Reimagine a City with Wildness
Rewilding for the Schijn Valley with a New Riparian Forest Corridor
Y. Wang (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Rene van de Velde – Mentor (TU Delft - Landscape Architecture)
Willemijn Wilms Floet – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Situated Architecture)
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Abstract
In the Anthropocene, human activity has profoundly impacted the Earth's environment, particularly in urban areas where nature is domesticated and humans dominate. Rewilding has emerged as an ecological restoration concept to create more sustainable urban ecosystems, though it faces significant challenges, especially in urban context. This graduation project proposes a new vision for urban rewilding, focusing on restoring natural processes and reducing human control over landscapes while enhancing human experiences of wildness. Using the Schijn Valley in Antwerp as a case study, the project explores the integration of ecological quality and aesthetic experiences in urban forests. Through multi-scale design strategies, it aims to promote harmonious coexistence between humans and non-humans, with riparian forest corridors serving as key spatial elements that offer both ecological benefits and profound aesthetic experiences.