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The title of this journal is the offspring of Han Meyer who started the interdisciplinary research movement Delta Urbanism about 25 years ago. The two words describe the concept that brings focus on an integrative and interdisciplinary approach in the planning, designing and engineering of urbanised deltas –fragile and highly dynamic landscapes at sea, in deltas, and in estuaries– facing extreme challenges from competing claims and interests. As discourse, it investigates the possibilities to combine flood resilience, soil regeneration and water management strategies with urban design, landscape architecture and spatial planning. Finally, as practice, it has the objective to improve spatial form, function, and performance and innovate urban systems in urban and metropolitan delta and coastal regions.
The urgency for this novel approach is seen in the quest for a new dynamic equilibrium between urban growth, port- development, agriculture, environmental and ecological qualities, flood-defence systems and fresh-water supply. Delta Urbanism, as a field of interest and action, positions itself in this search of a new modernity: planning, designing and engineering the co-existence and equity between different forms of life and inhabitation and their reciprocity within the natural environment as a whole.
The title of this journal is the offspring of Han Meyer who started the interdisciplinary research movement Delta Urbanism about 25 years ago. The two words describe the concept that brings focus on an integrative and interdisciplinary approach in the planning, designing and engineering of urbanised deltas –fragile and highly dynamic landscapes at sea, in deltas, and in estuaries– facing extreme challenges from competing claims and interests. As discourse, it investigates the possibilities to combine flood resilience, soil regeneration and water management strategies with urban design, landscape architecture and spatial planning. Finally, as practice, it has the objective to improve spatial form, function, and performance and innovate urban systems in urban and metropolitan delta and coastal regions.
The...
The title of this journal is the offspring of Han Meyer who started the interdisciplinary research movement Delta Urbanism about...
Taneha K Bacchin, Fransje Hooimeijer, Baukje Bee Kothuis -
‘Delta Urbanism’ is a common field of interest of different disciplines, which discovered the need to work together in order to be able to develop fruitful strategies for the future development of urbanized delta regions. The birth of this collaboration can be dated in the 1980s and 1990s, with the rise of three different fields of concern on the effects of industrial society: the concern on the environmental impact of industrialization, the concern on the alarming state of affairs of cities in these years, and the rising concern on climate change. The development of a real program of Delta Urbanism
at TU Delft started in 2005, with the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdamon ‘the Flood’, the Katrina disaster in New Orleans and the start of the new Delta Program in the Netherlands as important driving forces. Important in the Delta Urbanism program is the search for a new ‘Darwinistic’ approach, emphasizing the evolutionary character of delta regions, and adaptivity as a main strategy to survive. This approach should substitute the traditional. Reductionist ‘Einstein’ approach, which is fitting in the dominating paradigm of the industrial society.
Delta Urbanism itself can also be considered an evolutionary field of interest: it is under construction continuously. For the future, we can appoint four important issues to be elaborated: a more radical approach of the new adage ‘working with water’, water as a leverage for a complex society in transition; making delta landscapes adaptive, and design as an explorative method.
‘Delta Urbanism’ is a common field of interest of different disciplines, which discovered the need to work together in order to be able to develop fruitful strategies for the future development of urbanized delta regions. The birth of this collaboration can be dated in the 1980s and 1990s, with the rise of three different fields of concern on the effects of industrial society: the concern on the environmental impact of industrialization, the concern on the alarming state of affairs of cities in these years, and the rising concern on climate change. The development of a real program of Delta Urbanism
at TU Delft started in 2005, with the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdamon ‘the Flood’, the Katrina disaster in New Orleans and the start of the new Delta Program in the Netherlands as important driving forces. Important in the Delta Urbanism program is the search for a new...
‘Delta Urbanism’ is a common field of interest of different disciplines, which discovered the need to work together in order to be able to develop fruitful strategies for the future development of urbanized...
Han Meyer -
Trends have been continuing for the majority of the world’s population to live and work in urban areas. Despite numerous change factors, like climate, and gradual changes in the form and layout of urban spaces, towards for example, more use of nature in cities, urban areas continue to follow the form set in
the past in industrialised countries, with little green space. In this Millennium, new financial models have been developed to value nature to ensure it is appropriately accounted for in the neoliberal economy. The links between welfare of residents and visitorsto cities that are greener are now clear and understood to bring massive economic value. However, responses to the Covid-19 pandemic have changed the relationship between citizens and urban areas. Potentially fewer people will live and work in inner city areas, therefore the financial value of new green spaces in inner cities is likely to reduce. This paper considers the potential implications of the various change trends in how nature-based spaces can be financially valued in a post-Covid 19 world.
Two case examples show how: (i) better value may possibly be obtained by restoring a brownfield site in Sweden to natural forest, rather than building new housing; (ii) the financial value of greening London to manage stormwater may reduce due to people preferring to live in suburbia rather than the centre. Overall, the importance of carrying out a ‘futures’ assessment using scenario planning or an equivalent process when valuing the greening of urban spaces is emphasised in the light of the ongoing challenges.
Trends have been continuing for the majority of the world’s population to live and work in urban areas. Despite numerous change factors, like climate, and gradual changes in the form and layout of urban spaces, towards for example, more use of nature in cities, urban areas continue to follow the form set in
the past in industrialised countries, with little green space. In this Millennium, new financial models have been developed to value nature to ensure it is appropriately accounted for in the neoliberal economy. The links between welfare of residents and visitorsto cities that are greener are now clear and understood to bring massive economic value. However, responses to the Covid-19 pandemic have changed the relationship between citizens and urban areas. Potentially fewer people will live and work in inner city areas, therefore the financial value of new green spaces in inner...
Trends have been continuing for the majority of the world’s population to live and work in urban areas. Despite numerous change factors, like climate, and gradual changes in the form and layout of urban...
Richard Ashley -
The main ingredient of Delta Urbanism is the dialogue. The integration of concepts, ideas, language and measures can only be done through conscious exchange in continuous dialogue. This is not taken lightly, just exchange is not good enough, a solid dialogue is conscious and supported by methods that orchestrate steps, information and design.
Therefore a section in which dialogue between two professionals is presented is essential to this journal. The exchange is directed through writing and editing, taking time to think responses through and position clearly in the dialogue.
This issue represents the dialogue between Bas Jonkman and Henk Ovink who continue the dialogue that they started as keynote speakers at the conference of Delta Urbanism in times of climate crisis in March 2020.
The main ingredient of Delta Urbanism is the dialogue. The integration of concepts, ideas, language and measures can only be done through conscious exchange in continuous dialogue. This is not taken lightly, just exchange is not good enough, a solid dialogue is conscious and supported by methods that orchestrate steps, information and design.
Therefore a section in which dialogue between two professionals is presented is essential to this journal. The exchange is directed through writing and editing, taking time to think responses through and position clearly in the dialogue.
This issue represents the dialogue between Bas Jonkman and Henk Ovink who continue the dialogue that they started as keynote speakers at the conference of Delta Urbanism in times of climate crisis in March 2020.
The main ingredient of Delta Urbanism is the dialogue. The integration of concepts, ideas, language and measures can only be done through conscious exchange in continuous dialogue. This is not taken lightly,...
Bas Jonkman, Henk Ovink -
The present investigation portrays an experimental line of design and relational thinking aimed at establishing critical design premises in relation with the present state of change and crisis (Goddard et al., 2015 and Maxmen 2018). The description of abiotic and biotic shifts within the different realms -atmosphere, water and soil- inform the making of the urban / territorial project so it can contribute to the operationalization and management of the new conditions of life:
Atmosphere talks about the importance of reading the new biophysical conditions of life through the establishment of a land use system of performances for carbon drawdown and new suitability analysis. Water casts light in the regeneration of ecosystems at watershed level through vegetation density strategies -such as aforestation- to reverse desertification and enhance the water cycle via the Biotic Pump (Makarieva & Gorshkov, 2007). Both Water and Atmosphere describe shifting conditions that land on the Soil, the interface allowing for the interaction of systems, where abiotic conditions are translated and de-codified into biotic conditions that the urban project can design with. Therefore, Soil identifies the ground as the element of design, the sustaining infrastructure of all living systems and proposes the transition from current mono-functional land use systems to regenerative systems through vegetation diversity strategies.
The design of the territory of the new modernity, as an inter - multi - disciplinary process, must comprehend and project across the whole gradient of urbanization with the mission to regenerate urban landscapes, that is to say: to regulate atmospheric conditions, manage water patterns, sustain soil health and reconnect stronger culture and nature relations.
The present investigation portrays an experimental line of design and relational thinking aimed at establishing critical design premises in relation with the present state of change and crisis (Goddard et al., 2015 and Maxmen 2018). The description of abiotic and biotic shifts within the different realms -atmosphere, water and soil- inform the making of the urban / territorial project so it can contribute to the operationalization and management of the new conditions of life:
Atmosphere talks about the importance of reading the new biophysical conditions of life through the establishment of a land use system of performances for carbon drawdown and new suitability analysis. Water casts light in the regeneration of ecosystems at watershed level through vegetation density strategies -such as aforestation- to reverse desertification and enhance the water cycle via the...
The present investigation portrays an experimental line of design and relational thinking aimed at establishing critical design premises in relation with the present state of change and crisis (Goddard et al., 2015 and Maxmen 2018). The description of abiotic and biotic shifts within the...
Filippo Lafleur, Isabel Recubenis, Taneha T Bacchin -
While the severity of the climate crisis calls for a discussion on transformative and potentially disruptive change, science, engineering, design, governance and practice are currently too detached to effectively contribute to such discussions.
The spatial manifestation of climate crisis rarely appeals to one’s imagination. Yet, when reviewing the range of sea level rise projections and their accelerated rate of change, it is clear that understanding when and why to navigate between mitigation, adaptation and transformation measures is essential for flourishing coastal communities globally.
The Netherlands is one of those and has been characterised by a long history of renowned flood risk and water management as well as spatial planning. Facing the potential extreme scenarios of sea level rise, the country now however struggles to include measures preparing for a shift from incremental to the required transformative strategies.
This research project identifies the criticalities by means of a risk matrix and stress maps as an initial act to introduce the Sea Level Impact Knowledge Collect and its transdisciplinary Research by Design approach to guide the discussion on transformative change and its implementation in living labs.
While the severity of the climate crisis calls for a discussion on transformative and potentially disruptive change, science, engineering, design, governance and practice are currently too detached to effectively contribute to such discussions.
The spatial manifestation of climate crisis rarely appeals to one’s imagination. Yet, when reviewing the range of sea level rise projections and their accelerated rate of change, it is clear that understanding when and why to navigate between mitigation, adaptation and transformation measures is essential for flourishing coastal communities globally.
The Netherlands is one of those and has been characterised by a long history of renowned flood risk and water management as well as spatial planning. Facing the potential extreme scenarios of sea level rise, the...
While the severity of the climate crisis calls for a discussion on transformative and potentially disruptive change, science,...
Geert Van der Meulen, Ranee Leung, Joep Storms, Negar Sanaan Bensi, Taneha K. Bacchin, Jos Timmermans, Fransje Hooimeijer, Elma Van Boxtel, Kristian Koreman -
In the Netherlands, there is the tradition of appointing a National Architect. This function expanded over time into an advisor for a national policy for built infrastructure and later for large national projects as well. Today, it is an advisory team, called the ‘College van Rijks Adviseurs’ (CRa), which consists of an urbanist, an architect and a landscape architect. Their impact is giving the national government (unsolicited) advice by the power of design, of demonstration; a 'soft power'. The red line in the story of the CRa is the need for a new chapter in Dutch spatial planning. They therefore created Panorama NL, an advice to the national government on how to develop a spatial vision for the Netherlands, what it includes, and how to formulate it, and which partners to include. Panorama NL is about storytelling, about how to offer a positive perspective in society to everyone. It is a book and it is also an app, in which you can see literally 360-degree panorama at eye level. Panorama NL paints a picture of what we should do and why we should do it. But the next question is: 'How do we actually do it?’ This led to a competition called ‘Panorama Lokaal’ (the local panorama), which looks into post-war residential neighborhoods at a city’s fringe, facing the countryside. Municipalities are challenged to think about how global and national challenges could help to qualitatively improve these areas. A new situation: national government is no more just providing funding but also needs to participate with a vision, be able to organize partnerships, with the most important scale of operations being the regional scale. This means that people need to be educated differently; at the ministry, at the national government level, and also at the university. The aim is to create T-shaped skills: a specialist in one specific domain or profession, but also able to communicate their specialist knowledge with people from totally different backgrounds, like economists or sociologists, laymen or politicians. It is regaining the Dutch Urbanism Approach: the ability to create a vision and develop it through an interdisciplinary approach into an integrated design.
In the Netherlands, there is the tradition of appointing a National Architect. This function expanded over time into an advisor for a national policy for built infrastructure and later for large national projects as well. Today, it is an advisory team, called the ‘College van Rijks Adviseurs’ (CRa), which consists of an urbanist, an architect and a landscape architect. Their impact is giving the national government (unsolicited) advice by the power of design, of demonstration; a 'soft power'. The red line in the story of the CRa is the need for a new chapter in Dutch spatial planning. They therefore created Panorama NL, an advice to the national government on how to develop a spatial vision for the Netherlands, what it includes, and how to formulate it, and which partners to include. Panorama NL is about storytelling, about how to offer a positive perspective in society to everyone. It is a...
In the Netherlands, there is the tradition of appointing a National Architect. This function expanded over time into an advisor for a national policy for built infrastructure and later for large national...
Daan Zandbelt -
Dictionary 'Delta' & 'Urbanism'
Dictionary 'Delta' & 'Urbanism'
Dictionary 'Delta' & 'Urbanism'
MaartenJan Hoekstra