Zwolle

Abstract

Demolition or renovation has always been a matter of debate in the built environment, especially in densely populated cities with little room for new construction. In the past, people often opted for the former, demolition, but today people are increasingly realizing what has already been lost over the years. Many old fortified cities have also been wrestling with this dilemma for years; to what extent and in what way can we translate our history as a fortified town into the new built environment?

By means of aesthetic images and illustrations, supported by textual explanations, an analysis was made of how the old fortress city of Zwolle dealt with this issue. Zwolle proves to be one of the cities that in recent decades has very consciously dealt with its history as a fortified city; the city canal, part of the fortress and even the city gate have all been preserved and well maintained. Also, several aspects that have been lost over the years have been brought back. The municipality of Zwolle has deliberately chosen this path and also has no intention of deviating from it in the coming years, as is evident from the new regional plan. In this plan, the municipality of Zwolle clearly states its position on the preservation and conservation of these iconic structures.