JH

J.M. Hulst

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2 records found

Investigating the contribution of community capital to socio-economic development in informal settlements in Nairobi

Despite the steady growth of the Kenyan economy, poverty rates remain high and informal settlements keep expanding. The economic and spatial inequality in the country is increasing. The informal settlement of Kibera, in Nairobi, is the largest in Kenya and struggles to establish sustainable socio-economic development for its residents. The aim of this research is to unravel the causes for the persisting socio-economic disparity and how they can be overcome. This is achieved by investigating a bottom-up approach of development by means of the concept of community capital. The result is an inclusive urban strategy to promote sustainable socio-economic development in marginalised communities. The research consists of an exploration of the theory of community capital, combined with physical, socio-economic and political analysis. It involves explorative research to methods to effectively achieve development. Essential to the creation of the strategy, is the establishment of a community-based approach, which is key to effective and sustainable co-production. The strategy is composed of several spatial interventions, which can be implemented inside the settlement. They include shared plots, active streets and community centres. Their main function is to enhance the creation of community capital, through building trust and a sense of community among residents, while providing basic services and public space. Improved community capital leads to better collaboration, higher levels of safety and a stronger political voice. These elements are fundamental for enabling sustainable, socio-economic development and diminishing inequality in the city. ...

Regenerative decontamination design for industries in the N.W.E DELTA region

Although the industrial release of pollutant substances into North West European river delta has been decreasing over the last decades, The Netherlands still has one of the worst water qualities in Europe. In this strategic regional design we aim to improve the quality, quantity and distribution of water through the concept of sustainable land use. Industrial waste, waste water and increasing demand for land are the main pressures on our river water system. Considering the future risk of flood and drought there is also a big insecurity about our water quantity. There will be a need for more space and fair use of our water system. The goal is to restore the water quality in the North West European river delta and secure a sufficient water quantity for future use, flood protection and a fair distribution of the water available. In this report research by design is used to develop a spatial vision and spatial strategy that will create spatial water justice and with that a healthy river landscape. There are three themes related to spatial water justice: water quantity, quality and distribution. To meet sufficient standards for these three themes there are three important concepts: a circular industrial water system, decontamination and room for the rivers. All of them deal with the broader concept of sustainable land use. Sustainable land use is the fair and balanced distribution of land and environmental resources. This report shows a regenerative decontamination design for the North West European river delta. It is the development of a catalog of interventions that can be used in the whole river basin. Many small changes make a big difference in an interconnected system like a river basin. Every small intervention that will help clean the water, adds to the whole system and changes the whole system into a healthy and just river landscape. Together with this catalog there is a manual where the interventions are connected to spatial qualities of a specific location. The catalog and manual have been implemented for the case of South - Holland / Rivierenland. This example shows how we assure a sufficient water quality, quantity and fair distribution of water in a long-term perspective in the North West European Delta region. ...