Rotterdam as Urban Tidescape

Abstract

The increasing popularity of the city of Rotterdam has resulted in a number of spatial and ecological challenges. Public space is already scarce north of the Nieuwe Maas, with demand increasing due to densification, and the large amount of paved surface results in heat stress. Despite harbour functions having shifted from the city centre towards the North Sea, quays within the centre remain paved; creating a hard boundary between people and river. Additionally, main city boulevards are intersected by the traffic barrier of Westblaak-Blaak, which contains eight lanes of car traffic and subsequently results in dangerous and unattractive intersections (e.g. Eendrachtsplein). Furthermore, natural habitat loss has resulted in a biodiversity crisis affecting the entire ecosystem.

This research project, Rotterdam as Urban Tidescape, explores the potential of exploiting the unique tidal characteristics of the Nieuwe Maas within an urban design for Westblaak-Blaak, Rotterdam, with the goal of transforming it into a resilient and dynamic public space for people and animals alike, whilst contributing to the mobility transition and restoring biodiversity.

Through the design process, researching an integral solution to the aforementioned challenges, it was found that incorporating tidal nature within the urban area would benefit people in a variety of ways (e.g. providing healthier public space, creating unique experiences, and reducing heat stress). Natural gradients as a result of tidal cycles provide an array of animals with more and unique (tidal) habitats, which contributes to countering the biodiversity crisis. By adding to the mobility transition of Rotterdam through a significant reduction of (the surface for) car traffic, the resulting freed up space can be transformed into a healthier urban environment - from rooftop to underwater.

With the unique tidal habitats, the migration of animals, and the increasing salinity of the river water over time, Westblaak-Blaak has the potential to become a resilient and dynamic hotspot which evolves along the day, throughout the seasons, and over the years. Key findings have been collected into an Urban Tidescape Toolkit for reference within similar urban landscape design assignments, and an overview of essentially endangered red-listed and icon species along with their respective habitats has been enclosed.