From Infrastructure to Flowscape

Abstract

The theme of the landscape architecture graduation lab is “Flowscape”. It states the landscape infrastructure is not only a technical structure but also a carrier of natural and urban processes. It is proposed to solve the environmental problems and adapt to the surroundings as well as providing the appropriate environmental conditions for the long-term dynamic natural and urban development. (Nijhuis, S and Jauslin, D., 2015). Transforming the Houtribdijk into an operative lanscape structure as the subject is under the guiding of “Flowscape” concept. The Houtribdijk is located between two different eco-system-Ijsselmeer and Markermeer as well as two different urban tissues-Enkhuizen and Lelystad. There are highly dynamic nature processes and urban development happening in this area. However, the Houtribdijk was designed to make the southwestern polder. Since that polder plan was canceled, the Houtribdijk, this fixed infrastructure has not fit into the environment any more. For example, the Houtribdijk blocks two lakes (the Ijsselmeer and the Markermeer) which results in an unbalanced eco-system. Moreover, it only carries a high-speed linear traffic line between Enkhuizen and Lelystad without a place for people to stay and enjoy the open horizon. So I choose this location to apply the “Flowscape” theme in order to transform the Houtribdijk into an operative landscape infrastructure, which provides a coherence landscape condition for nature and urban development while considering ecologic, technical, architectural and social aspects.