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Historic Delfshaven

Resilience for the neighborhood with history

Part of the old city of Rotterdam, Delfshaven is a place with rich history. It is known as a birthplace of the illustrious admiral Piet Hein and the place of the Pilgrim Fathers’ departure for America. Delfshaven is also one of the few parts of the city that survived the 1940 bombing. Various developments are underway around the area: the Vierhaven strip with the roof park; the redevelopment of the Schiehaven; and several other projects.  The diversity of developments and initiatives require an unambiguous strategy for public space.

Strategic vision plan Historic Delfshaven

Currently the design of many places does not support the existing uses or satisfy aesthetic objectives. Development pressures threaten Delfshaven historic position in the city. In response to these challenges a vision for the future has been developed that connects Delfshaven's historic identity with the new significance of the area in the city. The layout of the public space functions as a guiding and structuring mechanism. Hidden historical and cultural elements are articulated and better connections are made between them to strengthen the identity of the area and to bring structure and cohesion to the various individual projects.

Felixx’ vision for public space, intends to 1) make the historical and cultural elements visible, spatially and aesthetically articulated (again), 2) structure and connect individual developments, 3) strengthen the relationship with the city and the surrounding neighborhoods and 4) improve the general quality of the outdoor space in the residential neighborhoods. The vision emerged through an interactive process of direct engagement with the stakeholders. The design principles are based on the input from users and local residents. The proposals have been tested and refined in consultation with the team of municipal experts.

'LIVING LINES'

In order to understand the tension that exists in historic Delfshaven, we have analyzed the area based on Living lines. After all, a neighborhood or district does not stand alone, but is connected to its surroundings and the city. A living line shows thematically the role the area plays within the larger urban fabric.

As a result, you can see the spatial impact of a specific theme in an area on the one hand. On the other hand, the role that the area plays for that theme within the city and wider surroundings becomes visible. Different scale levels are thereby thematically linked.


1) the Green and Sustainable city 2) the Programmatic city


3) the Cultural-historical city and 4) the Accessible city

By changing the meaning of a particular living line in Historical Delfshaven, the position of the area in the city also changes: are we strengthening Delfshaven as a residential area or as a tourist attraction? In addition, certain themes can actually reinforce or hinder each other: more parking facilities mean less green space, but car-free streets offer both opportunities for terraces at catering establishments and play streets at homes.

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Vision plan larger scale: 1) the Programmatic city 2) the Green and Sustainable city 3) the Cultural-historical city and 4) the Accessible city

STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK HistoriC Delfshaven


Four spatial structures of the strategic framework

The vision for Historisch Delfshaven is set up as a strategic framework, and consists of four spatial structures:

  • Delfshavenplein
  • Harbor quay
  • Middenkous Park
  • Streets and alleys

Each structure individually contributes to the addition of new living space and an improvement of the spatial quality of the public space in Historic Delfshaven. The structures can be implemented (partly) separately from each other and in phases. However, combining them ensures cross-pollination. This makes the framework more robust and durable.

Example locations

For the  three locations within the plan area, a spatial translation of the vision has been made on the basis of public space sketch designs. This provides a picture of the development opportunities for these locations. The three elaborations provide an insight into the opportunities and the meaning these places have for Delfshaven.


Master plan details of three example locations 1) Schiedamseweg, 2) Piet Heynsplein & 3) Middenkous

Schiedamseweg
Historic Delfshaven will regain its direct waterway connection with Delft. The current infrastructural node will become an attractive reception space between the two bridges. A terrace with a mooring place will make the experience of water more pleasant and accessible, and offer new opportunities for outdoor dining. The materialization enhances the spatial experience of the square by denying the straightforwardness of the various traffic flows. Together, these interventions strengthen the spatial marking of the central island.

Piet Heynsplein
By redesigning and enlarging the contours of Piet Heynsplein, the square will be given a new boundary. The barrier effect and the difference in height of the dike body and the existing staircase will be replaced by a dike slope with various terraces. This will connect the Piet Heynsplein to the Havenkade and give it an address on the water.

Middenkous
The sketch design for the Middenkous (the harbor parallel to the Westzeedijk) emphasizes the greening of the banks on the south side of the Middenkous and making the central island and windmill the Distilleerketel accessible to slow traffic on the north side. New walking paths and sloping embankments on both sides of the Westzeedijk connect the Middenkous with the Kroon location, Schiemond and the roof park. With the redevelopment of the dyke slopes, the characteristic three-part character of the dyke will be restored, reconnecting the inner dike, the outer dike and the area on top of the dyke to their immediate surroundings.

Year

2020

Location

Rotterdam, delfshaven

Type

Research, Masterplan, Infrastructure, Landscape, Public Space

Client

L.M. Groen Gebiedsaccountmanager, Stadsontwikkeling, Gemeente Rotterdam

Size

49 ha

Publications

'A New Plan for Underexposed Delfshaven' - NRC newspaper, 3 Dec. 2020

Team & partners

Michiel Van Driessche
Deborah Lambert
Marnix Vink
John de Groot
Klaudio Ruci
Anne van Loenen

List
  1. Regulateur Gruno district
  2. Eemsdelta Campus
  3. Jonas Amsterdam
  4. K64 KEFLAVÍK AIRPORT AREA MASTERPLAN
  5. Rijnvliet, Edible Neighborhood
  6. Railroad Zone Amsterdam
  7. FROM NODE TO PLACE
  8. MASTERPLAN FLORA CAMPUS WESTLAND
  9. Alongside the Schie
  10. New Space - Design Guideline Liveability of Public Space, Groningen
  11. From Airport to Birdport
  12. Brainport Industries Campus
  13. Hondsrug Park Amsterdam
  14. Yangmeikeng Sea Boulevard
  15. Healthy Tracks
  16. Towards a healthy city by foot
  17. Floating Gardens, Amsterdam
  18. The Unbound Amsterdam
  19. Seaside Gardens, Gufunes
  20. Brainport Smart District Helmond
  21. The Swan, Zwolle (NL)
  22. Spatial Framework Blankenburg Süden, Berlin
  23. 'Typhoon-proof' Shenzhen's East Coast
  24. Circular City Bodø 2.0
  25. A green entrance for the airport
  26. Public Space Alpen
  27. Cartesius Quarter
  28. Isle of Dikes
  29. Smakkelaarsveld Utrecht
  30. Darmstadt Masterplan 2030+
  31. Bao’An G107 Corridor
  32. Master Plan Ter Aar, Nieuwkoop
  33. Waterfront Novosibirsk
  34. City Square Tyumen
  35. Almazov National Medical Research Centre
  36. Strategic Urban Green Study
  37. Public Space Strategy Kanpur
  38. Quartierlandschaft Dietenbach
  39. ImageWharf
  40. Ódinstorg Square
  41. Overloon War Museum
  42. Lokhalle Leverkusen
  43. Ludlstrasse Munich
  44. Yaanila Country Park
  45. Redevelopment Strategy Vogabyggð
  46. Villa Garden
  47. City life in the woods
  48. Schie Quarter Schiedam
  49. Socio-technical city of the future
  50. Buji River
  51. Vaskhnil Novosibirsk
  52. Precincts Canterbury Cathedral
  53. Maritime Campus Almere
  54. Resilient Riverscape Berat
  55. Sijthoff
  56. Strategic Plan Shkodra
  57. Ekaterinburg City Campus
  58. Transformation Strategy Gufunes
  59. Transformation Strategy Chelyabinsk
  60. Fish Market Leuven
  61. Zinder Culture Cluster
  62. Food Innovation Strip Ede-Wageningen
  63. S4 Highway Hangzhou
  64. Strategic Plan Fier
  65. Strategic Plan Elbasan
  66. Kronenburg Business Park
  67. Dharavi Mumbai
  68. Masterplan Smáralind Mall
  69. Urban Test Farm Emmen
  70. Ásbrú Enterprise Park
  71. Asylum Seekers Center Ter Apel
  72. Berlin Am Volkspark
  73. The Museum of the 20th Century
  74. Gardabaer
  75. Metropolitan Westerpark Amsterdam
  76. Science and Technology City Chongqing
  77. Yue Xiu 353 Transformation
  78. 5YN3RGY
  79. Erlongshan Recreational Park
  80. Danxia Recreational Park
  81. Campus Lelystad
  82. Proto Tamansari
  83. City Gardens Tyumen
  84. Park Somerlust Amsterdam
  85. Agricultural Innovation Campus
  86. Bandar Lampung Park
  87. R&D Campus Fengxian
  88. S-West Eindhoven
  89. Biodiversity based dairy farming
  90. Heidelberg Creative Quarter
  91. Barendrecht Vrouwenpolder
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