From Node to Place

Abstract

This graduation project, having as a starting point the concept of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), highlights the importance of high-density mixed-use developments around railway stations.
With this goal in mind, the station area of Amsterdam Sloterdijk was selected as a case study location. Sloterdijk is an important node within the overall transportation network and the plans of future development of the city of Amsterdam. However, the current spatial organization of the area, the high complexity, and several environmental problems are hindering its success as a place. Therefore, this graduation project, investigates through design, the potential of the area of Sloterdijk to become a sustainable and livable neighborhood, dealing with both the ongoing housing and the climate crisis in an integral way.
The primary method used in this graduation project was research by design, meaning that through several design iterations of different spatial elements, insights on the conflicts and potentials of these elements were revealed. Other methods used, included spatial mapping, literature review on the key concepts of livability, density, and TOD and lastly the method of fieldwork.
The results of this graduation project that can be extracted from the final proposal for the area of Sloterdijk, emphasize the challenges stemming from the high intensity of use and competition for space in places that function simultaneously as mobility hubs and as potentially vibrant urban districts. Key elements of the design were the intense densification and introduction of housing and other functions to the area, the substantial reduction of space allocated to mobility, the careful consideration of public space that promotes social interaction, overcoming the various infrastructural barriers, and lastly the integration of green and blue networks with the aim of providing living spaces to various species, improve local microclimate and mitigate environmental risks.