Make Compact Work

Abstract

What is the future of urban industrial land? This is a challenge urban design and planning field has only just started to undertake. Currently, the differentiation between the urban core as the front stage zone for human residence and entertainment versus the rural periphery as the backstage zone for production, logistics and energy harvesting is becoming more distinct. The restructuring of urban economies away from manufacturing and toward services has resulted in divided labour markets that generate few moderate income jobs and has generated new demand for urban living. This is putting pressure on the diversity and the social inclusiveness of cities. Even though industries have become cleaner and safer due to new technological developments, for many cities and planners adopting compact city strategies and urban revitalisation is associated with mixed-use of commercial and residential redevelopment only. By not including industries, current development is contributing to industrial suburban sprawl. Often, the housing demand is met by the transformation of former industrial land into residential areas or mixed-use environments. As increasing housing demands in cities drive up land prices, businesses have difficulty finding affordable work spaces. This way suitable industrial land in cities remains unaddressed and becomes increasingly scarce. Finding out what roles industries should have in the city is a new challenge relevant in many metropolitan areas. Manufacturing and services are interrelated and for each to thrive, both need to be present. At present, there is not enough knowledge on how to incorporate industries in dense urban environments in a socially acceptable, liveable and sustainable way. The perception of industry needs to change in the minds of people, especially of those involved in urban development, for it to regain its role as a good productive member of the city. As the Zaantreek is the oldest industrial region in the World, it has a long tradition of living in close proximity to industries. It has even become part of the identity of the region. As a result there is a strong cultural and societal acceptance of industries. At the same time the municipality of Zaanstad has no expansion options left because of the surrounding natural reserves and nuisance contours of Schiphol and the Western Harbour of Amsterdam. Therefore, it is an ideal location to investigate how urban industrial integration in cities can be combined with other functions to achieve densification and create qualitative live work environments. In this thesis, spatial qualities or patterns of live work environments are explored and developed. Scenarios are developed for Zaanstad in terms of future economic trends and densification possibilities to eventually assess the adaptive capacity of the design. The designs are developed by applying the patterns on location in the framework of the scenarios. In this way, patterns are developed that contribute to better spatial organisation and transitions of functions and create qualitative live work environments. All together, the use of patterns to steer urban design and as a strategic planning method is reflected upon.