Improving the quality of urban spaces has always been the central concern for the urban designers. Street as the typical type of public spaces comprises more than 80% of public space in cities, but they often fail to provide a space where people can safely walk, bicycle and socialize, this mainly because cars dramatically occupies most street spaces, street is no longer a social space but just traffic corridor. Automated vehicle as the new technological regime will allow organizing transport supply in a radically different way, especially when fully automated vehicle are applied. Peple will be released from drving and road infrstructure will also change. It is a huge opportunity to bring street back to more people-oriented design.

I choose Amsterdam-zuidoost, a typical area with low quality of street as my design target, trying to be an eye-opener to figure out To what extent and in what way can automated vehicle be a trigger to transform automobile-oriented street into people-oriented street when 100% used.

I build up my two extreme scenarios according to different policy, also street protypes under these two scenarios. In scenario 1, SYMBIOSIS STREET,we can see a more vivid future street with diverse functions and activities, also more sustainable environment. If we are lead to this condition, strict rules for AVs and our travel behavior should be accepted, apart from this, more taxes regarding travel miles, ownership will also be inevitable.On the other hand, we will have more efficient and convenient public transport system, more equal society and less social segragation. While this needs Top-down policy and coorperation of AV companies and everyone of us. In scenario 2,FLUID STREET, there will be freedom for everyone to choose their own way to travel, loose policy will encourage indivadual ownership and long travel miles and time on streets. To garuntee the efficiency and safety, there will be no more interactions between people and AVs, people will across street by cars, moving projects provide them with everything and space they need for daily life, their activities actually are restricted in cars, their neighborhoods and different buildings. This kind of new lifestyle makes people rely much more on vehicles, causing privacy and internect safety concerns, and it is unfair for people who cannot afford AVs and rely on public transportation. If we let AVs go, this is probably our future. And it is our choose to lead to which senario.
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The Amsterdam Metropolitan area, and especially Amsterdam city, attracts large amounts of people due to the diverse economy opportunities, cultural and recreational activities, and the strong connection of the region by public transport and road network. The need for space, resources, and mobility are increasing and will keep increasing due to the growth of population and, thus, the rise of demand. This unbalanced distribution requires full use of spaces and resources.

The main focus of the project is to identify what causes this unbalanced distribution by researching the different densities of the region, in order to make the region more stable and move it towards the circular economy. At the same time, the project focuses on the spatial conditions of the different neighbourhoods and tries to increase the livability levels in order for the general quality of life of the citizens will be improved. The main tool that we used during our research, but also later on the vision and strategy plan, is density. Firstly, we analyze the region by understating what the different densities that can be found in it are, and how they work. Afterwards, the focus shifts to the analysis of the different neighborhoods, trying to determinate and understand the different densities that can be found in the small scale. Finally, we try to find what opportunities and potential do these densities create for the different neighborhoods.

By analyzing the different densities and typologies in the region, we highlight the importance of sharing spaces in terms of facilities, transportation, and waste management for the inhabitants, in order to help AMA move towards a more sustainable and balanced future direction.

The innovations that we make depend on the existing situation, the density, and the character of the city. Taking into account these aspects and the regional analysis, we decide what needs to be densified in terms of facilities. These new density developments either make the existing identities of the city stronger, or, in the cases of lack of identity, we propose new ones to be adopted.

This interpretations will release the pressure on Amsterdam city, balance the region, create more livable spaces, and move the AMA towards circularity. ... Read more