The Porous City
I live in Delft, when it rains hard the sewers are overloaded and the black water rushes into the canals. I know and I have read of extraordinary engineering projects that allow the “verhaarde weg” to become more porous to prevent this. My dream is to have the cities of the Netherlands more able to withstand flash flooding and to be able to gather more of the water. I want to create surfaces where water is captured, at the very least flow is delayed and more rainwater is harvested. We are entering a time when drinking water will become more scarce.
I would like to see far less tiling. It would be so positive if gardens were not permitted to be over 50% tiled. I love the “tegelwippen acties”. My neighbours have installed grass roofs. I have created a simple porous garden, the existing patio was small and plants grow in between. For the insects I try to encourage native plants. The grass is minimal but grows on a soil bed that I have reconditioned (with organic soil), it is no longer covered in pools of water. It require far less maintenance.
In the front of the house I have planted out the garden around the tree. My neighbours have done the same. We have created an insect corridor as well as increasing incrementally the area able to absorb rainwater.
I want the idea of a porous city to become normal, not be the preserve of the lucky few but a concept for us all. Small steps that we as citizens can do and larger engineered programmes in combination so we can all feel a sense of pride and control of own environment, one that is more nature focused.