Jump onto the IJ

Abstract

Amsterdam’s population is expected to grow 20% by 2035. To accommodate this increase in population, Amsterdam is planning the Haven-stad transformation, turning an area west of the city centre into a city inside the city. The Haven-stad plan also includes a bridge linking the NDSM-werf to the Minervahaven, two areas that are to be transformed into high density mixed-use neighbourhoods. Most of the land available has already been built on, or is under construction, so underused spaces must be used to the fullest. This research investigates how this new bridge crossing the IJ river, can contribute to the densification of Amsterdam, by reintroducing the typology of a multifunctional bridge. By analyzing historical bridge proposals, case studies of multifunctional bridges, and conducting a SWOT-analysis, the study explores how a bridge crossing the IJ river can support diverse functions, such as housing, commerce, and culture. A research-by-design approach combines the found typologies of the case studies with the SWOT-analysis, resulting in a multifunctional bridge that connects Amsterdam to a regional bike network, connects the north and south of the city and contributes to the urban development of the Minervahaven and NDSM-area. This research opens opportunities for further research into other urban structures that are underused or how this typology would work in other cities or regions.