Coastal Conditions

Abstract

How to, a landscape architect, design with coastal natural processes? Coastal areas have stronger and more fluctuating natural variables than many sites in more sheltered areas. Understanding the past, present, and future form of these processes will allow the designer to shape a form and program that works with the site-specific geomorphological processes. A site was located from which to approach this question. The DeltaWorks were created in the Netherlands between 1940-1971, The Haringvliet sluice, designed as a closed sluice, has come under discussion since the in 2000 the Netherlands decided to restore connections between river and sea as part of a European agreement, and partially open the Haringvliet sluice. Because of farmers’ outcry over the saltwater influx, the decision was withdrawn in 2010 and the sluices are now usually closed. Future scenarios are being proposed in the light of sea level rise and ‘room for the river’ projects, and one example shows an island on the outside of the more open sluice. This island was chosen to be designed in this research project. From this scenario comes the design question: How can we use the partial opening of the Haringvliet sluice to 1. fulfill the estuarine ecological landscape potential 2. protect the Dutch coast from excessive saltwater intake and storms and 3. offer landscape architectural qualities for the region - while working with the coastal natural processes? This graduation project demonstrates how one can create landscape architectural designs in coastal areas that work with natural processes and solve national environmental resolutions and coastal issues.