Compact Nature for Compact Cities: Towards an urban nature network in streets and on buildings that enhances ecological values and well-being, a Rotterdam case study

As cities are getting denser and larger, space for conventional green features is diminishing. Cities without green alienate people from nature, deteriorate ecological systems and directly harm personal well-being. Limited open areas and many sealed surfaces in today’s cities raise the need for a renewed green space approach that fits in an...

Symbiotic Urban Voids: A Resilient Ecological Framework for Rotterdam through its Urban Voids

The Rotterdam urban fabric is built in an area of amalgamation of very interesting landscape conditions surrounding it. Defined by the rich natural and cultural history, this structure has been home to different habitats for a variety of flora and fauna. However, the urban core disconnects these areas due to the lack of diverse ecological green...

Rotterdam as Urban Tidescape: Transforming Westblaak-Blaak, Rotterdam into a resilient and dynamic public space for people and animals alike, whilst contributing to the mobility transition and restoring biodiversity; all through the unique tidal characteristics of the Nieuwe Maas

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...

Growing Society: The application of agroecology in public space design to tackle environmental and social issues

In this thesis report, research and landscape architecture design are integrated to formulate guiding principles to combat environmental and social issues in urban areas through the case-study of Lombardijen, a neighbourhood in the south of Rotterdam. <br/>In the recently published Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’ climate report, the...

In Between Nature: Nature-based placemaking for Rotterdam's territories in-between

Territories in-between (TiB) have gained increased attention the past decades among researchers in the field of urban planning and design. These territories are identified as territories somewhere in-between the urban and rural. Typical land uses in the TiB are warehouses, sport complexes, allotment gardens and small-scale industrial activities....

Dissolving Distinction: Making the city of Rotterdam part of nature

Challenges such as urbanization and climate change effect our urban environments. There is an urge to deal with these challenges and develop climate resilient cities. The natural environment is able to adapt to changing circumstances and creating a city as part of nature could contribute to resilience. The city of Rotterdam has lost its...

Broadened inclusiveness for urban renewal: A spatial design contributing to ecological justice for Carnisse. Rotterdam

The complex relationship between humans and the natural world is still visible in 2023s urban planning: a city is a place for humans, and nature gives space to all non-human species. The anthropocentric perspective within the urban environment puts humans above non-human nature. This is also the case within urban renewal in the Netherlands,...