharge and seawater intrusion etc., people living in the countries located in deltas, estuaries and low-lying area created supreme engineering technics and constructed advanced coastal protection infrastructures to face the challenge from nature. Those hard infrastructures and methods definitely solved the problems and risks in the past, however the current issues of global warming and weather pattern cycle have been discussed and influences the living environment for years. The balance between man-made and nature gradually lose its position.

Based on the investigation of the impact of climate change, the unbalance between human and nature will happen again and even become worse and severe to influence people’s life. Nowadays, many scientific researchers indicate that climate change will be the catalyst to accelerate and break the built balance. This statement of awareness reminds people to construct an updated strategic urban plan and an equipped, sufficient protection plan to confront the environmental change in the upcoming decades.

From the historical documents, the evolution of coastal landscape from north France, Belgium to southernwest Netherlands of southern North Sea was articulated with the dynamisms of water system. The creations related to water, such as conglomeration of harbours, polder systems, canal systems, coastal protection infrastructures and coastal urbanization, build up the landform we can see in the coastal region today.

Also, because of the well-made sea protection system and the advantage of position, it has attracted a huge amount of population to inhabitat in the coastal area.

Now, it is the region with highest density of urbanization in Europe. Thus, providing a new attitude and concept to protect the valuable coastal region with high density of population from the damage of climate change is the course for this document to discover.

It is not the first time that people living in the region that has been challenged by nature. From the past evolution of the whole coast and the historical sea defense experiences, it can give us a structured development and fundamental starting point to rethink the relation between the ancient landscape and a new urban framework for the future. So, (1) to understand the current environmental situation, (2) how the urbanization integrated with landscape since the past and (3) what will the climate change impact on the coast of southern North Sea in the future is the first step of investigation in the following chapter.

008

Secondly, discovering the development of the Belgian dynamic coastal landscape chronologically that helps us to understand how the hard infrastructures and soft landscape built up the coastal picture and how the dynamic coastal landscape was transformed by two major infrastructures: sea protection system and transport infrastructures. This infrastructural systems make the coast become the rigid linearity of urbanized block. Also, in the third part, the on-going projects on the Belgian coast proposed and excuted by Flemish government that will be a guideline to understand what is the vision of the coastal development that the government expects and focuses on and how can I transform the concepts into the stduio project. The last chapter will be the project of studio design, which was attemping to search an ecological strategy for replying the research question, “What if the landscape recovering can be a strategy to re-shape the structure of urban pattern and regulate the unbalanced environmental problem for the future risks?

By environmental tolerance, strategically recovering the pattern of ancient landscape and partially deconstructing the landform to introduce the water dynamisms back to the coastal landscape movement is a way to learn from the memory of ground and get the balance between human and nature again. Instead of keeping constructing mega protection infrastructures to defense the future risk invading from the sea, enhancing the capacity of dynamisms is the aim of the investigation more emphasizing. By the practice of studio project, what I expect is to show a new possibility that can become a new and more sustainable strategy to replace the conventional attitude whenever people face and defeat the coastal threats, and to create a better interrelation between landscape and urban.

In the document, I will investigate the coast of southern north sea including north France, the Belgian coast and Zeeland in the Netherlands: [1] The exploration of high-density of urbanized coastline and water landscape in the risky coastal region of southern North Sea, also will focus on the development of the Belgian coastal region [2] The isotropic Belgian coast. It will be a session to analyze and discuss the current coast vulnerability, coast protection and the ongoing coastal project in west Flanders coast by 2100, [3] The vulnerable Belgian coast and on-going protection projects.

The last will be the studio design project, which is the result by the research, [4] Recovering the dynamism of the Belgian coast.

009

Climate change Sea level rising and Weather pattern change

Problamatic coastline and restricted coastal urban development Coastal protection and Urban development axis and Landscape recovering

010

Thesis Structure

The diverse coastal urbanization highly integrated with water dynamisms

The repetative urbanized landscape strip structured by infrastructures on the Belgian coast

Vulnerable coast protection system and multifutional landscape

Re- defining the meaning of border between the environmental balance

The role of infrastructure in urban structuring

Building up a ecological coastal protection and a sustainable futurevision

Recovering the water dynamisms on the Belgian coast and restructing the urbanization

011

NorthFrance B e l g i u m N e t h e r l a n d

[ PART 01]

The coastal region of southern North Sea

1.0 The exploration of high-density of urbanized coastline and water landscape in the risky coastal region of southern North Sea

Map of the Duinkerkse transgression (France- Belgium- Netherlands) A historical map showing that the coastal lands on southern North sea (Duinkerkse) was reclaimed. The coastline extended from hinterland to the coastal dunes by the prosess of sedimentation and poldering. The location of current coastline now is where the dunes located. [ Sourse: kunstgeografie: http://www.kunstgeografie.nl/henv/helden.varusslag02.htm ]

014

1.1 High density of urbanized coastline and the diversity of water landscape: 3 urbanization patterns constructed with infrastructure 1.2 Urban morphology: Cities integrated with water landscape and water infrastructure since the past 1.3 Erosion and flooding risk in the coastal area

015

> 500

> 200

> 100

> 50

< 50

0

LAKE

LEGEND FOR POPULATION DENSITY [PEOPLE/KM2] The population density in north France coast, west Flanders and the delta of Netherlands EUROPEAN UNION

> 112 PEOPLE/KM2 FRANCE

NORTH FRANCE

BELGIUM

NIEUWPOORT

OOSTENDE/ ZEEBRUGGE

> 200 PEOPLE/KM2 > 455 PEOPLE/KM2 > 793 PEOPLE/KM2

NETHERLANDS

ZEELAND

ZUIDHOLLAND

> 250 PEOPLE/KM2 > 1000 PEOPLE/KM2

[Source: [1] Map: International Union of Railways (UIC) - Paris, 2001 [2] Google Map [3] population data: Wikipedia, populationdata.net /Adapted by author]

016

1.1 High density of urbanized coastline and the diversity of water landscape: 3 urbanization patterns constructed with infrastructure

The coast of the southern North Sea is a creation made by advanced engineering technology. It was problematic and also attractive. It was difficult because of the swampy condition and likely flooding. It was attractive because it was surrounded with rich fishery farms and offered a good condition for port development, trade and commerce. Since centuries ago, people living in this coastal and deltaic area has lived together with the dynamisms of water systems. In order to create a better and suitable environment for inhabitation and production, people devoted in research to invent and construct the infrastructure of flooding defense and the drainage system to overcome the issues of inundation and low-lying.

Because of the early developed history and good environmental location it situates, the coastal urbanization of southern North Sea was grown densely and intensively since the early age. The first dike was built, and the delta area has been cultivated in Netherlands since 13th century. During the 14th century to 17th century, the hard protection infrastructure constructed on the coast and estuary which forced the shift of urban development from riverbank to the coast and estuary region. Until 17th century, the Dutch delta already reaches the most urbanized territory in the world. But what is the reason that the urbanization in Zeeland now is less compact than Zuiderland, the northernwest delta, is because according to the historical documented record, there were more than 50 storms invaded Zeeland and destroyed the towns and villages between 12th to 16th century. This vulnerable character of position affected the development in this area afterwards.

After the long period of land transgression and sea defense, now the coastline of southern North Sea built up in a temporarily stable condition with the certain level of coastal protection. Because of the well-equipped protection infrastructure and fine drainage network for the polder system, it made the territory become valuable for agricultural production and suitable for people to situate. This good charcters make the high density of urbanization, rich argicultural lands and busy sea transportation operating interlacedly along the coastline.

017

Vlaardingen

Schiedam

Charlois Spijkenisse

Middelharnis

MAAS

Burgh-Haamstede

Zierikzee

Roosendaal Goes

Middelburg

Bergen op Zoom

L

--N BE-

Vlissingen

Knokke-Heist

SC E

LD

HE

Blankenberge

Terneuzen

Zeebrugge BE ---N

L

NL

--BE

Oostende

Brugge

Antwerp

Nieuw poort

ER IJZ

De Panne

Dunkirk FR---BE

Gravelines

Ghent

Veurne

Diksmuide

Calais Roeselare

FR---BE

Brussels

Yprs

Kortrijk

[urbanization area]

[industrial zone/ port area]

[dike system] [highway] [railway network] [border]

[harbor/ recreation port]

[airport]

Map of urbanized area and infrastructure network (France- Belgium- Netherlands) This map shows all the man-made systems in the coastal region on southern North Sea in a territory scale. As the static analysis of the population density it shows on the last page, the graphic pattern of Belgian coastal urbanization and Rotterdam, Zuiderland region, is obviously the highly urbanized area. It is apparent to visualize that the urban development mainly structure around in the estuary and coastal region. The conglomeration of ports is also one of the significant features in the coastal area. Because of the natural and environmental condition, sea transportation and ocean activities are frequent and common. The capacity of harbor in Rotterdam provides the significant position of sea transportation in Europe. The ports located in the map which depicts the density of sea transportation in the coastal region and delta.

[Source: Google Map, dike system (NL): Delta urbanism, the netherlands, Han Meyer, Inge Bobbink and Steffen Nijhuis/Adapted by author]

019

ER

IJZ

[North France coast]

[Belgian Coast]

Coastal urbanized patches develop on the main sea ports. The multidirectional transportation networks travels within the frontline of coastal cities and the small towns further inside and hinterland.

Coastal urbanized development is compressed by the sea protection and transportation avenue (regional tramway and roadnetwork). This infrastructure systems structure to the coastal urbanization, which is fixed in-between the two linear barriers. The isotropic urban growth is the result paralleled to the coastline.

020

Infrastructures construct the urbanization development Infrastructure is the fundamental and crucial point to structure the urban development. It influences the urban spatial evolution and the urban morphology.

It is like the skeleton of human body, which frames the urban system and support the development. Because of the coastal safety, the development of coastal city usually is restricted, and the landscape is repetitive and monotonous.

In the investigation, from North France, Belgian coast and the Zeeland in Netherlands, it provides three different urban patterns that is the result of the interaction between transportation infrastructure and urbanization.

[urbanization area]

[industrial zone/ port area]

[dike system] [highway] [railway network] [dune/ dune forest]

[Nelterlands] Due to the shape of delta landscape, the coastline of Zeeland is along the peninsula and longer. The sea dike system was constructed along the coastline in Zeeland. Inside the coastal protection, the urbanization develops with the transportation infrastructures, which creates the dispersed urbanization on polder landscape.

[water system/ canal/ river/ lake]

[Dutch polder]

[Belgian polder]

021

Spijkenisse

Middelharnis

MAAS

Roosendaal Middelburg

Bergen op Zoom

L

--N BE-

SC E

LD

HE

Zeebrugge BE ---N

L

NL

--BE

Oostende

Antwerp

Brugge

Nieuw poort

ER

IJZ

Ghent

Dunkirk FR---BE

Gravelines Calais

Brussels FR---BE

Kortrijk

[dune/ dune forest]

[forest]

[green open space/ park]

[wetland]

[natural preservation]

[water system/ canal/ river/ lake]

[Dutch polder]

[Belgian polder]

Map of landscapes on the coastal region (France- Belgium- Netherlands) This map shows the distribution of landscape on coast of the southern North Sea, in which it includes dune, wetland, polder, forest and nature preserve. From the map, it represents that in this area, there is a huge surface transformed through poldering and eventually become the valuable agriculture fields that we can cultivate the crop production today. Besides, the dune fragments along the French coast to Zeeland is also an important element featured the coastline. Dune system stands in the frontline of the coast which plays a role as a natural barrier defencing the flooding of the sea level rising and high tide. For example, the Belgian coast is 67km long, in which there is only 38km of dikes built for protecting the urban zone, and dune landscape occupies the rest of part which also can resist the sea water issues. Due to the low-lying condition in the region, after the long period of land reclamation and the continuity of sedimentation deposition, there are still some parts of coastal landscape are marshy and swampy. The wetlands scatter along the coast, which preserves and creates the rich of ecosystems. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Het Zwinâ&#x20AC;? is one of the wetlands that is preserved because of the precious landscape and ecological value. The map also presents an strong border between polder and hinterland. The distribution of ancient forest apparently limits behind the border, and the huge surface of forest is rarely to be observed in the polder area. The lack of forest becomes an issue that the Flemish government already launches a plan of 10,000 hectares afforestation within the Flanders.

The under-sea-level sandbanks clusters in the offshore which are strongly paid attention in its value of economic activities, sustainable energy production and also the most approaching problem, coastal protection. Although the dynamic system brings many unpredictable changes and disadvantages to the environment, the resilient landscape works as a buffer zone to reduce the straightly damage from the nature.

[Source: Google Map, polder (BE): Vereniging van Vlaamse Polders en Wateringen V.V.P.W., polder (NL): Delta urbanism, the netherlands, Han Meyer, Inge Bobbink and Steffen Nijhuis /Adapted by author]

023

Map of the settlements and water course between Leper and Diksmuide in 18th century The settlements high-densely integrated with polder system, the canal connection, drainage system and forest landscape between Leper and Diksmuide. This displays the development is concentratedly strutured with water dynamisms in the period.

[Source: Verhulst Adriaan, (1995) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Landschap en landbouw in middleeeuws Vlaanderenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;]

024

1.2 Urban morphology: cities integrated with landscape and water infrastructure in the water dynamic area since the past

There were documents that explained the discover of early humanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities and settlements in the coastal region since the prehistoric period. The area has been influenced by water system frequently. In order to reach the harmony with the unpredictable water dynamics, the water system had to be interlocked with the process of urbanization as a positive benefit to enrich developments of settlement. As a result, most of coastal cities on the area cooperates with water landscapes and water infrastructures. Some of the cities with protection infrastructures are funtioning to prevent the water issues, and some of them with transport infrastructure are functioning to benefit the economic and agricultural activities.

Under this circumstance, the creations related to water protection or water utilization are emerged. Because of the undetechable relation with water system, most of the urban development and expansion was affected and was formed a characteristic urban type by the water landscapes and water infrastructures. harbour city water landscape

water infrastructure

polder city

productive

dike city

defensive

dune city

mobile

delta(estuary) city

Those different types of cities are the results that people ws establishing to live with water and seeking for the balance with the dynamisms. In the following pages, it will show the common urban types, which integrated with water system and the water infrastructures. These different urban types made by the interweaving of water system, unique landscapes and different urban structures. These cities also represent the diversity and possibility of regional urban development.

025

DE MOEREN (FR) - FARM HOUSE COMMUNITY

SNAASKERKE (BE) - AGRICULTURE VILLAGE

STAVENISSE (NL) - SINGLE FARM HOUSE

[Source: Google Earth 2014]

026

The settlements on the productive landscape, polder system, are dispersed systemizedly with agicultural plot pattern. It can be differentiates from the density of the fabics situating: single farm house, a farm house community and a agriculture village. The pattern of polder settlements is consisted with water infrastructures and waterway networks. The operation of polder system accelerate the lands to leave the condition of flooding, which brought a vast of valuable lands for inhabitants and agriculture.

productive polder, water system and settlements

Map of De Moeren before land reclamation during 18th century De Moeren is the most famous and well-structured polder system seperated by the Belgian and French border. This map shows the condition of De Moeren before land reclamation. It schematicly locates the cities, Veurne, Dunkrik and Bergues.

Also, it presents around the marshy area, a certain density of human activities built up the urban fabrics, road network canal system and landscape (dune and swamp).

[Source: Verhulst Adriaan, (1995) ‘Landschap en landbouw in middleeeuws Vlaanderen’ ]

Map of De Moeren with drainage system and road network in 19th century This map shows the urbanized condition of De Moeren after the area was poldering.

The road network and drainage system was developed more sophisticated with the structure of De Moeren. Also present the connection of the water system and transportation system to surrounding settlements.

[Source: Verhulst Adriaan, (1995) ‘Landschap en landbouw in middleeeuws Vlaanderen’ ]

027

RIVER GAUCHE DE Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;AA (FR) - High-density urbanization

CREEK ZWIN (BE) - High-value wetland

RIVER MAAS (NL) - Harbour, Waterway

[Source: Google Earth 2014]

028

The landscape on the coast of southern North Sea is made up with the complexity of water system. The good condition of landscape brings peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coming and creates intensive agricultural cultivation and busy sea transport activities.

Good position close to shore and convinient transport system are the advantages makes the delta become the most suitable region for people to inhabitate. In 17th century, the Netherlands delta has already reached the most developed region in Europe, but due to the flooding risk, it exists the potentiality of damages in the high density of urbanization .

productive & mobile delta water system and settlements

To overview the distribution of highly-urbanized metropolitan in the world, the map clearly presents that most of the high-density urbanizations are located in the delta. Due to the landscape formation of delta, the inundation is always an issue that the deltaic city has to concern, which also challenge the protection system of urbanization.

The historical map of New Zeeland in 14th century These hand-drawn map was made in the 17 th century by an anonymous person. It was based on an old map, which is gone today, from 1617 of the Ghent surveyor Lieven Van Tuyne This map, with a performance of Flanders and Zeeland in the 14 the century, also tells us that Emperor Otto (Holy Roman Empire) in 980 the channel between Flanders and Zeeland had laid.

[Source: Digital library of the royal library of Belgiem, maps and plans, III 6834.

[Anonymous] Carta Flandriae. Escaut. Bouches XVII e s. Hand-drawn map in color.]

029

ZUYDCODE (FR) - Dune as prtection barrier

DE HAAN (BE) - Dune forest

NIEUW-HAAMSTEDE (NL) - Dune

[Source: Google Earth 2014]

030

Coastal beaches and dunes are highly dynamic and migratory systems— sand, gravel, and cobble are eroded, deposited, and reworked by wind and waves. Due to the ground-level on the coastal region of southern North Sea is mostly low-lying, coastal dune system become the location with natural protection barrier for preventing the inhabitantes from the sea water invading.

Along the coastline, it presents the sequense of intertwinement of coastal dunes and settlements. There dune cities was abundantly colonized in the period when the road network built and connected.

defensive dune, coast and settlements

Map of dune afforestation from Oostende to Blankenberge This a map shows the project of dune afforestation in the coastal region from oostende to Blankenberge in 1887. Besides the dune forest system presenting on the map, the transport infrastructure depicted on the map the intersection between dune and people’s life. The intervention of mobility corridor leads the existence of dune city afterwards and also increases the frequecy of urban activities that caused the decreasing of dune landscape.

[Source: Louis van der SWAELMEN, (1888), Le Boisement Du Littoral Maritime Belge. Une Lisière de Forêt Sur la Grève D’Ostende ... Avec 2 Planches]

031

DUNKRIK (FR)

HEIST (BE)

COLIJNSPLAAT (NL)

[Source: Google Earth 2014]

032

The most of coastal and deltaic cities are structured with dike system in the waterfront for preventing the city flooded by the sea level rising and high tide. The coast of southern North sea, due to the vulnerability, is prtected with a long distance of protection system integrated with part of dune landscape.

defensive dike, coast and settlements

On the left page, it gives three integrations of urbanization with sea dike.

Different types of urban fabrics integrated with sea dike create different coastal images. The scale of buildings standing on the fronline also decide the strong coastal atmosphere. The famous Belgian â&#x20AC;&#x153;high building wallâ&#x20AC;? is an example, which presents the huge accommodation needs in the concentration zone within the coastal urbanization belt.

Map of the dike system above Brugge The map shows the dike systems waterways system and transpotation system above Brugge around 1830.

From the map, it presents the urbanizations and cities are mainly located behind the protection of dike system or inside the enclosure dike ring.

[Source: The origin of the Flemish coastal plain. The Langhe, J.-E. (1939). The origin of the Flemish coastal plain. Kerschaver of Knokke. 150 pp.]

033

HARBOUR DUNKRIK (FR)

HARBOUR OOSTENDE (BE)

HARBOUR ROTTERDAM (NL)

[Source: Google Earth 2014]

034

The distribution of sea port around the coast of southern North sea is numerous and dense, espeacially in the Zeeland region, it is the largest European port-cluster.

Sea port is a point working for exchange system of productions that collects, transports and merchandises. Because of the frequent and intense commerce activities, the prosperity attracts people to settle and accelerates the development of urbanizations. However, the main reasons to structure the sea transportation system on the coast of southern North sea is because of the advantage of the well- constructed waterway network and good topolographic environment of navigation.

mobile harbour, water system and settlements

Map of the siege of Ostend in 1604 The map presents Oostende in 17th century was cooperated with waterway system.

There were two entrance connected inland canal transport as well as to the sea.

[Source: Memory of the Netherlands: The Netherlands Maritime Museum Amsterdam museum]

Ferraris map of Ostend in 1777 (the image rotated 180 degrees) The map presents Oostende in 18th century was urbanized more organizedly, and the island, Testerep, which was detached with town has linked completely. Only the water access on the westside remained.

[Source: Ferraris map 1777: Oostende]

035

036

1.3 Erosion and flooding risk in the coastal area

Water systems bring the diversity of creations, but also carry with the power of damages.

Erosion and flooding are crucial coastal protection issues on every coast. It is not an exceptional case on the coast of southern North Sea. Since the coastal and deltaic area is one of the regions with high density population in Europe, strictly inspect the potentiality of risk and examine the protection strategy is the task for governance to protect peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life and highly urbanized zone. In order to face the challenge from nature, there are several maritime institutions and departments of hydraulics in the three countries already focused on the coastal protection issues and cultivate in researches to react the upcoming damage by 2100. The maps in the following pages will show the research results for the future risk about flooding and coastal erosion.

Low-lying and inundation- flooding risk To date back to the history, the area has been invaded and suffered by water issues for long. From the historical maps and records, the documentaries present that the area was submerged under the water level. Also the historical maps show the dynamic landscape transformation, because the maps of this area between 10th and 20th century show a continuously changing pattern of urban development due to the frequent inundation. The coastal landscape in Belgium and the Netherlands we can see today is the result through the huge surface poldering process. Although the land transformation has been formed for centuries, but due the extreme weather pattern change and sea level rising in recent years, this high-density urbanization area is still under the pressure of the potential risk of flooding.

037

Spijkenisse

Middelharnis

MAAS

Roosendaal Bergen op Zoom Middelburg

L

--N BE-

E

LD

HE

SC

Zeebrugge

BE ---N

L

NL

--BE

Oostende Antwerp

Brugge Nieuw poort

ER IJZ

Ghent

Dunkirk FR---BE

Gravelines Calais

Brussels FR---BE

Kortrijk

[NL- flooding area] sea level rising +1 m [BE- flooding area] sea level rising +2 m [FR- flooding area] area effected by inaudation [possible to be flooding]

[coastal dune- natural protectionbarrior] [sea dike] [water system/ canal/ river/ lake]

[urbanization]

[industrial zone/ port area]

[railway network]

Map of flooding scenarios and existing protection system (France- Belgium- Netherlands) The map is a collection of three sea level rising scenarios proposed by the three countries: France, Belgium and Netherland.

This map present the territory will be possibly effected by flooding, together with the existing protection system (dike system and dunes), when the sea level keep rising and the condition of climate change get worse in the future. The low-lying area, polder systems and delta on the French coast, Belgian coast and Netherlands will be submerged when the sea level rises. The valuable agriculture land and the coastal urbanization will be destroyed.

[Source: Flooding scenario (Fr) North France: A preliminary assessment of flood risk, First stage of the Directive â&#x20AC;&#x153;Floodâ&#x20AC;?, DREAL Pas-De-Calais (BE) : GIS data, (NL): bhic.nl/Adapted by author]

039

MAAS

-2m

L

--N BE-

HE

SC

-1.8m

E

LD

+5m BE ---N

L

+0.3m

+1.3m

ER IJZ

+0.4m

-0.6m

FR---BE

+3.5m

+1.4m -0.3m

-3m FR---BE

+0.1m

-2.7m

NL

--BE

[sedimentation formation area]

[erosion formation area] [current direction- surface water] [current direction- deep water] [coastal dune- natural protectionbarrior] [sea dike]

[water system/ canal/ river/ lake]

[urbanization]

[industrial zone/ port area]

[railway network]

Map of coastal erosion and sedimentation (France- Belgium- Netherlands) The data of erosion and sedimentation in the map is collected from the Belgium coast landscape proposal which give a forecast of coastal condition by 2100. This map integrated with the urban network and the condition of sedimentation and erosion, by which we can see the impact of the future coastal for the urban zone. Some of the coastal area is predicted that will be severely eroded, but also some of the area will potentially deposit the sediments which shows the opportunity to create the new lands toward to the sea. In the map, it presents the erosion situation on the urban zone is the area has to be monitored in the next decades.

[Source: De ontwerpopgaven Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Stuur groep Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100/Adapted by author]

041

Historical picture showing the flooding caused by storm surge in 1953 [Source: Images on this page are from Delta Works.org]

042

Flooding by storm surge, Nethelands, 1953 The Delta Works project

In 1953, the severe storm surge damaged the Netherlands southern west deltaic area which claimed 1835 lives and flooded 165,000 hectares of lands.

After this catastrophic disaster, the authority decided to strengthen the protection of whole coastal area of Netherlands. The disaster triggered a huge hydraulic undertaking: The Delta Works.

The Netherlands had to be protected against similar catastrophes. So, in 1958, the Delta Act was passed, and the Dutch began to work on damming the inlets that left the Netherlands vulnerable to powerful storms.

043

PROTECTION INFRASTRUCTURE HARD BORDER

044

PROTECTION TRANSITIONAL SPACE

Intermediary conclusion Re-defining the meaning of the border for environmental balance

A region with undetachable relation with water dynamism From the previous collection of historical documents and current coastal landscape maps, we can clearly see the region has interacted with water dynamism and kept the undetachable relation since centuries ago. Either the water landscape, or the water defense infrastructures, the creations derived from a land transformation or the solution of land protection truly have created a systematic water landscape in the coastal region of southern North sea.

The actors of structuring urbanization: infrastructure and landscape The relation between urbanization and water landscape or the relation between urbanization and water infrastructure create many typology of city. The patterns of urbanization and the direction of urban growth are usually structured and determined by the strong features of water landscape and clear intervention of water infrastructure in this region.

The damage of coastal risk in the high density coastal and deltaic urbanization Because of the diversity of ecological environment and good position for live and commences, the deltaic region become one of the region with highest population and high production of economy and it still keeps growing. However, the unstable coastal risk and climate change scenario increase the possibilities of catastropheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s invading.

The statement above points out that the water dynamism accomplishes the prosperity of this region, but it is also the most powerful enemy, which will destroy the land. From the experiences before, we saw the protection infrastructure improved again and again, but it still canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t promise the certain level of protection infrastructure can survive in the next challenge from nature. If this is an inevitable cycle, before constructing another higher resistance protection infrastructure, can we rethink about the definition of balance between water dynamics and urbanized zone? Is the balance always to make up with a hard border? Does the balance mean immobile? Instead of setting up a fixed border, leaving a transitional space with the capacity of tolerance to release the energy of damage is a new and flexible definition for the border. What will the border of balance be transformed? And in this new dynamic relation, what kind of urban type will appear?

045

D y n a m i s m s Isotropic/Seaprotectionsystem/ Infrastructure Coastal protection

[ PART 02]

The Belgian coast

2.0 the isotropic Belgian coast

A sequence of sketch of the coastline evolution [Source: ALTERRA, BUUR, (03/2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust .../Adapted by author]

048

2.1 The evolution of the Belgian coast: a process from dynamics to fixture 2.2 The coastal urbanization strucutred by 2 infrastructure systems: Sea protection system and transport infrastructure

049

Belgian Coastal Tramway - Kusttram SO tram towing an NO a trailer at Bredene [ Source: http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/T_De-Lijn_Kusttram.html ]

050

Sea

Sea

Beach

Beach Dike + Urban

Dike + Urban

Dune

Polder

Urban

Sea

Sea

Beach Dike

Beach

Dune Transportational infrastructure

Dune Transportational infrastructure Polder

4 compositions of the sections of coastal strip on the Belgian coast

051

052

2.1 The evolution of the Belgian coast: a process from the dynamics to the fixture

The current Belgian coastline is 67 km long, of which 33 km are dunes and the rest is built-up area and harbours. The area behind the coastal urbanization is a wide man-made polder system, which are the most valuable agricultural lands in west Flanders.

The evolution of Belgian coastal region is a process from the dynamics to the fixture. In the past, the risky water issues forced people to practice the large scale of landscape evolution. By the construction of sea dikes and poldering, it framworked a new era of landscape condition of the Belgian coast. It was also to avoid the area be damaged and inundated by the dynamics and instability of water system. However, the strong axis of coastal water infrastructure determined the urbanized development until today.

The following pages will present the evolution of the Belgian coastline from prehistoric era to today.

It shows that how the coastline and landscapes was shaped by different hard infrastructures and various landscape conditions in different generations. Also, it shows the movement that the location of settlements change together with the development of protection system and the relation between water and urbanization.

053

BELGIAN COAST IN THE PREHISTORIC ERA

-10000 0

The North Sea Sandbanks Dunes Intertidal zone Current borders

Large scale dynamics in the intertidal domination - Rapid sea level rising after the last glacier age - Sea water penetration to rivers in hinterlands - Emergence of the first barrier beaches and dunes - Human settlements on beach ridges, dune near the coastline - Peat formation in the intertidal area [Source: ALTERRA, BUUR, (03/2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust .../Adapted by author]

054

BELGIAN COAST DURING THE ROMAN PERIOD 0 500

The North Sea Dunes Intertidal zone Current borders Settlements

Small scale dynamics and coastal economic activities flourished by Roman occupation (Roman road) - Roman coastal inhabitation and military occupation (1th~3th) - Scheldt-Meuse Rhine Delta: trade with Britain - Coastal salt industry and mining - Intertidal swamp by tidal channels (4th~5th) - Romans abandoned the coastal plain, retreat to the hinterland [Source: (1) Top: ALTERRA, BUUR, (03/2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust .../ Adapted by author (2) Right: VERHULST Adriaan, (1995) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Landschap en landbouw in middleeeuws Vlaanderenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ]

055

BELGIAN COAST DURING THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES 500 1000

The North Sea Dunes Intertidal zone Current borders Settlements

The early stage of the coastal urban center presence and the activities of agriculture and farming - large tidal area on the coastal plain with low-dynamic conditions (7th century) - Extensive livestock farming in coastal areas and seasonal grazing - Some important pre-urban harbors focused on overseas trade in coastal northern France to the Rhine estuary ( between 7th and 10th century) - The coastal plain behind the dunes rarely flooded. (8th - 10th century) - Developing the coastal urban centers, including along the coast of Flanders and Zeeland. (9th - 10th century) - Land reclamation in the coastal area of the arable creek ridges - Castles in response to threats of Norsemen - Further colonization clay area by growing population

056

[Source: (1) ALTERRA, BUUR, (03/2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust .../Adapted by author (2) Right: Desnerck, G.; Desnerck, R. (1974). Flemish and fishing vessels: 1 ports.. Gaston Desnerck: Oostduinkerke. 256 pp./Adapted by author]

BELGIAN COAST DURING THE MIDDLE AGES 1000 1300

The North Sea Dunes Intertidal zone Polders Waterways Dikes Main roads Current borders Settlements

First dike and first phase of land reclamations - Rapid population growth (11th century) - Extension agricultural land and development major cities (Brugge, Gent, Ieper, Oostende and Blankenberge) in Flanders (12th to 13th century) - Road connection to Brugge, Gent and Ieper (13th century) - From defensive embankment system to offensive poldering - Wateringen arise as governing bodies - Changing maritime oriented towards more land-oriented [Source: (1) Top: ALTERRA, BUUR, (03/2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust .../Adapted by author (2) Right-up: Verhulst Adriaan, (1984) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Het landschap in Vlaanderenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (3) Right-bottom: Cartografische voorstelling van de Belgische kust in de Middeleeuwen.

Amerijckx J. en Depuydt F., Fysische Bouwstenen voor de mens; 1980. ]

057

BELGIAN COAST DURING THE LATE MIDDLE AGES 1300 1500

The North Sea Dunes Intertidal zone Polders Waterways Sint-Jans dike Main roads Current borders Settlements

First block promenade in response to floods - The mild impact in Flanders from European economic crisis - Age of storms, 1400 major floods occured. The coastal cities abandoned and rebuilt (14 to 15th century) - First contiguous seawall parallel to shoreline - The coastline is increasingly closed and shortened touched by embankments and dams in tidal channels [Source: (1) Top: ALTERRA, BUUR, (03/2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust .../Adapted by author (2) Right: Cartografische voorstelling van de Belgische kust in de Middeleeuwen.

Amerijckx J. en Depuydt F., Fysische Bouwstenen voor de mens; 1980.]

058

BELGIAN COAST DURING THE PERIOD 1500 - 1700 1500 1700

The North Sea Dunes Flood plain Waterways Sint-Jans dike Main roads Current borders Settlements Fortified towns

Spanish period: Socio-Economic decline and the recovery after military confrontation - Capitalistic economy: Unevenly distributed wealth.

Especially, the poverty in the southern Netherlands - Socio-economic decline during the Spanish rule - Economic and religious tensions and wars: the Flemish rural population decline sharply - Important infrastructure in Flanders: the construction of the sea canal that Brugge reconnect to the sea, the port moves from Damme to Sluis and broken dike system rebuilt - Slow economic recovery and infrastructure reconstruction: reconstruction of Polders with more rational structure than the grid pattern - Connection channel constructed from Ostend, Nieuwpoort to Veuren to create ship navigation of hinterland behind the coastline.

[Source: (1) ALTERRA, BUUR, (03/2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust .../Adapted by author (2) Right: Map of Flander from the Mercator Atlas of 1595, Gerard Mercator ]

059

BELGIAN COAST DURING THE PERIOD 1700 - 1830 1700 1830

The North Sea Dunes Forest Waterways Sint-Jans dike Main roads Current borders Settlements Fortified towns

Early modern period: New infrastructure and economics - Southern Netherlands under Austrian Habsburgs/ Garrison towns along the coast - - Building major road infrastructure: The construction of a network of paved roads between the major towns and cities will have on the further very structuring effects urban development of the country.

- Enlightenment and rationalization - phase industrial revolution - First tourist spa in Oostende and Blankenberge on the coast - The main economic Fishery activities. Fishery village in De Panne supported by government.

060

[Source: (1) ALTERRA, BUUR, (03/2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust .../Adapted by author (2) Ferraris map 1777: Oostende/ Brugge]

BELGIAN COAST DURING THE PERIOD 1830 - 1885 1830 1885

The North Sea Dunes Forest Waterways Railways Coast Tram Main roads Current borders Settlements

Industrial era in Belgium: Railways and coastal tourism for beau monde - New political class infrastructure put in as an engine for development - Building railroads to main coastal cities and connect the coast to hinterland - sweeping industrialization, coast remains in the shadows - First tourist influx of nobility and bourgeoisie. The main destination in 19th century is Nieuwpoort, Oostende, Blankenberge en Heist - Building tourism facilities and infrastructures [Source: ALTERRA, BUUR, (03/2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust .../Adapted by author]

061

BELGIAN COAST DURING THE PERIOD 1885 - 1930 1885 1930

The North Sea Forest Waterways Railways Koninklijkebaan Main roads Current borders Settlements

Before and After WWII: The Isotropic cultivation of coastal transportation infrastructure and the tourism popularization - Construction of parallel infrastructures along the coast: sea wall, coastal tram line, Koninklijke Baan - uniform accessibility profile - At the beginning of route, coast tramway connects from Oostende to Veurne and Blankenberge - The construction of mobility brings the development to the area it stops - Zeebrugge port conctructed and, Oostende and nieuwpoort are fish port - planned garden areas in the dunes - WWI strikes hard in westhoek - Ijzer area was devastating flooded due to WWII 062

[Source: (1) ALTERRA, BUUR, (03/2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust .../Adapted by author (2) Railway map of Belgium, 1900, http://www.discusmedia.com/ authors.php?author=10&id=4479]

BELGIAN COAST DURING THE PERIOD 1930 - 1980 1930 1980

The North Sea Forest Waterways Railways Koninklijkebaan Highways Main roads Current borders Settlements

Growth of the middle class and the coastal tourism - Outreach coastal tourism through social emancipation and emerging middle class - social tourism at holiday camps - Oostende suffered greatly from the war, and with a ambitious plan rebuilt and modernized new residential high-rise blocks (7 to 9 floors) - construction E40 between Brussels and Ostend - The 60s and 70s mean for the Belgian coast a major transformation. The post-Fordist economy has led to a huge increase to leisure among the population - apartment buildings along the shoreline creating uniform building profile - Property speculation and second homes

[Source: (1) ALTERRA, BUUR, (03/2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust .../Adapted by author (2) Topografische kaartenmap BelgiĂŤ 1/50000, 2005, uitgegeven door NGI, Lannoo & Touring]

063

064

BELGIAN COAST CURRENT SITUATION 2014

Highly urbanized coast - Belgian Zeebrugge main seaport, focuses especially gas, cars and containers since 70s - Real estate is flourishing in apartments - Natural preservation under the pressure (The extensive urbanization of the coastal strip) - Zwin, Ijzermonding and next to the harbor Zeebrugge (Bay of Heist) are limited areas for ecological recovery - The tram is thoroughly modernized and remains serve as the main public transport corridor along the coastline. In 1997, the E40 extended with a branch - the plan of sustainable energy in the north sea - Global warming and expected sea level rise activate the awareness of strengthening coastal defense (The Master Plan Coastal Safety for the coast and Sigma Plan for the Scheldt)

The North Sea Dunes Sandbanks Polders Forest Waterways Railways Koninklijke baan Highways Main roads Current borders Settlements

[Source: ALTERRA, BUUR, (03/2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust .../Adapted by author]

065

066

2.2 The coastal urbanization strucutred by 2 infrastructure systems: Sea protection system and transport infrastructure

According to the previous coast evolution maps, it shows the strip of high-density urbanization on the Belgian coast today is a result compressed by two major infrastructure systems: the sea prtection system of the sea dike and dunes, and the transport infrastructure: coast tram and royal avenue (Koninklijke Baan).

The linear structures formed two strong and rigid barriers paralleled to the coastline that sandwich the concentration of coastal urbanization in-between.

The construction of sea dike in different periods are function for two perspectives: preventing the invading of seawater dynamisms and poldering to create valuable agricultural lands for crop production. After the dike systems built, the times of flooding risk decreases, inhabitation built up a new relation with the water dynamics and more human settlements emerged along the water infrastructure.

The linear sea dike not only reshaped the edge of coastline, it also influenced the processing of dune landscape formation. The body of original dune islands gradually decreases and now is merged with coastland becoming continuous fragments on the waterfront.

The other barrier affected the urbanization expansion is the transportation corridor: tramway and royal avenue. Due to the need of road infrastructures for great increasing numbers of automobile and the reducing of tramway routes and stations for leaving more spaces for road constructions, the tram network remains only the coastal line connects the coastal cities. Meanwhile, the royal avenue joined the coastal mobility system, which strengthens the concept of horizontal connection.

In the following pages, the diagrams and maps will tell how the factors transformed the coast from its diversity and synamisms to the current landscape condition.

067

Dike

11th Century dike systems perpenticular to the currnt coast

During 11th century, the dikes was firstly constructed perpendicular to the coast. The main three dike systems was built up for preventing and reducing the flooding effect in the intertidal area. The orientation of dike construction created a coastline with the function of protection as well as leaving the dynamisms of sea water and tidal to access the hinterland. After a century, the function of dike system turned from sea defenses to poldering, thus the Sint Jams dike built along the dunes and parallel to the part of formed coast during the last phase of land reclamation, also filled up the gaps where was not built before. The protection system formed a straight and hard infrastructure.

12th Century dike systems built along the dunes, where is the matched to the current coastline

[ Source: Duinkerketransgressies, J. Amerijckx en F. Depuydt - Fysische Bouwstenen voor de mens/ Adapted by author]

068

Sea defense systems: dunes and dikes

Dune

4th~8th Century offshore dune islands

The dunes were sandy-hill islands situated in the area around the coastline today. Due to the intervention of dike constructions on the coast, the land reclamation and poldering forced the marshy lands were drainaged and the water dynamisms became stable. Eventually, the land reclamation made the edge of hinterland grew to the offshore strip of dunes, which became part of the mainland of coastal region. The linear dune fragments are gradually decreasing in recent years, but the strong linearity still remains its influences to the axis of urban expansion constantly. Especially in some area where is the dune preservation zone, it is highly protected, so the interaction between dune landscape and urban tissues become one of the urban type on the belgian coast.

12th Century dike systems intervened the coastal dunes formation

069

Photo of the coastal tram passing through De Haan [ Source: http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/T_De-Lijn_Kusttram.html ]

070

Coastal infrastructure: tarmway and royal avenue

Coast tram and royal route Tramway + Royal avenue

1885- WWI dense tramway network + train system (mesh)

In the beginning of the tramway development, it is a transportation network cooperated with train system. In order to provide the high and intensive mobility in the west Flanders region, there were many types of tram system, options of the connection and the number of routes.

(Find the evolution of tramway route in the next page) Until automobile was invented, numerous of cars appeared, which brought the need of road network constructions for vehicle flows.

The room of tram track left to road infrastructure, as well as the connection between cities started constructing. Meanwhile, the plan of royal avenue on the coast was built along the tramway route, and the coast tram became the only line to be remained traveling in-between the coastal cities. The join of royal avenue strengthened and consolidated the transportation corridor for the horizontal coastal connection, and since this period, the urban expansion is compressed in-between two solid and hard infrastructures.

Today coastal tramway line+ train system (line)

[Source: ALTERRA, BUUR, (03/2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust .../Adapted by author]

071

[Road network] [Steam tram] [Electronic tram] [Temporary line] [Koninklijke Baan]

The evolution of coast tram system and route extending and shrinking [Source: ALTERRA, BUUR, (03/2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust .../ Adapted by author]

072

Development of coast tramway

Coast tram is the production until the 19th century in order to provide the transportation for the people living in hinterland to access the coastal region for spending their vacation and also provide transportation for Belgians living along the coast who move within those coastal cities. Oostende, Nieuw Poort and Blankenberge Heist are the most popular coastal cities for their vacation destination.

The first line of steam tram way constructed from Oostende toward to Middelkerke and the next year it quickly extend the connection to Veurne and Blankenberge. In the following years, the municipalities and province decided to further extend the tramway network to satisfy more inhabitants and tourists in this region. Therefore, the tramway network extended to Nieuw Poort, the east side of Oostende.

During the WWI, the tramway system was temporarily splited into two parts.The tramway was used for transporting soldiers, civilians and the medical uses. After world war, in order to recover the coastal living funtions, mobility network was one of the important aims to recover. In a short period from 1919, the tram network was not only be repaired but also expanded and ranged from Adinkerke to Knokke. Moreover, there are many branches of the Coast Tram.

There were lines to Diksmuide and Bruges and the tram went even beyond the Belgian borders to France. From Knokke there was a tram to Breskens and Sluis. The strong development of tramway system creates a rigid transportation corridor and flows parallel to the coast.

After 1944, the percentage of transporting with car was arised. The post-Fordist economy has led to a huge increase to leisure. For the car, there was of course many changes to the road infrastructure.

In order to release the space for road- expansion, many tramway tracks were quickly disappeared to leave the room for cars and buses. All branches of the coast tram were abandoned. The connection between De Panne and Adinkerke was abolished in Belgium and elsewhere. What is remaining now is the tramway line riding through continuously those popular coastal cities.

073

The maps above clearly display the result that the Belgian coastal urbanization is fully sandwiched between protection infrastructure on the seaside and transport infrastructures on the polder side. The fixed urbanization indicates the infrastructures frame the coastal urban pattern.

[Source: Cote de Belgique]

074

Belgian coast map compressed urban strip

“Cote de Belgique” The Belgian coast, Oostende. It shows the urbanization and the coastal norishment and the section of dike system.

“Cote de Belgique” The Belgian coast, De Haan and Wenduine. It shows the sequence of coastal landscape and urbanization.

075

ISOTROPIC

076

MULTIDIRECTIONAL

Intermediary conclusion The role of infrastructure in unban evolution

The interaction between water and ground remains a line, the sea dike system.

The Belgian coast is a result of man-made construction. Sea dike defined the edge of territory; the strip of urbanization was developed in-between the paralleled sea dike and transportation system; hard infrastructure fixed the dune and made the dune formation decreasing. The infrastructures create a strong linearity of urbanization on the coast. This equality of urban development seems that the whole coastal region acquired the same concentration of urban evolution, but the repetitive landscape compositions from De Panne to Het Zwin show that after centuries coastal evolution, the Belgian coast lose its diverse attractions. The interaction between water and ground remains a line, the sea dike system.

The role of infrastructure Belgian coast is a case that the urbanized process was transformed by strong infrastructure functioning. The coastal development might practice with the same regional strategic planning, but it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean that the coastal cities should have the same identity. Each urban spatial pattern of the coastal cities should leave its unique and develop with its character and the infrastructure shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be the actor to impede and limit the any possibilities of development. The strategy of infrastructure construction determines the spatial pattern of urban growth and urban expansion. The role of infrastructure is not only building up for satisfying the need of functions, but it also equips the responsibility of the future urban evolution.

077

3.0 The vulnerable Belgian coast and ongoing protection project

Sea level rising

velnerable sea ports

high-density coastal urban zone

high-value ecosystem

The photos above shows the most significant landscapes now situated on the belgian coast The risk and catastrophe of climate change will damages the asset and property on the coast in the perspective of urbanizations, economies and ecosystems.

[Source: photo: http://www.kustatlas.be/nl/]

078

3.1 The vulnerable coast condition and the threats of climate change 3.2 The ongoing coastal protection project for seeking a safe coast in 2100

079

SCENARIO’S 2040

SCENARIO’S 2100 Mean

Wind speed

0%

Mean+ +2%

Warm -1%

Warm+ +4%

Mean

Worst case +4%

Wind speed

0%

Mean+ +4%

Warm -2%

Warm+ +8%

Worst case +8%

Average sea level

+30cm

+30cm

+40cm

+40cm

+100cm

Average sea level

+60cm

+60cm

+93cm

+93cm

+200cm

Storm surge level

+30cm

+40cm

+45cm

+60cm

+70cm

Storm surge level

+60cm

+80cm

+80cm

+130cm +240cm

Primary impacts and climate change scenario’s 2040 and 2100 [Source: Chart, ADAPTATION OF COASTAL PROTECTION IN BELGIAN COASTAL TOWNS Circle 2 – Conference on Climate Change Adaptation Theme – Coastal areas, marine biodiversity and fisheries, Departement Mobiliteit en Openbare Werken, Vlaanderen.be/ Adapted by author]

080

3.1 the vulnerable coast condition and the threats of climate change

The coastal protection system on the Belgian coast is vulnerable. By the investigation of coastline safety, more than one third coastline is inadequately protected. The popular tourism cities and coastal towns are under the potential coastal risk. Middelkerke, Oostende, Wenduine center and four coastal ports are indicated the most exposed.

Meanwhile, in the recent years, more and more documents demonstrate the alert of climate change is approaching.

The issue of global warming and sea level rising doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t reveal the efficient solution to get better. In the opposite, this worldwide issue will be the catalyst for breaking the existing coastal protection system. Therefore, the urgent situation forces the Flemish government to face the emergence of upcoming problems brought from climate change.

The relevant research institutions announced the climate changeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scenario of 2040 and 2100, and also define several cases of the weather condition (on the left page).

It presents the possible situation of flooding and extreme rainfall pattern that the government has to give a long-term strategy to face the damage and the people living on the coast may have to understand what the future disasters from the environment will occur.

The following pages will show the graphic analysis of future risk investigations, which are the forecast of future coastal damages for the problematic Belgian coast. The graphic data exposes the tendency of coastal risk. It will help the planner to strengthen the coastal vulnerability and equip a better capacity of protection system.

081

[1] Coastal breaching current

sea level rising

[2] Erosion and sedimentation Erosion formation

stable

sedimentation

[3] Safety line

[1]

[3]

[2]

082

(1) Coastal breaching The map shows the area on Belgian coast will be breaching in 2 circumstances. The area marked in black is under the risk of breaching in the current climate condition. The area marked in blue is the area where will be risky if the sea level rise in the future more than 1 meter height. So, the whole Belgian coast is vulnerable and the protection system is highly under the risk of damage.

(2) Erosion and sedimentation The map shows the area where is prone to occur erosion and sedimentation along the Belgian coast. From the map we can see the formation of sedimentation accumulating on partial coast from De Panne to Niuew Poort and from Oostende to Zeebrugge, where is the location with larger surface of exiting dune forest. The new land next to the harbour deck is also with high potentiality of land reclamation in the future. But not all the coastal land is gradually accreting to the sea. Some coastal cities, like Oostende, De Haan and Het Zwin, are obviously eroded by the tidals and currents.

(3) Safty line The border of safe livehood prevening from the floodind risk (4) The percentage of the beach washing away

LOSS OF BEACH IN SCENARIO’S 2100 Municipality

M+ senario

(2100)

WCS senario

(2100)

De Panne

-19%

-51%

Koksijde

-18%

-49%

Nieuwpoort

-17%

-50%

Middelkerke

-16%

-55%

Oostende

-19%

-60%

Bredene

-17%

-47%

De Haan

-19%

-48%

Blankenberge

-17%

-47%

Zeebrugge

-13%

-35%

Knokke-Heist

-12%

-40%

[Source: Chart, Map: (1) ADAPTATION OF COASTAL PROTECTION IN BELGIAN COASTAL TOWNS Circle 2 – Conference on Climate Change Adaptation Theme – Coastal areas, marine biodiversity and fisheries, Departement Mobiliteit en Openbare Werken | Vlaanderen.be, Map (2) (3) De kustatlas online, http:// www.coastalatlas.be/ adapted by author]

083

possible flooding

effective flooding

084

Flood map with the worst climate change scenario (WCS) The map shows the flooding inclination if the climate change scenarios keep getting worse in the future. The two colours represent two different circumstances: Dark blue means the area now already is effectively flooded because of storm surge and insufficient flow discharging of the occasionally extreme rainfall in summer; on the other hand, the light blue means that the low-lying land (polder area) where will be possibly flooded because of future sea water invading.

data linear trend

third degree polynomial trend

Possible increase of average sea level after 1990 (cm)

Possible increase of average sea level after 1990 (cm) Average sea level (cm)

Average sea level (cm)

staged linear trend

[Source: Map: GIS data/ Adapted by author, Chart: Ozer et al. (2008), Van den Eynde et al. (2008) ]

085

Aim for preventing the effect of climate change by 2050 (1) Integrated safety plan (complete coastline) Including Het Zwin : nature preserves Oostende harbor: harbor protection

- Coast capacity of storm:1000 year storm - Protections area: natural areas(dunes), coastal towns( dikes and beaches), harbours - economic activities - no large measures, but beach nourishment, local quay wall heightening, stilling wave basins - no large measures, but beach nourishment, local quay wall heightening, stilling wave basins

Aim for preventing the effect of climate change by 2100

protection projects (1) Integrated safety plan (complete coastline) Including Het Zwin : nature preserves Oostende harbor: harbor protection (2) Flemish bay (complete coastline) (3) Sigma (Scheldt)

parallel policy projects [ Metropolitan Coastal Landscape ] - Dep. Spatial Planning - Ongoing, research by design of landscape & spatial planning scenario’s [ Marine Spatial Plan ] - Federal government

(2) Flemish bay (complete coastline)

- 5 criteria: safety, sustainability, natural, attractiveness, development - Energy atolls, extension of Zeebrugge harbour, new shipping lane Antwerp, sand motors.

- 2014 : decision on research projects - Integrated and paralleled with coastal vision 2100

Aim for preventing flooding in Scheldt estuary

Relevant research [ Ccaspar ] - On future spatial visions versus CC [ Quest 4D ] - Sedimentation of 3d model [ Climar ]

(3) Sigma (Scheldt)

- safety, nature, recreation, economy, supporting agricultural policy - The Sigma Plan contained three measures to better protect Flanders: Stronger and higher dikes Flood control areas to absorb the excess water: high water caused by a storm tide, but also by abundant precipitation from the more elevated areas A storm surge barrier in Oosterweel The protection projects and its aim for the future coastal defenses [Source: ADAPTATION OF COASTAL PROTECTION IN BELGIAN COASTAL TOWNS Circle 2 – Conference on Climate Change Adaptation Theme – Coastal areas, marine biodiversity and fisheries, Departement Mobiliteit en Openbare Werken | Vlaanderen.be/ Adapted by author ]

086

3.2 The on-going coastal protection project for seeking a safe coast in 2100

Flemish government understands that the Belgian coast is fragile because of the high flooding risk by the research, also realize this is the course for protecting peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s livehood, which need to be activated immediately. This leads the concerned department and relavant research institutions (hydraulics, marine ecology, civil engineering urban spatial planning etc.), devoting to establish different strategic protection projects, policy and researches to react various cases and situations in different periods when the approaching coastal risk comes.

The framework of protection projects is working as three parallel lines showing on the left page. Projects, policy and research are divided, but all of them are cooperating to achieve the main goal of protecting the Belgian coast.

Therefore, in 2007, the authority launched the coastal protection policy, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Integrated safety planâ&#x20AC;? and soon or later, it was approved in 2011, which is a plan for the period to 2050. The main concept of the project is for the reduction of coastal risk of flooding. It focuses on two points: (1) Bath beach: increase and strengthen the sea wall (2) harbor: construction of storm wall around the harbor channel. Especially, it will build up the storm surge wall and also increase the quay area in Nieuwpoort.

The Flemish Bays is the Project derived from and paralleled to integrated safety plan.

It aims to ensure that the Belgian coast by 2100 to withstand the climatic change conditions. The coast must withstand storms and floods, but also remain attractives. In addition, in Flemish Bays, it includes the economy, energy and sustainability into the discussion. It makes the project not only focus on problem solving, it also provide the opportunity of production in the same time.

SIGMA plan is a delta protection project has implemented since 1977, which was recently updated in 2005. In 1998, the Netherlands and Flanders decided to develop a joint long term vision by 2010 for the Scheldt estuary and its function of flood safety, port accessibility and important natural eco-system. To provide safety against flooding, the implementation of the updated SIGMA-plan in Flanders was chosen as the most appropriate measure.

087

Zeebrugge

Oostende

Br

Nieuw poort

ER

IJZ

Dunkirk

[1] Integrated safety plan (complete coastline) [2] Flemish bay (complete coastline) FR---BE

Gravelines

FR---BE

The map collecting the on-going protection projects and the area it intervened [Source: (1) Flemish Bay, http://www.vlaamsebaaien.com/wie-zijn-we, (2) Integrated master plan for future coastal safety ( including Oostende and Zwin coastal protection projects), http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/documentation/studies/documents/belgium_climate_change_en.pdf (3) Sigma plan, http://www.sigmaplan.be/en/ Adapted by author ]

088

K

Spijkenisse

Middelharnis

MAAS

Roosendaal Middelburg

Bergen op Zoom L

--N

BE-

E

LD

HE

SC

e

BE ---N

L

NL

--BE

ruges

Antwerp

Ghent

[3] Sigma (Scheldt)

Brussels

Kortrijk

089

Project-00

[1] Lower the dike in hinterland/ continuation of the sea wall at port/ Stability of sea wall [2] Beach and dune expansion

Project-01

[1] A permanent disposal of maintenance dredging for construction and maintenance of coastal safety protection [2] Sandbank as wave breakers: Heightening the selected offshore sandbanks [3] Foreshore nourishment

Coastal Protection Plan

Coastal Protection By Raising Flemish Banks

Project-02

[2] Marine nature zone

[1] Island New Ter Streep: A self-sustainable tourist resort, nature preserva [3] Island Hiker:

Islands Off The Flemish Coast

Project-03

Port Of Zeebrugge

Project-04

[1] Outer Zeebrugge 1: The accessibility along the coast from Zeebrugge to Scheldt and Rhine [2] Behind Zeebrugge: The possible connection to the Seine and Western Scheldt waterway via the extended Schipdonk canal connection [3] Outer Zeebrugge 2: Expansion of the port of Zeebrugge, the strategy of [1] Heist Bay: Nature preseved, touristic space development and sport/ yacht port

Knokke-Heist beach/ Het Zwin

Project-05

[1] New mouth of Blankenberge port: Coast extension [phase 1]

Marina Blankenberge

[2] Knokke-Heist beach and lagoon: tourism development [3] Conservation and expansion Zwin estuary: Responding the historical patt

[2] New beach of Blankenberge: The extension beach and new passage bet

Project-06

[1] Residency, tou [2] Lagoon in the

Marine Residence Blankenberge-Zeebrugge / Beach Lagoon

Project-07

[1] The strategic plan for Oostende port [2] Oostende Harbour Offshore Service [phase 1]

Project-08

[1] Water sport recreational infrastructure [2] The nature preserve of Ijzer estuary

Oostende port

Newport: European Sailing And Water Sports

Multifuntional island

Infrastructure For Marine Energy Extraction

[3] Nieuw poort island on the offshore sandbank

[1] Marine test basis for sustainable energy in North sea :wind, wave power [2] Shelter port, offshore service

Project-09

Project-10

[3] Oostende research and development of renewable energy center on the

[1] Installation of wind energy (wind farms) in eastern oostende and multifuntional island to connect north-west European wind energy grid

2010

2014

2020

2020-2050

[2] Tidal Energy C

2050

Sea level rise +50 cm

The timeline of Flemish Bay projects [Source: Flemish Bay, http://www.vlaamsebaaien.com/wie-zijn-we / Adapted by author ]

090

Case study: Flemish bay [ARCADIS, AT & M Consultants bvba, DEME, IMDC International Marine and Dredging Consultants, Jan De Nul Group, ORG ]

ation in Island Ostend on the Ostend Bank A self-sustainable, tourist island

the Flemish coast harbor and Western Ports and energy supply

ttern

tween city and coast [phase 2 ]

urist habitation and water sports e new coastal arch in western Zeebrugge

eastern coast arch [phase 2 ]

r, pumped storage (Valmeer / lake), tidal power, solar power

Conversion

2060

2070

2080

2090

2100

Sea level rise +100 cm

[ Hard protection project ] [ Soft protection project ]

091

The map of Flemish Bay projects [Source: Flemish Bay, http://www.vlaamsebaaien.com/wie-zijn-we ] 092

Case study: Flemish bay [ARCADIS, AT & M Consultants bvba, DEME, IMDC International Marine and Dredging Consultants, Jan De Nul Group, ORG ]

Comparison between two complete coastline projects: Flemish Bay and Integrated safety plan Flemish Bay is one of the Belgian coastal protection projects, the basis structure of which is paralleled to Integrated safety plan. Both projects aim to intervene complete coastline for the protection, but in Flemish Bay, the area it includes into the plan further extended toward to the territorial sea. The differences between Flemish Bay and Integrated safety plan are the aspect of protection strategies and the focuses. The concepts indicated in 10 sub-projects of Flemish Bay concerns more diverse and broad. It not only pays attention on the improvement of coastal protection infrastructure, it also concentrates on sustainable development, ecological preserve, energy generation and the coastal attraction planning.

On the other hand, Integrated safety plan is more emphasizing the improvement of the current coast protection infrastructure and structure a future coast with soft nourishment strategy.

Principle concept in project “Flemish bay” The following summarizes the most principle concepts into two categories, spatial and functional, that are utilized and implemented in Flemish Bay. Spatial concept: building the coast toward the sea (1) Land reclamation of sandbank (2) Port extension (3) Beach and dune extension (4) Urban development in the new lands Functional concept: (1) Improve coastal protection infrastructure (2) Utilize the landscape as protection infrastructure: wave breaker (sandbank) (3) Develop recreational programs and facilities: tourism, water sports (4) Develop the sustainable energy production (5) Improve and structure the sea transportation network in the future in the southern North Sea connected with western ports (6) Offshore service and ship maintenance The core idea of both protection projects are based on the issues “climate change and coastal protection”, but “Flemish Bay” brings more is that it leads to the long-term coastal development need and a long-term multifunctional and multidirectional sustainability. In the construction of protection strategy and under the pressure of future environment, we can see the project not only seriously takes care of the main protection problems, and also emphasize the urgent human living issue, sustainability, into the structure of strategy, which extends and stretch the width and depth of the project can touch, intervene and improve.

093

094

Intermediary conclusion the landscape functioning for the protection strategy and sustainable future

The multifunctional landscape From the overview of protection projects in the whole coastal region and the case study: Flemish Bay, we can see the main focus of strategy in the future protection proposal tunes from the concept of building new protection infrastructure with higher resistance to the concept of building ecological protection system. In the high density of urbanization area, it still canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t avoid constructing the artificial sea wall for the protecting the livehood, but the emerge of ecological strategies consciously reminds that what the landscape can function as for the sustainable future.

Recently, the concept of ecological landscape design has become a main stream of urbanism. The landscape we used to think for recreation or preservation actually can function as more than we thought. Thus, how can we utilize multifunctional landscape into the coastal protection strategy? In the aspect of environmental protection, it is the concept that we go back to understand how the natural environment worked before humanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intervention and try to interpret the capacity of landscape tolerance into part of protection system.

For example, recovering the wetland, which not only can create a valuable ecosystem, but also become a regulator for storing flooding water. Another example is land reclamation. Instead of building the sea dike, land reclamation not only creates a buffer zone between inhabitants and dynamic water system, but also give more land for dune formation. The old dune will colonize to the new land and form a continuous natural barrier to defeat the sea level rising. The concept of building a landscape states above is no longer the way we evaluate the meaning of landscape. The concept of utilizing the landscape performance as the soft strategy will transform the landscape and evolve the environmental protection system in the same time.

095

L a n d s c a p e R e c o v e r i n g Depoldering Urbanstructure

[ PART 03]

Studio Design

4.0 Recovering the dynamism of the Belgian coast

Map of the mouth of the Zwin This map depicts the waterway system construction in 15th century, linking to Brugge. It shows the the landscape and urbanized area integrated with dynamic water condition in the region.

[Source: VERHULST Adriaan, (1995) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Landschap en landbouw in middleeeuws Vlaanderenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ]

098

4.1 Recovering the dynamisms to seek the environmental balance with the risk of climate change 4.2 The Belgian coastal landscape, the past and today 4.3 Build up a new vision of the Belgian coast 4.4 Articulating a new urban structure with landscape framework

099

“ What if the landscape recovering can be a strategy to re-shape the structure of urban pattern and regulate the unbalanced environmental problem for the future risks? ” CLIMATE CHANGE

SWAMP

POLDER

RECOVERING LANDSCAPE

COASTAL SAFETY ECONOMY ENERGY SUSTAINABILITYNATURE ATRRACTIVENESS

100

FLOODING

4.1 Recovering the dynamisms to seek the environmental balance with the risk of climate change

From the previous chapters, it gives the current situation of coastal diversity in the aspect of landscape and urbanization in international scale from north France coast to Zeeland. What we observed is the area has lived with water dynamisms for long period. This condition leads the settlements are highly integrated with water landscape and water infrastructure. However, when the discussion focuses on the regional coastline (Belgium), the development of coastal infrastructures built in recent centuries becomes the main problem that restricts and limits the urbanization growth.Under the circumstance, how can a fixed coastline with little opportunities to change and without room for adjustment to face the challenge from the nature?

The third chapter presents the analysis of problematic Belgian coast today and the three parallel protection projects, which are the long-term and on-going projects proposed by Flemish government. From the proposal, we can see that strengthening hard protection is no longer the only solution the governance takes into account. To utilize the capacity of soft landscape is also a concept of partial strategy.

In the analysis and research of the documents, it illustrates the construction of hard infrastructure is one of point that did influence the structure of urbanization. There is no doubt that the urbanization definitely should be strategically structured in a way to control and establish an urban system to work, but what if the urban structure limits the possibilities of expansion and improvement, will the urban lose the resilience to regulate and opportunities to react the different circumstance in the future?

Therefore, in the following design project, instead of building sea walls, dike systems and many hard protection infrastructures, what I am searching for and considering is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;soft strategyâ&#x20AC;?. The soft strategy is a thought of returning to the utilization of natural landscape capacity.

In the next pages, I will show the maps of current and historical landscape, as well as the relations between water and urbanization of current and future forecast. The map of Belgian coastal landscape in different period presents the condition of landscape it used to be, which shows the indigenous character of lands.

The man-made Belgian coastal landscape has been through landscape transformation for centuries by water dynamisms until the image displaying in front of us. In the history, the dike and poldering construction built up a new inhabitable environment on the Belgian coast. When the risk of climate change and the environmental cycle come, will the landscape transformation be a solution again for reducing the inevitable damages?

101

102

Map of the Belgian coastal [current landscape---sea, dune, polder and forest] The map shows the current condition of landscape with satellite image on the Belgian coast. The landscape is composed by the high-density linear urbanization strip and the wide agriculture land behind. Besides, the ancient forest mainly locates in the upstream area around the connection of waterway between Brugge and Ghent (behind the border between polder and upstream).

The landscape map in the middle age, which shows the forest locates behind polder line since then.

The forest map in 17th century [Source: (1) Left Image: Bing MAP, (2)Right: het landscape in vlaanderen, VERHULST Adriaan, 1984]

103

Oostende Nieuwpoort

Current urbanization 21th century

Ancient swamp 18th century

104

Heist Blankenberge

Ferraris map: the landscape on the Belgian coast in 18th century (1777) The relation between the past swampy pattern and future flooding-prone area The Ferraris maps show the landscape in Belgium in 18th century. The captured map shows there was a plenty of lands in the region from De Panne to Het Zwin was swampy in 18th century. Especially, we can find a huge surface of marsh along the estuary and water infrastructures. For example, the surrounding of Oostende was a broad wetland. We can also discover that the pattern of wetland showing on the Ferraris map coincidentally match to the forecast of flooding map by scenario 2040/2100. It interprets the relation between the past swampy patterns and the area with the potentiality of flooding.

[Source: [1] Ferraris Map 1777, online access of Koninklijke Bibliotheek van Belgie, [2] Plans de villes des Pays-Bas espagnols - J. Deventer, (1550-1570). Institut National de GĂŠographie: Brussels ]

Dune

Swamp

City Plans of the cities of the Spanish Netherlands 16th century

105

[1] Defense [2] Cooperation [3] Balance Sea and coastal urban- polder system and agri- upstream river system ization cultureal settlement and urban sprawl

106

Map of 3 integration of water system and 3 relation with settlements on the Belgian coast The map shows the concept of living with water. From the map we can define three relation betwen water system and settlements:

(1) Sea and coastal urbanizationdefense

(2) polder system and agricultureal settlement- cooperation

(3) upstream river system and urban sprawl- balance [Source: GIS data /Adapted by author]

107

[ Coastal sedimentation ]

[ Coastal Erosion ]

[ Ancient swampy pattern ]

[ Possible flooding area ]

[ Effective flooding area ]

[ Possible flooding area of sea level rising +2 meters ]

108

Water system as a structure of reshapping the Belgian coastline According to the research of climate change in the future, the worst case of sea level rising in climate change scenario 2100 will be rising up to 2 meters higher, which will cause that the most of low-lying Belgian coastal area immersed.

This analysis maps the layers of flooding- prone area with several circumstances, layer of ancient swamp pattern and layer of coastal erosion formation. The map leads a conclusion that the low-lying area would be flooded if the sea water invading with different cases. But the area where used to be the ancient swampy lands can be interpreted that the possibility of the frontline protection system to regulate flooding water and reduce damages.

[Source: Ferraris Map 1777, online access of Koninklijke Bibliotheek van Belgie]

109

De Panne- A typical landscape on the Belgian coast (dune, grassland, garden city in the dune and coastal high floor apartment) [Source: image, Feb. 2014/ Taken by author]

110

4.2

The Belgian coastal landscape, the past and today

1908~1913 2006~ 111

1908~1913

De Panne White poplar (Populus alba) in the dunes of De Panne, left of the road that the then stop of the tram covenant with the beach.

2006~

Koksijde

112

Veurne

De Panne-Niuewpoort dune community, polder lands, canal waterway and dike

Ijzer Estuary Agriculture and small farms to the east of the High Blekker in Koksijde.

(High Blekker is the highest dune along the Flemish coast)

Hoarse with low vegetation and brackish ponds Ijzer Estuary

Nieuwpoort

Veurne canal Veurne Canal with reeds along the bank

113

1908~1913 2006~

Lombardsijde Transitional space from hoarse (left) to dune vegetation (right). In the middle of the image, there is the line of high water at spring tides. In the background, the dunes and lighthouse are on the directional towards to Nieuwpoort

114

Lombardsijde-Oostende transitional space between dune and heathland, estuary. popular tourism city

Oostende

115

2006~

De Haan

116

1908~1913

Bredene-Blankenberge marsh, polder lands, dune, coastal transportation and recreational sea port

Wenduine outcrops of peat (the stooping lady) and polder clay (the upright lady) on the beach of Wenduine

Blankenberge The Dunes at the end of the breakwater

117

1908~1913

Heyst-sur-Mer. - The Zeebrugge

Fixed dunes in Knokke with bunch of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)

2006~

[ Source: 1908-1913 Massart, J. (1908). Liste des geographique Pteridophytes et des Phanerogames qui les habitent district littoraux alluviaux et de la Belgique. Rec. Inst. Bone. Leo Errera VII (Annexe): 121, 73 plates, 14 maps/ Vandeput, H. (1932). Ostende et le littoral belge La Revue belge dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Importation et dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Exportation. Boitsfort Bruxelles. 306 pp./ 2006 Decleer, Misjel, Our Coast, VLIZ]

118

Zeebrugge-Het Zwin popular tourism city, dune forest and preserved estuary zone

e beach

Knokke-Heist Popular tourism city since 20th century.

High-density urbanization wall built along the beachside (bottom) Het Zwin Aerial view of the nature reserve â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Het Zwinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (gullies, tidal marshes)

119

A painting depicting the picture of the popularity of Oostende in 19th century. This image shows the Belgian coast functions the importance of water recreation activities, which also bring the pressures of tourism population and there is a need to seek the balance between human activities and nature protection. [ Source: James Ensor, (1890), ‘LES BAINS À OSTENDE’, http://jamesensor.vlaamsekunstcollectie.be/nl ]

120

4.3 Building up a new Belgian coast vision from Oostende to Zeebrugge

How to integrate the solutions for the urgent climate change issue with recovering the water dynamisms and landscape performence in the Belgian coast is the point that the proposal seeking for. The aim for the strategic decision is not only for reshaping the coast toward to a more diversity of landscape forms and ecosystems, in the mean time, it is also a problem solution. The new landscape system is formed to be responsible for the capacity of absorbing the damage from the environment in the risky future. Moreover, it is also looking forward to a more sustainable future. Besides the recreational function that the landscape equipped already, protecting and producing is the new role the landscape is given.

In the coastal project, in order to practice the concept of the multifunctional landscape, the area from Oostende with different types of landscape and urbanization (harbour city, dune city, ancient swamp and polder system) was intervened in the proposal. According to the characters of each cities and the possibility of landscape transformation, the strategy map in the next page is an imagination of a 100-year project with the conclusion of analysis.

121

[lagoon]

Wenduine

Generating a diverse coastal landscape

Oostende

[Swamp Forest]

122

Bredene

- Oostende/ Swamp forest - Bredene/ Urban recreational forest - De Haan/ Dune forest - Wenduine/ Lagoon and Aquaculture - Blankenberge/ Urban Forest and Sea port - Zeebrugge/ Agro-forest and Swamp forest

[Urban Forest]

De Haan

The vision map translates the concept of recovering dynamisms and reshaping the Belgian coastline from ostende to zeebruge. This map shows the strategy that how the projects will be intervened within this part of coastline and how we try to recover and transform the existing network paralleling to the coast. Each city uses the character of its own locates or the sustainable environment issues to show the interaction between landscape and existing urbanization, new developments and environmental changes.

[Dune Forest]

[The Belgian coast studio, KUL 2014 Spring]

[Agro-forest/ Flooding forest]

[urban Forest]

Blankenberge

Zeebrugge

Coatal vision map [Source: The Belgian coast studio- Afforestation/ KUL 2014]

123

Climate change scenario

Transforming and recovering the landscape

124

re-constructing the mobility infrastructure

new urban structure and expansion

4.4 Articulating a new urban structure with landscape framework

In the following, it is the implementation of project, which explains the process of transforming the landscape and re-systemizing the coastal urbanization structure with chronological concept , ecological concept and the urbanization development aspect.

By the illustration of the project, the project displays the methodology by sequence of developing phases . Building up a new landscape contour, updating and modifying the coastal mobility system, and new possibility of new city or urban expansion, explain the process of the coastal landscape transformation. This will immensely change the Belgian coast picture.

125

Landscape proposal (De Haan- Wenduine)

Depoldering [flooding landscape]

[ mudflat ]

[ salt marsh ]

[ fresh water swamp: tree nursery ]

[ young forest ]

[ forest ]

[ recovered swamp: water basin ]

New land reclamation [dune landscape]

[ beach, heathlands ]

[ young dune forest ]

Man-made landscape [economy, urban landscape]

[ aquaculture ]

[ lagoon ]

[ promenade ]

[ forest path ]

[ existing urban pattern ]

[ proposed urban pattern]

126

[ preserved dune forest ]

127

Timeline for developing projects (De Haan- Wenduine)

Blankenberge

Wenduine

De Haan

2014

2020

1st phase of land reclamation

128

2030

2040

2nd phase of land reclamation

2050

3rd phase

[ primary structure [ secondary structure [ building new dike ] for land reclamation ] for land reclamation ]

Hard [land reclamation tructure]

[ flooding wetland ]

[ flooding plain ]

[ swampy nursery ]

[ flooding forest ]

Soft [landscape recovering ]

e of land reclamation

2060

2070

2080

[ fishpond and oyster [ dune formation ] net system]

2090

2100

4th phase of land reclamation

129

Blankenberge

Wenduine

De Haan

Current, 2014 The landscape on the coast from De Haan to Blankenberge can be seen as three parts: preserved dune forests, polder (high risk of flooding) and port. The existing costal defense is mainly composed by soft and hard protections, dune and dike. According to the information from the investigation of coastal defence (map:Coastal breaching (1), erosion and sedimentation (2), Safety line (3), 2.5 coastal defence and on-going project on the Belgian coast), the current sedimentation process is deposited in front of the beach of Wenduine, and the decreasing of dune forest is appealing for many years due to the wind and sea water erode the coastline in De Haan. In the forecast, under the raised condition of climate change, it also shows that when the sea level rises, the dike will be possible to be breached, and the area between Wenduine and Blankenberge is highly be monitored.

130

Current + Stage 01-2020

[ primary structure for land reclamation ]

[ flooding plain ]

Blankenberge

Wenduine

[2]

[1] De Haan

2020-1st phase of land reclamation The map shows the current structure after the analysis of urban network. Those infrastructures, canalized creek and regional roads, will be the skeleton to regrow the new system of urban structure. [1] In order to build a new urban structure and release the erosion process, placing the hard structures, which can collect sedimentation and slow down erosion in the end of the accesses extended from the hinterland. [2] Recovering the swampy polder between Wenduine and Blankenberge and near the creek where was wetland that leaves more spaces as a flooding plain into the flooding drainage system.

131

[ primary structure [ building new dike ] for land reclamation ]

[ swampy nursery ]

Blankenberge

[3] Wenduine

[1]

[2]

De Haan

2030-1st phase of land reclamation [1] Setting up the second half of hard structure of coastal land reclamation. The new dune movement will come after the land reclamation and be activated in the foreshore. [2] Starting building the new dike along the contour of ancient wetland in the hinterland to recover the water landscape. In the future, the area will be open for the water. Moreover it will be functioning as a dynamic and diverse ecosystem and a resilient space for absorbing over amount of rainfall or sea water intrusion. [3] The recovering wetland system in the last period will be equipped as a tree nursery due to the high value of wetland. The saplings nurse and cultivate in the wetland will be transplant to the proposed forest area along the creek.

132

Stage 03-2020 + Stage 03-2040

[ secondary structure [ flooding wetland ] for land reclamation ]

[ flooding forest ]

[ dune formation ]

Blankenberge

Wenduine

[3] [2]

[1] De Haan

2040- 2nd phase of land reclamation+ Project of flooding forest [1] The main hard structure placed in 1st phase of land reclamation has been stable. On the sides around the structure will mount the secondary structure, which is a grid system to fix the sedimentation. Besides, the structure will integrate with vegetation, by the collecting function of treeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s root, which can strengthen the force to fix the sands brought from currents and tides. [2] The new dike is open, which forms a new estuary between Wenduine and Blankenberge. By recovering the landscape, the diversity ecosystem will bring the variety of vegetation, migratory birds species marine life to the region, where will also be the intermediate space for flooding. [3] The saplings in the tree nursery is matured to be moved. The first phase of flooding forest will be planted along the creek.

133

[ primary structure [ flooding forest ] for land reclamation ]

[ fishpond and oyster [ dune formation ] net system]

Blankenberge Wenduine

[1]

De Haan

[2]

[3]

2050- 3rd phase of land reclamation+ Project of flooding forest [1] The 3rd phase of land reclamation start placing the hard structure in offshore, which will be connected in the end with the one, which has completed. It plays the same role as the structure in 1st phase to collect the sedimentation and reduce the energy brought from the seawater movement. [2] Building up fishpond and oyster net system with light structure on the east side of Wenduine city. Because of the advantages that the intersection of salt water and fresh water brought to, the mixed water can provide a very high value to develop aquaculture. [3] The flooding forest keeps expanding along the creek to create a new recreational access leading to the estuary.

134

Stage 04-2050 + Stage 05-2060

[ secondary structure [ flooding forest ] for land reclamation ]

[ dune formation ]

Blankenberge Wenduine

[1]

De Haan

[2]

2060- 4th phase of land reclamation+ Buffer zone+ Project of flooding forest [1] The main hard structure placed in 3st phase of land reclamation has been stable. On the sides around the structure will mount the secondary structure. (Repeat 4.) After this period, the basic structure of new coastline will be accomplished. The preserved, existing dune has gradually form the new dune in the foreshore. This new dune landscape enlarges the distance between the urbanization and sea, which create the buffer zone and prevent the urban zone exposes on the flooding risk.

[2] The flooding forest keep transplanting the sapling and expanding toward Brugge.

135

[ flooding forest ]

[ dune formation ]

Blankenberge Wenduine

[1]

De Haan

[2]

2070- Aquaculture + Project of flooding forest [1] Until this stage, the new coastline keep growing and is reshaped constantly, which creates a more interesting and abundant coastal image. The old dune landscape already sprawls toward to the sea, which builds up a new barrier of sea protection to the coastal cities, De Haan and Wenduine. Also, in order to gain the sensation of coastal experience, bringing the man-made lagoon beach is an attempt to create a different coastal landscape for inhabitants and tourists. [2] The flooding forest keep transplanting the sapling and expanding toward Brugge.

136

Stage 06-2070 + Stage 07-2080

[ flooding forest ]

[ fishpond and oyster [ dune formation ] net system]

Blankenberge

Wenduine

De Haan

(8) 2080 onward- living and working with nature The construction of new coastline makes the coast with more possible dimensions of developing in the future. The city structure of De Haan was the garden city sandwiched between the old, preserved dunes. However, the new coastline will break the existing coastal and mobility axis. This is an opportunity to expand the new urbanization toward the sea and change the dimension, which was limited the coastal development for many centuries. Another city will be intervened is Wenduine, which will be transformed to an aquaculture city. Since the open of dike creates a new estuary and new land reclamation shape the coastline, aquaculture will be introduced to the city and become a part of landscape. The flooding forest is one of the new passage that reuse the track of creek to expect that it will become a new corridor for inhabitants and tourists to approach the coast. This extension of green corridor also stretches the linear coastal structure and twists the dimension to give the hinterland to be relinked.

137

Ecosystem/salt and fresh water (De Haan- Wenduine)

[1] Beach

[2] Dune

Fresh water system

[3] Estuary

[4] Wetland (tree nursery)

Salt water system

[5] Polder/ flooded area

138

De Haan

Wenduine

Estuary+ mudflat---[3]

Aquaculture Salt marsh Beach+ Lagoon---[1]

Heathland

Dune forest---[2]

salt water swamp

Fresh water swamp---[4]

flooding plain/ basin---[5]

Preserve dune forest

Water landscape and ecosystem

Left: A sequence of landscape from the seaside to the polder [ Source: photo, [1] [2] taken by author, [3] [5] VLIZ, [4] SmithGroupJJR, Crosswinds Marsh Wetland Interpretive Preserve, New Boston, Michigan Landscape architecture foundation]

139

Mobility Stretching, shifting and re-linking Urban extension

New route of coast tramway

Coast tram: - Stretching, shifting and re-linking the existing coast tram to connect the new accesses and urban extension. For example, extending the existing tramway route that connects with the dune forest city â&#x20AC;&#x153;New De Haanâ&#x20AC;?. The new perpendicular axis of transport will give the isotropic urbanization a stimulation for future urbanization development.

Coastal road network: - Downgrading the hierarchy of royal route. Strengthening the connection between hinterland by green corridor (flooding forest by recovering the creek). This is aiming to release the impediment built by transportation infrastructure barrier and establish the urbanization extension toward to the sea.

[ tramway route ] [ tramway Station ] [ main road access ] [ coastal path ] [ creek path ]

Stretching

140

Current

Main road access to hinterland [Wenduine]

Shifting

Recreational access [Recovering the creek]

Current

Re-linking

Current

141

Recreational tidal park Sustainable dune community

Programing the new urban structure

Urban platform

Urban: - Sustainable community The senstation of living in a dune dorest city, De Haan

- Urban platform - Fishery village/ Aquaculture - Fish market

The aquaculture villige, Wenduine

- Urban corridor - Urban forest Ecology:

Ecological transition landscape, Blankenberge

- Recreational tidal park - Preservation zone: Underground fresh water - Tidal electricity generator - Flooding Regulator - Nature observation path - Forest nursery - Flooding forest/ Dune forest

142

Pr U

reservation zone: Underground fresh water

Tidal electricity generator

Flooding regulator

Fishery village/ Aquaculture

Fish market

Urban corridor

Nature observation path

Forest

Forest nursery

143

De Haan: The sensation of Living in a dune-forest city

urbanization zone proposed

New De Haan city is an urban extension project. The new urban structure is oriented by the stretching of tramway network from old De Haan. It reveals an entirely inexistent orientation before on the Belgian coast. The land reclamation in De Haan is not only for obtaining more living space, also, it is utilizing the concept of landscape performance to wall up a nature barrier which leave more distances and heights from the effects of sea level rising.

new tramway route proposed

[1] Tidal park [2] Swamp forest [3] New sustainable communities [4] Promenade [5] Urban platform- tramway staion-New Dehaan center [6] Dune forest- underground water reservior

[1] Structure of land reclamation new tramway route and urbanazation proposed )

Formation of dune forest Dune forest creates the natural barrior to defeat the salt water intrusion.

Also, it becomes a ladscape dike for coastal protection preventing the sea level rise and flooding the coastal cities.

144

Recreation swamp and tidal park

New urbanization on the construction platform

[2] Dynamic landscape between tidals

Dune forest New De Haan

Old De Haan

[1]

[2]

[3]

[6]

[4]

[5]

[6]

145

De Haan: The landscape performance, tidal, swamp and dune forest

[1] Tidal park: Buffer zone for water dynamism Swamp forest

[2] Dune: Underground fresh water reservoir

Tidal park

Recreational swamp forest

Wave breaker

Tidal regulator

146

Dike: Preventing sea level rising

Water purification plant Rainfall

Water supply Dune forest Wind erosion Dike: Preventing sea level rising Underground water reservoir

Water collecting and supplying process

Salinity water intrusion

147

Wenduine: An aquaculture landscape nurtures new urbanization

Aquaculture city â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wenduineâ&#x20AC;? is a project functioned with both protection and production.

According to the analysis in previous chapter, it indicates that Wenduine is under a high level risk of breaching formation. On the other hand, the Ferraris map shows there was a huge area around the urban zone was swampy, and it is close to the breaching point of Wenduine coast.

In this sense, in order to reduce the damage to further inland, depoldering (recovering the swamp to regulate the flooding) is the strategy to seek the new border with water again.

Introducing new economic activity- aquaculture into Wenduine coast is an attempt to create a new experience of coastal city. Although we know that Spuikom, Oostende, is a main oyster farm with most of the yields on the coastal region, the history shows that there were several oyster farms on the coastline in different cities (Nieuwpoort, Oostende, Blankenberge and Zeebrugge). In the other word, the Belgian coast provides a good condition for raising aquaculture. In addition, the light structure of oyster or fish farms can be a water breaker to reduce the erosion and also benifit the beach nourishment in the same time on coast.

Formation of swamp forest The concept of build up a swamp forest is taking the topography advantages of low-lying area, such as the polder system or the area of ancient swamp, to function as a regulator, which spontaneously accumulate the discharge water. It can also funtion like a sponge to adjust the upstream discharge and the overflow of rainfall.

Fish farms

148

New fish village on the construction platform New Wenduine

Dune forest

Fish ponds

[1] [2]

[3]

[1] [4] [1] [5] [3] [6]

[1] Fish/ oyster farms [2] Fishery villiage [3] Coatal promenade [4] Fish market [5] Urban corridor - public space [6] Nature observation path Dune forest Lagoon

Old Wenduine

149

Biblography

[Book] - Verhulst Adriaan, (1984) ‘Het landschap in Vlaanderen’, - Verhulst Adriaan, (1995) ‘Landschap en landbouw in middleeeuws Vlaanderen’, Brussel : Gemeentekrediet - Nolf, Christian, (2013) ‘Sections of Flanders. Challenges of upstream water management and the spatial structuring of the nebulous city’ ,Leuven : KU Leuven. Arenberg doctoral school of science, engineering & technology, 2013 - Uyttenhove, Pieter (Editor) ; Ivens, Geertrui (Final editing) ; Vanbelleghem, Dries ; Van Bouwel, Ive ; Notteboom, Bruno ; Debergh, Reinout ; Willequet, Benoît; Massart, Jean (Photographer); Charlier, Georges (Photographer); Kempenaers, Jan (Photographer), (2006), ‘Recollecting landscapes: herfotografie, geheugen en transformatie 1904-1980-2004’, Gent: A&S - Han Meyer, Inge Bobbink, Steffen Nijhuis, (2009), ‘delta urbanism the netherlands’, Chicago Planners press - Van der Swaelmen Louis, (1888), ‘Le Boisement Du Littoral Maritime Belge. Une Lisière de Forêt Sur la Grève D’Ostende ... Avec 2 Planches’, Bruxelles Librairie Européenne - Van Acker, Maarten, (2011), ‘From Flux to Frame, The Infrastructure Project as a Vehicle of Territorial Imagination and an Instrument of Urbanization in Belgium Since the Early 19th Century’, Leuven K.U.Leuven. Arenberg doctoraatsschool wetenschap & technologie - Professor Dr. Frank Maes et al, (2003-2005), ‘A flood of space- toward a spatial structure plan for sustainable management on the north sea’ ( A book based on the spatial analysis of GAUFRE project)

[Coast landscape Proposal] Flanders environment report Environment Outlook 2030 - Marleen Van Steertegem, et al, (Presented on 11, December, 2009), Flanders environment report Environment Outlook 2030 Future common 2070 - Charlotte Geldof, Nel Janssens, (2012), MANAGING THE SEA, A VISION OF THE FUTURE. THE ‘FUTURECOMMONS 2070’ MAP, Magnificentsurroundings.org, think-tank on socio-spatial questions/ Faculty of Architecture.

Sint-Lucas,University of Leuven Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100 Fase 01 - ALTERRA (onderdeel van Wageningen UR), BUUR (Bureau voor Urbanisme), (Final report 28.02.2013), APPENDIX DE KUST VANDAAG, Bijlage bij ‘Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100’, Studie opdracht Metropolitaan Kustlandschap, fase 1, een ‘verkennende en methodologische’ analyse van de Belgische Kust.

- ALTERRA (onderdeel van Wageningen UR), BUUR (Bureau voor Urbanisme), (March, 2013), Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, Verkennende en methodologische analyse van de Belgische Kust i.o.v. Team Vlaams Bouwmeester, Departement Ruimte Vlaanderen, Departement Mobiliteit en Openbare Werken Studie opdracht Metropolitaan Kustlandschap, fase 1, een ‘verkennende en methodologische’ analyse van de Belgische Kust.

Fase 02 - Stuurgroep Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100, (July, 2013), De ontwerpopgaven Metropolitaan Kustlandschap 2100

[Website] France/ institution interdepartmentale des wateringues, July 2014 http://www.institution-wateringues.fr La DREAL Nord - Pas-de-Calais, July 2014 http://www.nord-pas-de-calais.developpement-durable.gouv.fr Flooding map in north France coast, July 2014 http://flood.firetree.net/?ll=50.9610,2.2446&zoom=11&m=1 Belgium/ VLIZ-Flanders Marine Institute, June 2014 http://www.vliz.be/en MUMM (Management Unit of the north sea Mathematical Model), June 2014 http://www.mumm.ac.be/ (The sandbank map of North Sea) Marineregions.org, July 2014 http://www.marineregions.org/index.php Coastal map (From France to Netherland od the sndbanks) Vereniging van Vlaamse Polders en Wateringen v.z.w., July 2014 http://www.vvpw.be Esri data- polder map of Flanders, July 2014 http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=4703f10e850d46dd8593f12663f34255&extent=2.0979,50.4076,6.1546,51.8706 (The polder map of Flanders) Coastatlas, May 2014 http://www.coastalatlas.be/en/ Digital library of the royal library of Belgiem, July 2014 http://belgica.kbr.be Vlaams Bouwmeester, July 2014 http://english.vlaamsbouwmeester.be Sigma plan, June 2014 http://www.sigmaplan.be/en Vlaamse baaien (Flemish bay), August 2014 http://www.vlaamsebaaien.com/ IMDC international marine and dredging and consultant, July 2014 http://www.imdc.be Masterplan for Flanders Coastal Safety http://www.imdc.be/projects/masterplan-flanders-coastal-safety Centre for climate adaption (blegium), July 2014 http://www.climateadaptation.eu/belgium/ Kunstgeografie http://www.kunstgeografie.nl/henv/helden.varusslag02.htm

Netherlands/ PBL- Netherlands environmental assessment agency, July 2014 http://www.pbl.nl/en Delta work online, July 2014 http://www.deltawerken.com/English/10.html?setlanguage=en History of flooding, July 2014 http://architecture.mit.edu/class/nature/archive/student_projects/2006/analivia/11.308/floods.html National library of Netherlands, July 2014 http://www.kb.nl/bladerboeken/atlas-de-wit Memory of the Netherlands: The Netherlands Maritime Museum Amsterdam museum, July 2014 http://www.geheugenvannederland.nl/?/en/homepage Flooding/ Floodcom, July 2014 http://www.floodcom.eu EEA- European environment agency, July 2014 http://www.eea.europa.eu PBL- Netherlands environmental assessment agency, July 2014 http://www.pbl.nl/en/dossiers/Climatechange/content/correction-wording-flood-risks coastal adaptation. Eu, August 2014 http://www.coastaladaptation.eu/index.php/en/9-experiences-3/belgian-coast/109-climate-change-driversand-coastal-management IMCORE (innovative management for Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s changing coastal resource), August 2014 http://www.imcore.eu Population/ populationdata.net, August 2014 http://ingressportal.com( population map) Delta net, August 2014 http://www.deltanet-project.eu/homepage European environment agency, August 2014 http://www.eea.europa.eu Transportation/ Coast tram, August 2014 http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/T_De-Lijn_Kusttram.html International Union of Railways (UIC), August 2014 http://www.uic.org James Ensor online museum http://jamesensor.vlaamsekunstcollectie.be/nl

[Map] Ferraris map (Belgium) Cassini map (France) Google map2014 Google Earth 2014 Bing map 2014

-10000

0

500

1000

1300

1700

1900