Landscape Architecture
Pauline Wieringa IJpark A Dynamic City Park
Since 2007 more than half the world’s population lives in urban areas. Cities are where the global economy manifests itself, where people come to seek their fortune. Pressure on the urban landscape has greatly increased in recent years. Green areas are disappearing, even though demand for urban greenery is actually rising. This is also illustrated by my study of Vitamin G. Greenery helps city dwellers stay lively and healthy, both mentally and physically. The Vitamin G cry for help in Amsterdam is strongest in the centre, the area along the IJ. This area of the city boasts the smallest amount of public greenery per dwelling, the highest housing density, and a large portion of the dwellings are in the public rental sector. Around the IJ, people have by far the greatest need for the healthy effects of greenery in the city. The culture and history of the city of Amsterdam are strongly related to the IJ estuary. Nonetheless, for centuries the city turned its back to the IJ, and the former estuary even cuts the city in two. The reason for creating the IJpark is to make the IJ the vitally important artery of the city again, and allow the city to grow along its banks. The IJpark, a dynamic city park, boosts the increase in Vitamin G in those parts of Amsterdam that need it most. I studied Amsterdam city parks and riverside parks in other countries, filtered success formulas and applied them in my strategy to transform the IJ banks into a city park. The transformation into a city park is a five-part process. The first step is to reorganise boating on the water, thereby creating good connections between the banks and the IJ itself. It frees public space for the IJpark and makes use of new and existing public attractions. The interaction between city and IJ is strengthened, attracting a mixture of tourists, watersporters, pleasure seekers, event visitors and city dwellers. The second step is to create transverse connections and break down the barriers that separate the north and south banks from each other. The new transverse connections also ensure a more evenly distributed use of the banks, turning the city into a single entity again. The third step is to create special places for people. Existing spots are upgraded to become green oases. In the design, the bare and severe banks are transformed into new, permanent, green stretches for people. In addition, new and dynamic spots are created by positioning flexible pontoons in less accessible places. These pontoons can develop into floating gardens, parks or even islands in the IJ. The system of pontoons is flexible and responds to the seasons and the needs of the moment. The fourth step is to improve and create new lengthways connections that produce a large network of varied experiences on both banks. These lengthways connections are formed by ribbons of pontoons and banks planted with greenery. Finally, new red eye-catchers ensure the visual cohesion of the IJpark. This strategy illustrates the opportunities offered by the IJ by transforming it into an IJpark, a vibrant and dynamic city park that gradually connects the city with the IJ and makes it a single entity again.
Graduation date 30 10 2012
200
Commission members Bram Breedveld (mentor) Ben Kuiper Eric Frijters
Additional members for the examination Maike van Stiphout Sander Lap