Urban environments in the Netherlands are under a lot of pressure. Deca des of urbanization, emitting greenhouse gasses and diminishing ecology have created far going consequences for our living environments. Cities are experiencing increasing heatwaves, heavier and more frequent rain fall, social problems are getting more and more severe, and congestion is causing much needed space to be taken to widen roads mostly for individual car users.
This research gives an insight in a new potential way of designing our public space that prioritizes sustainable mobility and frees up space for climate and ecological interventions. The research includes a design for Delfshaven, one of the densest neighbourhoods of the Netherlands. The design integrates ecological, mobility, social and climate adaptive so lutions that benefit both the natural world as well as the human world significantly. The project achieves un-paving around 45% of public space and creating a continuous network of walkable natural spaces. Special attention is paid to kids, aiming to rejuvenate the idea of kids playing out side and developing important social skills at a young age. The nature-in clusive design has the potential to increase physical- and mental health of all residents significantly. This does not only benefit us directly but can theoretically reduce healthcare costs and earn back funds needed for the transformation. Timeframes and limitations are included to create a comprehensive vision for the future. Overall, the project gives a full image of what the future of Dutch cities could look like and how we can benefit from this change. ... Read more

At the moment, 23,5% of total waste production in the Netherlands comes from the construction sector. Therefore, in view of international agreements and the developing climate crisis, by 2050 this construction- and demolition sector should be transformed into a circular system that limits CO2 severely. It is important to bear in mind that current waste collection and waste treatment in the Netherlands are often separated and that it is a system that does not integrate social and spatial aspects, such as education or embeddedness in the urban fabric. These processes lack in optimal use of existing spatial systems in order to stimulate a sustainable circular flow of materials. In order to tackle this problem, we envision to integrate several systems of existing waste collection stations and treatment facilities and involve citizens in the waste system rejuvenation. In order to achieve this, we build upon the existing network of waste collection stations, by transforming it into a multi-functional system. Adding social values to the existing systems such as educational facilities and maker spaces improves their spatial quality and contributes to more public awareness about these systems. In order to achieve this, we propose to integrate systems into the urban fabric and improve the dialogue with the cities in the South Holland region. However, the unique identity of each location requires a multi-layered approach, consisting of central hubs and local- and flexible spokes. The central hubs emphasize logistical optimization of circular material processes, while the local and flexible spokes focus more on public awareness creation. The local spokes do so through integration with the city and the flexible spokes with a more adaptable character by being related to construction sites. To determine the functions and characteristics of each site, the regional strategy will take into account all individual spatial, environmental, social, and technical characteristics in order to achieve the best interaction between them. The multi-scale integration and rejuvenation of the system improve the efficiency and the sustainability of waste collection, with an impact on the spatial qualities of the waste collection stations. In turn, this leads to added social values and crucial society-wide awareness for the transition and active engagement of citizens in the circular economy. ... Read more