Exploring Opportunities for Rewilding the Built Environment through Nature-Inclusive Design: Case Study Boerhaavewijk, Post-War Residential Neighbourhood in Haarlem, The Netherlands.
Graduation Studio Architectural Engineering, September 2022 - July 2023
Woonzorgcentrum Schalkweide, Boerhaavewijk, Haarlem, the Netherlands
Researching & site analysis, sketching & drawing, 3D computer designing, modeling, rendering
AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, Lumion
Residential flat with single studios and different types and sizes of apartments, community building, restaurants, shops, storage space, work studios.
In response to the global decline in biodiversity and the need for cities to adapt to climate change, this study focuses on rewilding urban environments. It presents a practical framework for architects and urban planners to incorporate nature-inclusive designs on varied scales and levels, enhancing urban biodiversity and resilience. Boerhaavewijk, a typical Dutch post-war neighbourhood, is used as a case study, demonstrating how rewilding, the reintroduction of nature and allowing it to take the lead with minimum human intervention, can transform urban spaces. The project showcases a transformed residential building featuring nature-integrated structures like a timber-structured gallery, renovated balconies, and rooftop apartments, promoting biodiversity within the urban fabric.
With the worldwide biodiversity decline and cities that should adapt to climate change, rewilding the built environment to restore biodiversity and increase the degree of natural areas is necessary. Yet, there is currently no established overview of potential rewilding strategies for urban environments. This study explores various opportunities for rewilding the built environment through nature-inclusive design and presents a toolbox that architects and urban planners can implement in the design process to create opportunities for biodiversity and make cities greener and more resilient. The developed toolbox is applied in an existing framework to obtain opportunities on a larger scale.
This toolbox has been implemented in an existing framework in order to develop a rewilding strategy on a larger scale, such as a neighbourhood. In Kowarik’s (2018) framework, urban wilderness is seen as a social-ecological system. More can be found in the research paper by using the button at the bottom of this page. Rewilding strategies are highly dependent on the characteristics of a specific environment and thorough site research is necessary to come up with suitable strategies. The typical Dutch post-war neighbourhood Boerhaavewijk in Haarlem is taken as a case study to demonstrate the application of these strategies.
Rewilding, the reintroduction of nature allowing it to take the lead with minimal human intervention, plays a key role in Rewilding Cities. But for architects, urban planners, and designers without an ecological background, it is not easy to just start 'rewilding'. Furthermore, extensive research is required as it is highly location-specific. To bridge this gap between ecologist and architect, I investigated the different possibilities of rewilding in various contexts and on various scales. From this, I created a nature-inclusive design toolbox that can serve as a guide for designers and covers various scales and levels in the urban environment.
It is of significance to map the local ecology and identify the preferences of local fauna. Determine their habitats, living conditions, including the specific materials, vegetation, water sources, structural cavities, nesting facilities, and elevation preferences. This approach facilitates the potential for incorporating nature-inclusive design principles. On the left is an image of the habitat height of the local fauna in Boerhaavewijk.
My vision for Boerhaavewijk was to connect all types of nature with each other, not only the existing main ecological structure but particularly on a smaller scale within the streets and between buildings in the neighbourhood. To discover what is specifically needed for this neighbourhood, I studied the flora and fauna and their requirements, to design for nature as well. Additionally, I incorporated other significant elements in my research, such as the urban heat map, the ratio of flat vs non-flat roofs, and the building heights.
I have spoken to several residents and local foundations, and it turned out there is a demand for more amenities. My theoretical research also revealed the need for a green vein in the neighbourhood to connect the green spaces and draw nature into the neighbourhood. On this new 'amenity strip', I intend for the buildings to also facilitate the extension of nature. Buildings are not borders anymore, but they also cater to nature's needs.
The outcomes of my research bear significance, extending beyond the scope of my graduation project, as the toolbox can be used by individuals globally, regardless of location. This aspects holds particular value to me, signifying that my investigative efforts have culminated in a resource accessible to all. The growing global interest in rewilding is clear, as I was given the opportunity to present my research at the EcoCity World Summit 2023 in London, further accentuating the innovation and relevance of my chosen topic.
Not only in the neighbourhood but also at the building level. Nature finds a place on and around the building, and zoning distinguishes between areas for humans and areas for nature so nature can rewild and flourish. Three architectural components are added to the building: a timber construction gallery façade on the east elevation, renovated balconies on the west elevation, and transformed rooftop apartments.
The east elevation receives a fully natural layer; the gallery construction is the renovated access to get residents to their front door, but at the front of this construction, nature gets a chance for a spot in the built environment. This is beneficial, as more shade is desired in the summer, and the vegetation provides it.
The new gallery construction not only offers logistical benefits for plants and access for people, but also provides residents with their own little 'front garden'. Within the construction, a distinction is made between collective and private, and each front door gets its own private section where individuals can do something personal with it. In front of the window of every bedroom is a void, to create a bit more tranquillity and privacy, and in addition more natural light enters the room below.
On the west side, the balconies are renovated and enlarged and equipped with integrated flowerpots to give residents the opportunity to garden, similar to the rooftop apartments. Apartments of different sizes are provided, ranging from studios for one person to apartments for seven. The roof becomes a zone entirely for nature so it can rewild; natural processes can take place without human intervention. In the rooftop apartments, this is experienced in a unique way up close.
The front building provides a community building, with a participatory kitchen, meeting places, a dining room, library, and theatre, among other things. Educational activities take place, and art exhibitions can be organized. Additionally, there is the possibility of a communal vegetable garden for the residents and the neighbourhood.
Much attention is given to the specific species in this area, with ecological design interventions implemented both on and around the building to accommodate their needs. The building has been designed to meet the requirements of flora and fauna. For instance, nesting boxes have been integrated into the facades, providing suitable habitats for swifts, house sparrows, and serotine bats. Within the building's structure, various cavities and cracks offer shelter to martens, ermines, natterjack toads, hedgehogs, and shrew mice. On the rooftop, a diverse range of vegetation, including green-brown roofs, sand, stones, and bricks, all serve as ideal environments for mason bees, sand bees, and dragonflies.
The location of the building on the two main axes of the neighbourhood is ideal for extending this rewilding strategy into the neighbourhood. This strategy can be implemented on the scale of the entire residential area, and eventually the city. For more information, I recommend taking a look at the research paper, posters, the final presentation, and the journal, see the buttons below.
Ultimately, I had the privilege of co-organising an exhibition at the ABC Architecture Centre Haarlem, under the esteemed guidance of Prof. Thijs Asselbergs and Gabriël Verheggen. This exhibition, which took place from July to September 2023, showcased my project alongside those of my fellow graduating Architectural Engineering students. The Sint Jacob Foundation, the owner and manager of the Schalkweide care centre, has shown interest in my project for potential future plans.
