YL786. a new start with old genes. how an old river conducts the transformation of the city. Europan 12 Schiedam. 28 juni 2013

Transcription

1 a new start with old genes how an old river conducts the transformation of the city Europan 12 Schiedam 28 juni 2013

2 Schiedam situation The Schiedam situation The Hague Delft The Hague Delft In many historic cities, the existing urban framework doesn t form a decent base for future changes and developments. The situation in Schiedam is no exception in this. The old structures of the industrial city centre are clashing with new developing neighbourhoods. Secondary there is the close presence of dominant surrounding cities such as Rotterdam and The Hague. This reduces Schiedam almost to a suburb and makes inhabitants feel less affiliated with their city but also make it less attractive for tourists to visit. These complex conditions piled up together make that Schiedam lacks a clear image and struggles with its internal coherence. Hoek van Holland Hoek van Holland Rotterdam Rotterdam Strategy daily routine: inhabitants Oost daily routine: tourists Oost In order to improve the image and position of Schiedam within the urban framework of the Randstad, the city centre needs to be more vividly and once again become the centre of Schiedam. By elaborating these tactics to a more tangible and applicable level, several objectives are formulated that can be implemented and executed in the city centre: -facilitate and initiate more events and activities -improve the quality of the public space -complete and extend the range of shops and businesses in the city centre -stimulate cultural awareness and facilitate developments in this field -support entrepreneurs -expanding tourist potential -make Schiedams characteristic sites easier accessible by slow traffic Nieuwland Nieuwland centrum centrum Adaptability West Urban coherence Zuid West Zuid The need and form of these objectives are influenced by many different factors throughout time and therefore need to be adaptable to changes. A generic framework which can hold different functions and type of use can facilitate this adaptability with the least amount of means and effort. These frameworks need to have the ability to easily change on different levels like program and quantity in order to comply with the demand at a particular time.. Additionally, the location and targets of these different objectives are also dynamic over time. The city centre is currently changing its focus to various areas and routes resulting in different demands at different places during its transformation. So therefore these frameworks require a platform which can facilitate this flexibility on the location. 2

3 Concept A new start with old genes The river Schie has always played a prominent role in Schiedams history, anchored in its DNA. The river was the main reason for the earliest settlements of the city centre. It runs form north the south connecting the different districts of Schiedam therefore playing a significant role in the development and prosperity of the city. During the 19th century it became an important transportation hub for the industrial development in the city centre and south east part. It ensured growth and the city could flourish, but also brought separation and disconnection in urban morphology. Nowadays the river is barely being used. Therefore diminishing the role it plays for the city. By using the Schie as a platform, it can facilitate a transportation system of pontoons and flexible shipping containers as frameworks for different users throughout the whole city centre. By doing so, the river will once again be the centre piece for Schiedam. Pontoons and containers The system of pontoons with the generic and commonly used shipping containers as a framework has the great advantage that it is adaptable on all the different levels stated above. The containers can house a wide variety of functions while the pontoons give the possibility to place these functions quick and flexible anywhere along the Schie at any given point in time. The pontoons can also be put to use for outdoor program or specific and temporary types of uses like events. The system provides the opportunity for the municipality to give new impulses to different locations along the Schie whenever and wherever needed. For example one can think of an art route that spreads out all over the Schie, or a city park that keeps areas with vacant houses animated. Its also possible to connect the Schie with the Hoogstraat, supporting shops and business, and by doing that reactivate the whole Schie area. Opposing to this, the pontoons can also be used from the bottom-up perspective. Inhabitants and entrepreneurs can for example use the system to try out ideas or temporarily set up an extra shop or exhibition for their goods along the quays within the city centre. By giving the opportunity for the users of inhabitants to customize their shipping containers their own ideas and wishes, the people of Schiedam get the ability to contribute to the appearance and image of Schiedam which increases their affiliation with the city. 3

4 Plan Facilitate and initiate events & activities - stage - catwalk - market By combining several pontoons on the Schie the city centre can house larger events which can attract more people to the centre. This is the unique selling point of Schiedam which in this strategy is fully being used. These events can periodical be such a weekly market, which is connected to existing smaller shops near the Schie (butcher, bakery). It can also be more annual such a catwalk presentation of a new clothing line from one of the bigger clothing shops. Or a huge music stage adjacent to the Koemarkt, which people from the squares and bridge can view. 4

5 Plan stimulate cultural awareness and facilitate developements in this field - artroute - ateliers On smaller pontoons art objects can be placed which are an extension of current expostions in for instance the Stedelijk Museum in Schiedam. The art objects can tell a story which can be told during a bicycle trip or by using the electric power ships already present in the city channels. Also the already large group or artist can rent a atelier on a ponton to work or to give a workshop for tourists whom are staying in hotel suite pontoon. expanding tourist potential - hotel suites - terraces By adding hotelsuites on the Schie, Schiedam can immediately attract new tourists. By promoting the new functions on the pontoons Schiedam can give the tourist an unique atmosphere and experience. Terraces on pontoons can facilitate existing horeca along the Schie when they need more space, for example in the summer of during an event. complete and extend the range of entrepreneurs in the city centre - shops - offices - urban farming The pontoons can be flexible configurated to facilitate different type of offices, including work desks and meeting rooms along the Schie. For starting companies its financially more attractive to rent a small space. The location can either be near the central train station or somewhere in the Nieuw Mathenesseterrein. Also smaller shops can be housed on the pontoons making the Schie a diverse place for shopping connecting to the already mixed and alternative shopping facilities along the Schie. The bigger shops in the centre benefit from these activities because more people will visit the unique shopping facility staying longer in Schiedam and spending more money. improve the quality of the public space - park - bike storage - playgrounds On the quays of the Schie there isn t always enough space for public space. Open pontoons with park and playgrounds can animated the local area generating vividly environment for people to meet and enjoy the city also when building are vacant. Bike storage facilitate residents from the suburbs and will be located near shops and horeca functions. 5

6 Koemarkt entrance parking garage boulevard parking space park circulation boulevard horeca pavillion square hotel + restaurant hall program The Koemarkt is located in the city centre of Schiedam and used to play quite important role as city market. Nowadays it has been neglected and one could easily say that there is no clear hierarchy. Loose objects are placed randomly, no functional organisation, busy traffic makes the square unattractive. By adding a small one floor horeca pavilion on the square intimacy can be improved connecting to the already existing horeca buildings. Towards the Schie the square turn into a big staircase which is mirrored on the other side. Together with the bridge it can used as tribune for a water spectacle facilitate by the pontoons on the Schie. 6

7 VROM site The main distribution and modification of the pontoons are controlled by the workshop building on the VROM location. Besides this workshop, a 42x32m of enclosed floor surface provides a flexible platform for the shipping containers. An Industrial warehouse crane gives this main hall a complete flexibility in layout and use. Containers with for example meeting rooms can be used to divide the space into several smaller usable flex-office spaces or open up completely and use the hall for example a market, expo or a concert. building organisation sky bar restaurant workspace workshop flexible floor space tower industrial warehouse cranes entrance building operations pontoon entrance container flexibility: mix-use stage container flexibility: event 7