Lieke van Lun
Urban Transformation and Sustainability
Bridging Past and Future: Utilising cultural heritage values to increase resilience in Amsterdam's polder water system
Amsterdam is shaped by a rich history of water management practices. Against this backdrop, climate change is causing increased water management challenges. This project provides a multi-scalar framework that strengthens the water-related historical assets and integrates them with resilient polder water management.
Qualitative and quantitative research have been combined to understand the future water problems, contemporary cultural values and spatial potential for urban transformation. These layers are combined into an integrated typology, emphasising which design qualities can be improved in which places in the city.
In the design project, the maximisation method maximises the landscape and cultural resilience and they are combined into the integrated urban transformation plan. In parallel, a pattern language was developed that aims to generate design solutions that support the design qualities aimed for in this project.
Two illustrative design examples show how the pattern language can be used in different neighbourhood types. The designs reinforce the water identity through socio-ecological urbanism and navigate the integration between climate adaptation and sustainable heritage transformation.