Weaving Flax Fiber into the Territorial Fabric
A spatial design exploration on the potential role of flax in a circular biobased building sector in the Netherlands
B.A.E. de Meijer (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Alexander Wandl – Mentor (TU Delft - Environmental Technology and Design)
B Hausleitner – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Urban Design)
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Abstract
Shifting to a circular biobased building sector is imperative to address pressing environmental challenges while meeting societal needs. The construction sector, responsible for a significant portion of global carbon emissions, faces the additional demand of constructing and refurbishing millions of houses by 2050. To achieve sustainability goals set out in the Dutch National Circularity Programme, the Dutch Government has allocated €200 million to transition to a circular biobased building sector, with flax emerging as a promising candidate, especially for fiber reinforced composites, due to its technical properties and suitability for Dutch climate and soil conditions. However, strategies on the spatial integration of a flax value chain do not exist yet.
This thesis addresses the research question: “How could a flax-based value chain be spatially facilitated to sustainably contribute to a circular biobased building sector?” Drawing upon theory on circular and biobased economies, the research investigates the potential applications of flax, the historical evolution of the flax industry, and the spatial, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions of a circular flax supply chain.
By formulating concrete scenarios and backcasting from desired outcomes, the study envisions future trajectories for the flax value chain and lays the groundwork for informed decision-making and strategic planning. A suitability analysis is performed to optimize land use and allocate functions of the flax value chain geographically, resulting in a national plan for the Netherlands. Furthermore, the use of a pattern language, stuctured along the flax value chain, provides a structured and systemic approach to understanding and modifying the system and translates research insights into tangible design interventions.
Lastly, the thesis extends beyond theoretical frameworks to practical implementation, by the application of the pattern language in the case of Lelystad, Flevoland. Through iterative design processes, spatial frameworks emerge as instruments for sustainable land-use optimization and system modification.
In conclusion, while flax emerges as a promising component of a circular biobased building sector, its role is just one part of the broader transition. Acknowledging uncertainties and complexities, and the need for environmental resilience, the research underscores the necessity for adaptable spatial design strategies and continued interdisciplinary collaboration and research to navigate the evolving landscape of the biobased built environment.