The Agency of Aesthetics

Exploring the potential of Aesthetic Urban Forest Infrastructure

Master thesis (2021)

Authors

W.J. Schreur Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

J.R.T. van der Velde Landscape Architecture - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
Maurice Harteveld Urban Design - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
Aleksandar Staničić Situated Architecture - Architecture and the Built Environment (coach)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment, Architecture and the Built Environment
Copyright: © 2021 Willemijn Schreur
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Published Date

01-07-2021

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

This graduation project tries to rediscover the importance of three concepts - urban forestry, infrastructure and aesthetics – and unites them with each other, in an attempt to develop a method to design ‘aesthetic urban forest infrastructure’ and discover the potential of such a method. Whereas urban forestry will need more space in our future cities, because of its positive influence on social, environmental and ecological aspects, the form and function of infrastructure are changing and this calls the need for a more integral way of designing it.

Aesthetic perception and experience are a new approach to look at this problem. It is hypothesised that combing these concepts will make it more feasible to create urban forestry and will make sure that future infrastructure will be more than just functional.

The site specific design is done on and along the Prinses Beatrixlaan in Delft, a road that currently creates a barrier between the neighbourhoods surrounding it.

By transforming some aspects of the private, car-oriented, infrastructure and creating a new east-west public transport connection along the Prinses Beatrixlaan, the road can be downgraded and lanes can be removed. This opens up a lot of space along the road, that can be used for urban forestry and better connections between surrounding neighbourhoods. Using four aesthetic categories – the sublime, beautiful, interesting and plain – this urban forest has been shaped to create an aesthetic experience for the users of different modes of transport that move along the road.

The design mainly consists out of three scales, those of the Prinses Beatrixlaan itself, of several location along the road and some details that elaborate on the aesthetic categories. Also a toolbox has been created that gives insight in how to work with these aesthetic categories on different themes.

Finally, a conclusion could be drawn that combining these three concepts – urban forestry, infrastructure and aesthetics - has a lot of potential, for both designers, visitors and nature itself. It gives more space for nature to develop freely, it makes infrastructure more integrated in the urban fabric and creates aesthetically pleasing spaces for people to enjoy their city.