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20 records found
1
Space for Disorientation
Finding, creating and allowing other urban directions
Through understanding disorientation not only as an emotional mode, but as a concept that spans phenomenology, philosophy and spatial theory, several situated interventions imagine alternative ways of use, design and projection within the context of the Parisian Historical Axis. They show how spatial disorientation (as a design approach) could serve to expose imposed systems, to question inequitable dynamics and to create openings for other ways of living together. Ultimately, it calls for a reconsideration of the position of architecture and the role of the practitioner in scripting and guiding openings in dialogues between orientation, disorientation and re-orientation. In doing so, we could find other urban directions that should be supported by our architectural practices through open-mindedness, care and allowance: to embrace the unexpected turn, to value other interpretations and to make space for difficulties beyond, and against, normativity. ...
Through understanding disorientation not only as an emotional mode, but as a concept that spans phenomenology, philosophy and spatial theory, several situated interventions imagine alternative ways of use, design and projection within the context of the Parisian Historical Axis. They show how spatial disorientation (as a design approach) could serve to expose imposed systems, to question inequitable dynamics and to create openings for other ways of living together. Ultimately, it calls for a reconsideration of the position of architecture and the role of the practitioner in scripting and guiding openings in dialogues between orientation, disorientation and re-orientation. In doing so, we could find other urban directions that should be supported by our architectural practices through open-mindedness, care and allowance: to embrace the unexpected turn, to value other interpretations and to make space for difficulties beyond, and against, normativity.
The Quaker Project at Brigflatts
Re-activating a spiritually significant site in the Yorkshire Dales
This research aims to bridge theory and practice by developing methods for attuning to a location and its inhabitants. It focuses on ways to become attuned to a place and people, in order to imagine spaces empathically and tailor architecture to the affective qualities of a place.
To best develop methods that identify these qualities, this research looks at familiar places, that is, places we assume to know well and therefore may overlook distinctive features. Accordingly, I have focussed on Brigflatts, my childhood neighbourhood in rural England.
I develop methods for attuning in two ways. First, by drawing upon three fields and their related methods: cognitive science and sensory mapping; anthropology and collaborative design ethnography; and architecture and reflections on atmospheres. Second, by creating physical objects that translate qualities and experiences of place into an interactive form.
My exploration of Brigflatts culminates in four large-format paintings that express what I became attuned to. I deconstruct and analyse these paintings to indicate how the on-site activities provided insights into the affective qualities of the location.
While this research looked at a familiar, rural location, I show how the methods elaborated at Brigflatts can be adapted to less familiar and urban environments. I discuss their broader application through a set of guiding principles for methods of attunement.
The research findings feed into a design project set at Brigflatts. “The Quaker Project at Brigflatts” seeks to re-activate a historically and spiritually significant site while balancing the needs of the faith group, the national park planning authority, and the locals living nearby.
Through this project, I explore how architecture can be attuned to a place and a people – how social behaviours, material bodies, and affective qualities can inform the design of new spaces and new experiences of the site and the protected landscape. I ground this project in a real-life scenario, responding to the Quaker testimonies and the National Park’s development requirements. In doing so, I envision a future of development in the Yorkshire Dales that protects cultural heritage, progresses building techniques, and offers a contemporary architecture attuned to its locality. ...
This research aims to bridge theory and practice by developing methods for attuning to a location and its inhabitants. It focuses on ways to become attuned to a place and people, in order to imagine spaces empathically and tailor architecture to the affective qualities of a place.
To best develop methods that identify these qualities, this research looks at familiar places, that is, places we assume to know well and therefore may overlook distinctive features. Accordingly, I have focussed on Brigflatts, my childhood neighbourhood in rural England.
I develop methods for attuning in two ways. First, by drawing upon three fields and their related methods: cognitive science and sensory mapping; anthropology and collaborative design ethnography; and architecture and reflections on atmospheres. Second, by creating physical objects that translate qualities and experiences of place into an interactive form.
My exploration of Brigflatts culminates in four large-format paintings that express what I became attuned to. I deconstruct and analyse these paintings to indicate how the on-site activities provided insights into the affective qualities of the location.
While this research looked at a familiar, rural location, I show how the methods elaborated at Brigflatts can be adapted to less familiar and urban environments. I discuss their broader application through a set of guiding principles for methods of attunement.
The research findings feed into a design project set at Brigflatts. “The Quaker Project at Brigflatts” seeks to re-activate a historically and spiritually significant site while balancing the needs of the faith group, the national park planning authority, and the locals living nearby.
Through this project, I explore how architecture can be attuned to a place and a people – how social behaviours, material bodies, and affective qualities can inform the design of new spaces and new experiences of the site and the protected landscape. I ground this project in a real-life scenario, responding to the Quaker testimonies and the National Park’s development requirements. In doing so, I envision a future of development in the Yorkshire Dales that protects cultural heritage, progresses building techniques, and offers a contemporary architecture attuned to its locality.
The Impact of A River Island
Regenerating the middle stream of the Danube river system in Novi Sad, Vojvodina
The Danube river is Europe’s second largest and flows east from Germany to the Black sea through diverse foothills and plains. On the river bank of the midstream in the Vojvodina region, focus area of this thesis, the city of Novi Sad lies. As a result of agricultural practice and urban settlements in the former floodplain, the Danube river became constrained. On the left bank of the Danube at Novi Sad, a relic of the dynamic midstream river processes lies, a river island called Kamenička ada.
In the context of Novi Sad, the human impact on the river landscape is evident and has led to a polluted and partly chopped up system with cut-off floodplains. Less space is left for the riparian zone and the river channels, which means increase of flood risk. Important dynamic river processes, such as erosion, sedimentation and occasional floodings are undermined in these areas, resulting in deteriorating ecological quality and a static environment. The former characteristic braided river with multiple channels and river islands have become a rare sight.
Focus lies on tackling three main issues related to the water, the ecology and the culture: the components that form the layered landscape. The first issue is related to the unbalanced amount of fresh water, which means the flood risk and the droughts. The second focus is the loss of the typical braided system with the riparian ecological zone. At last, the relationship between the people of Novi Sad and its public space is highlighted: the disconnection between the locals and the river floodplain. Due to the complexity of ownership of public space in the Yugoslavia period, the connection is neglected.
Kamenička ada, a former river island, has the potential to mitigate these issues and become a project example for spatial development based on a landscape approach. Therefore, the aim is of this thesis is to develop a landscape-based regeneration strategy for the Danube at Novi Sad and to demonstrate the potential of a landscape approach for designing a social-ecological inclusive and flood proof island, Kamenička Ada.
The issues are tackled by using a landscape approach, which takes the landscape structure and processes as foundation for spatial development. From this approach the importance of nature based solutions are understood and applied, together with an understanding of urban and ecological resilience and the interconnections in the river system. The layers of the landscape, the water, the ecology and culture are guiding principles throughout the research.
The result of this research is an analysis and understanding of the challenges and potentials for the spatial development of Novi Sad and the translation of four spatial strategies to design principles. Secondly an application in the form of a strategic vision for the river island Kamenička ada and a reflection on the connection of the river island to the bigger context. Kamenička ada becomes an example for landscape based and resilient spatial development in the urban context of the river for the midstream of the Danube. ...
The Danube river is Europe’s second largest and flows east from Germany to the Black sea through diverse foothills and plains. On the river bank of the midstream in the Vojvodina region, focus area of this thesis, the city of Novi Sad lies. As a result of agricultural practice and urban settlements in the former floodplain, the Danube river became constrained. On the left bank of the Danube at Novi Sad, a relic of the dynamic midstream river processes lies, a river island called Kamenička ada.
In the context of Novi Sad, the human impact on the river landscape is evident and has led to a polluted and partly chopped up system with cut-off floodplains. Less space is left for the riparian zone and the river channels, which means increase of flood risk. Important dynamic river processes, such as erosion, sedimentation and occasional floodings are undermined in these areas, resulting in deteriorating ecological quality and a static environment. The former characteristic braided river with multiple channels and river islands have become a rare sight.
Focus lies on tackling three main issues related to the water, the ecology and the culture: the components that form the layered landscape. The first issue is related to the unbalanced amount of fresh water, which means the flood risk and the droughts. The second focus is the loss of the typical braided system with the riparian ecological zone. At last, the relationship between the people of Novi Sad and its public space is highlighted: the disconnection between the locals and the river floodplain. Due to the complexity of ownership of public space in the Yugoslavia period, the connection is neglected.
Kamenička ada, a former river island, has the potential to mitigate these issues and become a project example for spatial development based on a landscape approach. Therefore, the aim is of this thesis is to develop a landscape-based regeneration strategy for the Danube at Novi Sad and to demonstrate the potential of a landscape approach for designing a social-ecological inclusive and flood proof island, Kamenička Ada.
The issues are tackled by using a landscape approach, which takes the landscape structure and processes as foundation for spatial development. From this approach the importance of nature based solutions are understood and applied, together with an understanding of urban and ecological resilience and the interconnections in the river system. The layers of the landscape, the water, the ecology and culture are guiding principles throughout the research.
The result of this research is an analysis and understanding of the challenges and potentials for the spatial development of Novi Sad and the translation of four spatial strategies to design principles. Secondly an application in the form of a strategic vision for the river island Kamenička ada and a reflection on the connection of the river island to the bigger context. Kamenička ada becomes an example for landscape based and resilient spatial development in the urban context of the river for the midstream of the Danube.
The City Stack
A Morphology-Based City Analysis and Generation Framework
To encode the captured urban form, the typology grid was introduced, which allows for straightforward comparison between cities and links the analysis phase with the generation phase. While this approach simplifies complex urban patterns for better understanding, it may oversimplify details needed for effective city regeneration, needing future research into parameterizing the grid.
The simulated annealing optimization technique was applied to generate new city models to produce typology grids resembling those of actual cities. It proved a promising method, with relatively plausible results from just a few shape-based rules in the objective function. Computation time and grid size were a limiting factor, ruling out real-time use. The road and building generation methods based on the typology grid and city stack framework demonstrated the approach’s feasibility but indicated that further refinement is necessary.
Further contributions by this thesis are an open source command line tool for analyzing the urban form real-life cities based on publicly available geospatial data, a proof of concept tool for generating cities, and a publicly available dataset of the analyzed cities.
In conclusion, the city stack framework and typology grids offer a viable method for captur- ing and generating urban form and can be used as a starting point for future research. ...
To encode the captured urban form, the typology grid was introduced, which allows for straightforward comparison between cities and links the analysis phase with the generation phase. While this approach simplifies complex urban patterns for better understanding, it may oversimplify details needed for effective city regeneration, needing future research into parameterizing the grid.
The simulated annealing optimization technique was applied to generate new city models to produce typology grids resembling those of actual cities. It proved a promising method, with relatively plausible results from just a few shape-based rules in the objective function. Computation time and grid size were a limiting factor, ruling out real-time use. The road and building generation methods based on the typology grid and city stack framework demonstrated the approach’s feasibility but indicated that further refinement is necessary.
Further contributions by this thesis are an open source command line tool for analyzing the urban form real-life cities based on publicly available geospatial data, a proof of concept tool for generating cities, and a publicly available dataset of the analyzed cities.
In conclusion, the city stack framework and typology grids offer a viable method for captur- ing and generating urban form and can be used as a starting point for future research.
Permeating Socio-Ecological Walls
Addressing the Multi-Dimensional Inequality in the 'City of Walls' through Environmental Justice
Addressing these socio-environmental inequalities requires the establishment of a foundation of ecological integrity, ensuring a high standard of liveability and an environment of inclusivity for marginalized communities. This research proposes the reconfiguration of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo through socio-ecological strategies aimed at restoring ecological integrity, promoting social inclusivity, and empowering local communities. By examining the vulnerabilities, barriers, and opportunities present in Brazilian society, this project seeks to promote the restructuring of São Paulo for socio-ecological resilience, embracing principles of nature-based urbanism, sustainable urban development, and adaptive governance capacities. ...
Addressing these socio-environmental inequalities requires the establishment of a foundation of ecological integrity, ensuring a high standard of liveability and an environment of inclusivity for marginalized communities. This research proposes the reconfiguration of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo through socio-ecological strategies aimed at restoring ecological integrity, promoting social inclusivity, and empowering local communities. By examining the vulnerabilities, barriers, and opportunities present in Brazilian society, this project seeks to promote the restructuring of São Paulo for socio-ecological resilience, embracing principles of nature-based urbanism, sustainable urban development, and adaptive governance capacities.
A new building typology for the changing society
The usage of modular architecture and mixed buildings to aid the Dutch housing shortage
The Shape of Healthy Lowland Metropolis
Urban Forestry as Landscape Architectural Approach to a Healthy Environment in Rotterdam- Den Haag Metropolis
South-west Randstad is facing the pressure of population growth and loss of natural landscape due to projected urban expansion in the following decades. Countermeasures of creating 52,000 new dwellings plus 5,000 hectors of forest by the year of 2040 are proposed in the development vision by the province Zuid-Holland. Therefore, this project aims at providing a spatial scheme that integrates future urban development and forest network that is rich and healthy.
The project starts with urban forest typological analysis, which concludes the interrelationships between underlayers and the urban forest pattens. By the typological analysis, health qualities are evaluated and compared between types that stand for different spatial qualities. The conclusion and comparison of the analysis enable further instrumental function of urban forest typology in landscape design.
The design part of this project envisions a regional urban forest network that consists of existing forest in urban context and an interurban forest which integrates the polycentricity and fragmented forest patches of the region. By the design approaches of structural experiential and dynamic program planning, a throughout design scheme is proposed, leading to desired spatial qualities which are carried out by utilisation of urban forest typology. ...
South-west Randstad is facing the pressure of population growth and loss of natural landscape due to projected urban expansion in the following decades. Countermeasures of creating 52,000 new dwellings plus 5,000 hectors of forest by the year of 2040 are proposed in the development vision by the province Zuid-Holland. Therefore, this project aims at providing a spatial scheme that integrates future urban development and forest network that is rich and healthy.
The project starts with urban forest typological analysis, which concludes the interrelationships between underlayers and the urban forest pattens. By the typological analysis, health qualities are evaluated and compared between types that stand for different spatial qualities. The conclusion and comparison of the analysis enable further instrumental function of urban forest typology in landscape design.
The design part of this project envisions a regional urban forest network that consists of existing forest in urban context and an interurban forest which integrates the polycentricity and fragmented forest patches of the region. By the design approaches of structural experiential and dynamic program planning, a throughout design scheme is proposed, leading to desired spatial qualities which are carried out by utilisation of urban forest typology.
Reviving the Ruhr
Preparing the Peri-urban Ruhr for an uncertain energy & climate future
Climate Adaptive Delta Cities
A strategy for the transition towards climate adaptive redevelopment of post-industrial port sites in the Rhine-Meuse delta in the Netherlands - The case of De Staart in Dordrecht
In the Netherlands, post-industrial port sites are redeveloped into mixed-use residential areas which should have an innovative and adaptive character to function as pilots for the regional transition towards a climate adaptive system. Nevertheless, in many cases short-term responsiveness and econmic values get the overhand, reducing the innovative value of experiments and the contribution pilot projects make for the essential transition. This leaves redeveloped neighbourhoods and the delta region vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis and is predicted to result in a chaotic transition from the existing to the climate adaptive system (Rotmans, 2021).
This urbanism graduation project therefore studies the following question: how can post-industrial port redevelopments contribute to the transition towards climate adaptive delta cities? Comparative case study research of cases in the Rhine-Meuse delta is used first to compose an understanding of mechanisms behind the integration of climate adaptation and industrial and societal transitions in post-industrial port redevelopment projects. Next, the case study lessons for adaptation are integrated with transition principles in a redevelopment strategy for a representative case and regional pilot for climate adaptation: de Staart in Dordrecht. Here, the Dynamic Adaptive Policy Pathways framework (Haasnoot et al., 2013) proves to be a promising methodolgy for making the complex and interdisciplinary transitions more insightful.
An urban design simulation for a section of de Staart shows how the policy pathways should be used in combination with an inclusive process, a spatial framework and a set of dynamic rules to esure that short-term actions contribute to the long-term transition pathway and adaptation under uncertain future contexts remains possible. The strategy for climate adaptive redevelopment of post-industrial sites shows that it can improve local liveability through its inclusive process and accellerate the regional transition by being connected in a regional network. The project shows promising qualities for bridging the gap between ambitions towards realising climate adaptive delta cities and it can be a valuable design and redevelopment strategy for application in practice. Nevertheless, applicability in different context than the Rhine-Meuse delta can be evaluated by performing similar research under different cultural contexts. ...
In the Netherlands, post-industrial port sites are redeveloped into mixed-use residential areas which should have an innovative and adaptive character to function as pilots for the regional transition towards a climate adaptive system. Nevertheless, in many cases short-term responsiveness and econmic values get the overhand, reducing the innovative value of experiments and the contribution pilot projects make for the essential transition. This leaves redeveloped neighbourhoods and the delta region vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis and is predicted to result in a chaotic transition from the existing to the climate adaptive system (Rotmans, 2021).
This urbanism graduation project therefore studies the following question: how can post-industrial port redevelopments contribute to the transition towards climate adaptive delta cities? Comparative case study research of cases in the Rhine-Meuse delta is used first to compose an understanding of mechanisms behind the integration of climate adaptation and industrial and societal transitions in post-industrial port redevelopment projects. Next, the case study lessons for adaptation are integrated with transition principles in a redevelopment strategy for a representative case and regional pilot for climate adaptation: de Staart in Dordrecht. Here, the Dynamic Adaptive Policy Pathways framework (Haasnoot et al., 2013) proves to be a promising methodolgy for making the complex and interdisciplinary transitions more insightful.
An urban design simulation for a section of de Staart shows how the policy pathways should be used in combination with an inclusive process, a spatial framework and a set of dynamic rules to esure that short-term actions contribute to the long-term transition pathway and adaptation under uncertain future contexts remains possible. The strategy for climate adaptive redevelopment of post-industrial sites shows that it can improve local liveability through its inclusive process and accellerate the regional transition by being connected in a regional network. The project shows promising qualities for bridging the gap between ambitions towards realising climate adaptive delta cities and it can be a valuable design and redevelopment strategy for application in practice. Nevertheless, applicability in different context than the Rhine-Meuse delta can be evaluated by performing similar research under different cultural contexts.
Re-Assembling Semarang City
A Strategic Framework for Semarang City, An Exploration of the Local Adaptive Mechanism in Urban Mitigation Planning
Semarang City is located in the northern part of Java Island, Indonesia. As an important port city, Semarang’s urban fabric is closely related to its infrastructure: water and traffic networks. However, since the 1980s, the acceleration of Semarang urban growth has not been supported by proper foundations. The characteristics of the coastal area were hardly taken into account in urban development. Consequently, flood risk and, in particular, rob phenomena or tidal flood became the chronic problem of Semarang City. Consequently, environmental degradation and infrastructure destruction have continued to occur in the Semarang coastal area. Moreover, community life is always threatened by inundation risks. With Semarang as a backdrop, this research aims to address the gap on soft and hard approach in urban mitigation resilience planning in concept from both social and ecological resilience perspective and positioning urban design (both from architecture, landscape, and planning) by exploring the local adaptive mechanism in the chosen coastal Kampung Kemijen, in Semarang, Indonesia. This research derived from the socio-cultural perspective, trying to explore more on the local level and how it can be translated and integrated into the larger scale urban mitigation planning. The objective of the strategic framework, which is based on the socio-ecological principles, the actions which try to integrate the soft and hard approach in urban planning, and both of the design framework and strategies outcomes will be implemented on the design elaboration. The Strategic Framework’s goal is to develop a general understanding and possibilities of balancing the soft and hard approach in urban mitigation planning from the human scale through to the city scale. The project tries to read the relationships between three scales of planning: the city of Semarang, the coastal area (on the district scale), the kampung, and most importantly, to the human scale. The projects at some point are very site, time, and contextually specific. Therefore, the people’s participation and the high concern of climate and ecological-based planning are very important. In the end, This research demonstrates the strength and quality of the soft approach through local adaptive mechanisms in urban planning. Public participation is an important aspect when dealing with the urban planning issue in the Indonesian context. The normative urban planning in Indonesia tends to exclude public participation, whereas utilizing the local adaptive mechanism might contrive a new way of urban mitigation planning, which can be enforced for longterm planning. ...
Semarang City is located in the northern part of Java Island, Indonesia. As an important port city, Semarang’s urban fabric is closely related to its infrastructure: water and traffic networks. However, since the 1980s, the acceleration of Semarang urban growth has not been supported by proper foundations. The characteristics of the coastal area were hardly taken into account in urban development. Consequently, flood risk and, in particular, rob phenomena or tidal flood became the chronic problem of Semarang City. Consequently, environmental degradation and infrastructure destruction have continued to occur in the Semarang coastal area. Moreover, community life is always threatened by inundation risks. With Semarang as a backdrop, this research aims to address the gap on soft and hard approach in urban mitigation resilience planning in concept from both social and ecological resilience perspective and positioning urban design (both from architecture, landscape, and planning) by exploring the local adaptive mechanism in the chosen coastal Kampung Kemijen, in Semarang, Indonesia. This research derived from the socio-cultural perspective, trying to explore more on the local level and how it can be translated and integrated into the larger scale urban mitigation planning. The objective of the strategic framework, which is based on the socio-ecological principles, the actions which try to integrate the soft and hard approach in urban planning, and both of the design framework and strategies outcomes will be implemented on the design elaboration. The Strategic Framework’s goal is to develop a general understanding and possibilities of balancing the soft and hard approach in urban mitigation planning from the human scale through to the city scale. The project tries to read the relationships between three scales of planning: the city of Semarang, the coastal area (on the district scale), the kampung, and most importantly, to the human scale. The projects at some point are very site, time, and contextually specific. Therefore, the people’s participation and the high concern of climate and ecological-based planning are very important. In the end, This research demonstrates the strength and quality of the soft approach through local adaptive mechanisms in urban planning. Public participation is an important aspect when dealing with the urban planning issue in the Indonesian context. The normative urban planning in Indonesia tends to exclude public participation, whereas utilizing the local adaptive mechanism might contrive a new way of urban mitigation planning, which can be enforced for longterm planning.
Revealing Rome's water-based culture
A resilient, dynamic and interactive layer
The uncontrolled and immense growth of Rome, which occurred over the last 50 years, leads to a significant shift in urban infrastructure that has changed people’s attitude toward the water. This positivist approach to the construction of the modern city has contributed powerfully to the destruction, cancellation, alteration of many signs of the historical stratifications that derived their reasons, origins, and significant developments from the water factor.
The Romans, who over the centuries coexisted with water in a resilient and technological society, today they perceive it as a separate element from their everyday life, which indeed often causes incredible problems with heavy storms and flooding or a long period of drought.
The city today urgently needs to propose profound transformation to face the need for services and resolve issues brought by a developing populace and a modern lifestyle. The city needs to build its resilience in reacting to the social and ecological difficulties of its time while considering Rome’s really extraordinary nature. A uniqueness that must be protected and enhance.
This research aims to provide site-specific strategies to reveal, connect, preserve, and explore the existing water-based identity of Rome, meanwhile creating an adaptive and resilient system, that could reduce flood risk and create socio-ecological transformations.
Based on an in-depth study of the city in its various aspects - morphological, cultural, social, archaeological -the area of the historical center of the Palatine hill through to the Caffarella park has been chosen as study area. Along this axis the project defines “water-based” routes, which have the aim both to make known the ancient and modern water-based identity of the city and to solve the most serious problems of flooding and drought, creating public and green spaces available to citizens and tourists. Through the route, which begins in the Palatine area, in the urban heart of the city, the visitor will learn about an unusual and unknown history of Rome in which various modern and ancient elements take shape as part of a larger system. Visitors, both tourists and citizens, will understand the link between aqueducts, fountains and thermal baths but also the importance of more modern elements such as wetland, bioswales, watersquares, finally arriving at the end of the route at the Nymphaeum of Egeria at Parco della Caffarella, a place full of mystery and charm, surrounded by nature.
It is therefore thanks to these routes that the city and its citizens regain their water-based identity, in a project that leaves ample room for both educational and recreational moments, creating areas that restore the relationship between urban and nature.
...
The uncontrolled and immense growth of Rome, which occurred over the last 50 years, leads to a significant shift in urban infrastructure that has changed people’s attitude toward the water. This positivist approach to the construction of the modern city has contributed powerfully to the destruction, cancellation, alteration of many signs of the historical stratifications that derived their reasons, origins, and significant developments from the water factor.
The Romans, who over the centuries coexisted with water in a resilient and technological society, today they perceive it as a separate element from their everyday life, which indeed often causes incredible problems with heavy storms and flooding or a long period of drought.
The city today urgently needs to propose profound transformation to face the need for services and resolve issues brought by a developing populace and a modern lifestyle. The city needs to build its resilience in reacting to the social and ecological difficulties of its time while considering Rome’s really extraordinary nature. A uniqueness that must be protected and enhance.
This research aims to provide site-specific strategies to reveal, connect, preserve, and explore the existing water-based identity of Rome, meanwhile creating an adaptive and resilient system, that could reduce flood risk and create socio-ecological transformations.
Based on an in-depth study of the city in its various aspects - morphological, cultural, social, archaeological -the area of the historical center of the Palatine hill through to the Caffarella park has been chosen as study area. Along this axis the project defines “water-based” routes, which have the aim both to make known the ancient and modern water-based identity of the city and to solve the most serious problems of flooding and drought, creating public and green spaces available to citizens and tourists. Through the route, which begins in the Palatine area, in the urban heart of the city, the visitor will learn about an unusual and unknown history of Rome in which various modern and ancient elements take shape as part of a larger system. Visitors, both tourists and citizens, will understand the link between aqueducts, fountains and thermal baths but also the importance of more modern elements such as wetland, bioswales, watersquares, finally arriving at the end of the route at the Nymphaeum of Egeria at Parco della Caffarella, a place full of mystery and charm, surrounded by nature.
It is therefore thanks to these routes that the city and its citizens regain their water-based identity, in a project that leaves ample room for both educational and recreational moments, creating areas that restore the relationship between urban and nature.
Turning the church inside out
Jacobuskerk Winterswijk
A Framework for Transition
Urban Planning Sustainability on Belgrade’s Riverfront, Serbia