SS
S.H. Swinkels
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Reframing Brussels' Canal zone
From path dependence to path renewal
Many western European countries have undergone the process of deindustrialisation. The has resulted in a changed economy focused on knowledge. This went hand in hand with urbanisation, resulting in explosive population growth in many cities. In combination with the rise of neoliberal planning made cities an attractive investment object. All three of these trends have caused many industrial areas to be transformed in often glamorous projects
to revamp cities images. While aesthetically improving cities, it has also often started or intensified processes of gentrification. The canal zone of Brussels however seems to be very stable in this regard, and has not undergone
any big transformation. My hypothesis is that this could be attributed to strong path dependencies within the area, which expresses itself in three ways: the segregated social profile, the industrial land use and its governance fragmentation. Often neoliberal planning treats these types of path dependent location as a sort of ‘tabula rasa’ that can be used to maximise profits and thus deals with these path dependencies by path breaking: demolishing urban fabric and displacing people and/or economic functions. Due to the fact that these path dependencies seem quite strong in Brussels and have not yet undergone such a transformation, makes it a unique opportunity to look at a different approach of urban development. Approaching these path dependencies from the perspective of path renewal, these could be starting points for a just, productive and place-based development. How can a just, productive and place-based development be achieved in the Canal zone of Brussels, utilizing the area’s path dependencies
through path renewal? First the past, present and future for the canal zone will be analysed to see how these dependencies have and possibly will develop. After that a synthesis will be made from which values are derived. Based on these values a vision and strategic framework will be constructed, which will be tested on case study sites. This strategy is underpinned by a pattern language which is used to explore pathways to path renewal. Ultimately this strategy aims to intensify the local economy, empower local communities and preserve spatial identity. ...
to revamp cities images. While aesthetically improving cities, it has also often started or intensified processes of gentrification. The canal zone of Brussels however seems to be very stable in this regard, and has not undergone
any big transformation. My hypothesis is that this could be attributed to strong path dependencies within the area, which expresses itself in three ways: the segregated social profile, the industrial land use and its governance fragmentation. Often neoliberal planning treats these types of path dependent location as a sort of ‘tabula rasa’ that can be used to maximise profits and thus deals with these path dependencies by path breaking: demolishing urban fabric and displacing people and/or economic functions. Due to the fact that these path dependencies seem quite strong in Brussels and have not yet undergone such a transformation, makes it a unique opportunity to look at a different approach of urban development. Approaching these path dependencies from the perspective of path renewal, these could be starting points for a just, productive and place-based development. How can a just, productive and place-based development be achieved in the Canal zone of Brussels, utilizing the area’s path dependencies
through path renewal? First the past, present and future for the canal zone will be analysed to see how these dependencies have and possibly will develop. After that a synthesis will be made from which values are derived. Based on these values a vision and strategic framework will be constructed, which will be tested on case study sites. This strategy is underpinned by a pattern language which is used to explore pathways to path renewal. Ultimately this strategy aims to intensify the local economy, empower local communities and preserve spatial identity. ...
Many western European countries have undergone the process of deindustrialisation. The has resulted in a changed economy focused on knowledge. This went hand in hand with urbanisation, resulting in explosive population growth in many cities. In combination with the rise of neoliberal planning made cities an attractive investment object. All three of these trends have caused many industrial areas to be transformed in often glamorous projects
to revamp cities images. While aesthetically improving cities, it has also often started or intensified processes of gentrification. The canal zone of Brussels however seems to be very stable in this regard, and has not undergone
any big transformation. My hypothesis is that this could be attributed to strong path dependencies within the area, which expresses itself in three ways: the segregated social profile, the industrial land use and its governance fragmentation. Often neoliberal planning treats these types of path dependent location as a sort of ‘tabula rasa’ that can be used to maximise profits and thus deals with these path dependencies by path breaking: demolishing urban fabric and displacing people and/or economic functions. Due to the fact that these path dependencies seem quite strong in Brussels and have not yet undergone such a transformation, makes it a unique opportunity to look at a different approach of urban development. Approaching these path dependencies from the perspective of path renewal, these could be starting points for a just, productive and place-based development. How can a just, productive and place-based development be achieved in the Canal zone of Brussels, utilizing the area’s path dependencies
through path renewal? First the past, present and future for the canal zone will be analysed to see how these dependencies have and possibly will develop. After that a synthesis will be made from which values are derived. Based on these values a vision and strategic framework will be constructed, which will be tested on case study sites. This strategy is underpinned by a pattern language which is used to explore pathways to path renewal. Ultimately this strategy aims to intensify the local economy, empower local communities and preserve spatial identity.
to revamp cities images. While aesthetically improving cities, it has also often started or intensified processes of gentrification. The canal zone of Brussels however seems to be very stable in this regard, and has not undergone
any big transformation. My hypothesis is that this could be attributed to strong path dependencies within the area, which expresses itself in three ways: the segregated social profile, the industrial land use and its governance fragmentation. Often neoliberal planning treats these types of path dependent location as a sort of ‘tabula rasa’ that can be used to maximise profits and thus deals with these path dependencies by path breaking: demolishing urban fabric and displacing people and/or economic functions. Due to the fact that these path dependencies seem quite strong in Brussels and have not yet undergone such a transformation, makes it a unique opportunity to look at a different approach of urban development. Approaching these path dependencies from the perspective of path renewal, these could be starting points for a just, productive and place-based development. How can a just, productive and place-based development be achieved in the Canal zone of Brussels, utilizing the area’s path dependencies
through path renewal? First the past, present and future for the canal zone will be analysed to see how these dependencies have and possibly will develop. After that a synthesis will be made from which values are derived. Based on these values a vision and strategic framework will be constructed, which will be tested on case study sites. This strategy is underpinned by a pattern language which is used to explore pathways to path renewal. Ultimately this strategy aims to intensify the local economy, empower local communities and preserve spatial identity.
FLUX
Rethinking flows and networks to spark the transition towards a circular construction sector
Student report
(2021)
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M. Cortes Macias, T.J. van Daalhuizen, P. Nooteboom, S.H. Swinkels, R.J.A. de Wolf, L. Qu, A. Wandl, C.E.L. Newton
The large demand for homes in the province of Zuid-Holland, population growth and urbanisation result in a huge demand for raw materials to be used in the construction sector. The next 20 years many new buildings will have to be built to support current trends. Given the fact that 50 percent of all extracted non-renewable resources is accounted by the construction sector, a shift towards a bio-based circular system is necessary. In the province Zuid-Holland, one of the fastest growing urban areas within the Netherlands, there is a missing link between circular initiatives, knowledge and data. The question that comes up is; how can a symbiosis of stakeholders and resources contribute to a circular construction sector? An analysis of the current situation of stakeholders and flows of resources has been made and potential spatial conflicts were understood. Whereafter the analysis of trends and requirements to transition into a circular construction sector has been made. This results in a new understanding of the spatial structure of the province, focussing on the use of waterways as a backbone to support the transition. This will lead to circular neighbourhoods connected by the water. With Flux we try to reform the current construction sector into a circular one by the year of 2050, while taking into account social and spatial justice. The shift to this new structure, supported by the waterways, can facilitate a change to a circular construction sector. Besides this it will also give the Province a new identity and structural element for future improvements toward a circular economy, lifting the idea of circularity to a territorial level.
...
The large demand for homes in the province of Zuid-Holland, population growth and urbanisation result in a huge demand for raw materials to be used in the construction sector. The next 20 years many new buildings will have to be built to support current trends. Given the fact that 50 percent of all extracted non-renewable resources is accounted by the construction sector, a shift towards a bio-based circular system is necessary. In the province Zuid-Holland, one of the fastest growing urban areas within the Netherlands, there is a missing link between circular initiatives, knowledge and data. The question that comes up is; how can a symbiosis of stakeholders and resources contribute to a circular construction sector? An analysis of the current situation of stakeholders and flows of resources has been made and potential spatial conflicts were understood. Whereafter the analysis of trends and requirements to transition into a circular construction sector has been made. This results in a new understanding of the spatial structure of the province, focussing on the use of waterways as a backbone to support the transition. This will lead to circular neighbourhoods connected by the water. With Flux we try to reform the current construction sector into a circular one by the year of 2050, while taking into account social and spatial justice. The shift to this new structure, supported by the waterways, can facilitate a change to a circular construction sector. Besides this it will also give the Province a new identity and structural element for future improvements toward a circular economy, lifting the idea of circularity to a territorial level.