The Fine Dutch Tradition

Abstract

Publication of the exhibition and symposium on water adaptive urban planning and architecture in Bangkok. The Urban Fine Dutch Tradition is a dynamic tradition of making urban designs using the parameters of the natural system – incorperating in an efficient way the hydrological cycle, the soil and subsurface conditions, technology and urban development opportunities. Sustainability is the capacity of making a sensible choice for enabling technology taking a perspective from the natural system to design the human system. Urban design is the trait-d’unions between the natural and the human system. The Dutch history of water management and urban design shows great examples of how this has been done until the Industrial Revolution. In the 20th century, segregation from the natural system took place, overruling it with manipulating technology. Today, a new relationship between technology, the natural system and urban design is sought for in order to responding to the changing climate and successively the hydrological system successively. This essay shows the evolution of this relationship in six phases. In every phase a short visit to Bangkok is made.