Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark (The Hague)

Page 2

Course number and name: LUP 60309 Atelier Landscape Architecture and Planning Authors and registration numbers: Ashley Cummings 890516166020 Gabriella Sogor 930530784040 Maja Tisma 920525836100 Myrthe Tielens 910902831020 Raphael Lattier 931221504070 Instructor: Marleen Buizer Place of publication: Wageningen University and Research Center, The Netherlands Date of publication: June 30th 2016

table of contents

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

Page 3

INTRODUCTION 5 Research problem 5 Conceptual framework 6 Methodology 8

ANALYSIS 11 Social analysis Site analysis

11 17

SITE DESIGN

27

SUSTAINABLE INTERVENTIONS

37

Design principles Functional design Detailed design The Building

Introduction & Strategy Sustainability Assessment Tool Food focus Resource cycles/systems

27 28 28 34

37 37 38 43

CONCLUSION 51 REFERENCES 52 APPENDIX 55

INTRODUCTION “Sustainability is the key to our survival on this planet and will also determine success on all levels.” Shari Arison

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

The objective for The Atelier is to develop a plan that will help the municipality to turn the North-western part of the Zuiderpark into the most sustainably efficient place it can be with regard to a creating more awareness about how food is being produced. Besides this, the focus is also on the concepts of new democratic space and social sustainability that can be implemented in this Park. Some elements that could be incorporated are; closing the hydrological and other reseource cycles, on-site logistics, smart solutions for the re-use of materials, water, and energy, the promotion of natural collaborations between plant and animal species, raising the awareness on where food comes from and how it is produced and more.

The park should be a flagship of the sustainability policies, food and the ambitions of the Municipality. A problem that the municipality has identified in the park is that it has a high value but a low output, meaning that not many people are familiar with this part of the Zuidpark.

For our project we are asked to create sustainable interventions that would also contribute in bringing more people in the project area. The municipality interpreted this as a technical problem with a technical solution. Based on the expertise and capabilities of the team members we feel that the social discourse is much more reflective of the need of bringing more people in.

Our project therefore focuses on creating knowledge on what people want

Page 5

or appreciate in the park and on offering sustainable and design solutions that either fit these needs or would provide a suitable fit for the location.

Research problem The municipality is looking for the transformation of the northwest corner of the Zuiderpark from more traditional green, educational and museum-like collections (currently consisting of a community garden, an educational garden, a herbal garden, an arboretum, an educational buildings and a petting zoo) into a space that is attractive for a greater variety of users and a true meeting place for people with different cultural and social-economic backgrounds from across The Hague. The envisioned theme for this new, vibrant park is Food in the past, present and future.

What opportunities does a “food focus” offer for redesigning the Zuiderpark in the Hague in terms of sustainability and community engagement?

The park currently has high value but low output, and there is not only a municipal desire but a global demand to get more from less. While more visitors are wanted in the space, there are also impacts and unintended consequences from increased traffic and activity, and resources needed to maintain the space, its quality, and educational aspects. There is clearly a balance to be struck between the elements of sustainability, and different ways to meet the ‘triple-bottom line’, people - planet - profit. To achieve this, it is important to know the past and present in order to make interventions for the future.

Page 6

What does sustainability and sustainable site design mean?

What are the elements of sustainable site design? (technical and social, what else?)

How does the changing role of technology affect sustainability, the connection with food, learning and information gathering methods?

What are ways to educate people to make sustainable choices in their own life?

The municipality, in its search to update the space, had organized two workshops: one internal/municipal workshop and one with academics and experts. To fully grasp the needs and potential of the park space, it is not only important to investigate the situation on the ground, but to also include those aspects in the planning and design processes. We therefore felt it necessary to emphasize the role of the community in our project, to get better insight on problems and potential solutions.

Creating the social base of the process among the involved actors, which includes commissioners, users and communities, needs to be understood. Literature studies and field research can help in gaining a better knowledge and understanding of new democratic space and what local residents think of the park, and how it can be improved.

Based on the needs of the community, different interventions and solutions will be assessed and proposed as a means to make the park more sustainable. We will create a design based on reflections from social input, site analysis, and technical research.

How can the social and technical aspects of sustainability be incorporated in design and the design process?

How can a design create interventions based on the research results?

How can we make a large scale development plan for the site?

What interventions can be suitable to compromise the needs and fulfill the technical sustainability?

How can food be used in the project site to bring people together and reconnect them with each other and food?

Conceptual framework

In planning and designing a more sustainable space, it is important to first define what is meant by sustainability in this context, and to specify our goals and scope of interest. The absence of one universal working definition of the term, as well as the nature of our project, leaves us a considerable degree of freedom in the values we emphasize. However, the increasing importance and attention paid to the social elements of sustainWhat are the different needs of people re- ability is an important feature of our project, as a lated to the use of the site? complement to the more obvious technical and How can food connect people across ages, physical elements. The issues of social equity cultures, social situations, backgrounds? and the common interest will play an important What would bring in and attract a wider role in choosing environmentally, economically range of visitors? and socially responsible interventions.

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

The theoretical structure guiding the research and realisation processes is strongly influenced by the social factors and objectives. One of the most commonly used definitions of sustainability comes from the Brundtland Report, asserting that sustainable development is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs� (Our Common Future Ch. 2). To further explore social sustainability and find balance against its other aspects, our foundation is built upon the triple-bottom line, or People - Planet Profit. Other supporting literature includes planning and social theories from Jane Jacobs and others related to human psychology of space and nature.

Further inspiration and guidance is provided by a combination of various technical solutions and methods to achieve a sustainable park. The more physical and technical aspects are explored through the domains of resource cycles, namely, water, energy, and waste. This includes but is not limited to the principles of Cradle-to-Cradle and Water Sensitive Urban Design, and related concepts of cascading, reduction, reuse, recycling, and multi-sourcing. These principles are largely proven methods for closing resource cycles and reducing environmental impacts.

The theme of food also contributes to a certain vision and approach, embodying both tangible and intangible qualities to connect people to space and to one another.

Page 7

Element s of t h e re de sign will b e gui ded by t h e con cept s of social s ust a i n abilit y, social e cology, an d in p a r t i c ular, t h e social ecology of food , w h i c h in cludes ide as such as food sove reignt y an d re localisat ion . Such a p proach e s are crit ical for in corp o rat i n g social con side rat ion s an d ach i ev i n g socio-cult ural an d socio-eco n o mi c object ives. Environ ment al an d te c h n i cal aspect s will be cove red by va r i o us met h ods an d pract ice s involved i n p e rmacult ure an d ot h e r cre at ive fusi o n s bet wee n societ y an d n at ure.

Overall, a mixed met h od app ro a c h was used, combin in g qualit at ive a n d quant it at ive e lement s, wh ich w i l l a i d in cre at in g a design t h at is h olist i c a n d balan ce d in it s sust ain abilit y o b je ct ive s, an d ref lect ive of dive rse n e e ds an d inte rest s.

Methodology

EXPLORATION PHASE

Problem statement

Knowledge gap - Social considerations - Technical sustainable solutions

Defining research questions

RESEARCH PHASE

Defining research approach

STRATEGY PHASE

Literature study - Social sustainability - Technical sustainable solutions

Site analyses & Map study

Formulating concept and programme

Decide on relevant solutions

Draft sustainable intervention strategy

Draft design guidelines

Data collection (Interviews, Survey and Workshop)

CONLUSION PHASE

Design large scale development strategy

Summary of results of the data collection

Development strategy on short and long term

Proposed sustainable interventions

Create models and combinations of the different interventions

Design small scale interventions

Consulting stakeholders

DESIGN PHASE

Implementation of draft design guidelines

Consulting experts

ANALYSIS

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

Social analysis To achieve greater social sustainability in the park, the research is based on community engagement and our project direction is driven by its results. Our outreach efforts were focused on obtaining information and other feedback on park visitors’ experiences. To capture a wide audience, we employed a variety of engagement tools - hosting a workshop, holding interviews, and doing on-the-spot surveys within and around the park. In the following section, we discuss the process and results from the various parts of our outreach efforts.

Promotion Promotion and publicity is an important factor in attracting people but was not a straightforward activity in our case. Distance and time restrictions impacted our group’s ability and effectiveness in field immersion and community outreach. Due to this, we developed a program to engage people through different approaches and settings in order to capture as much information as possible.

Promotion of our project was also done through various methods of communication and was focused on building up momentum for the workshop. A big part of drawing in more visitors to the park is visibility through publicity and promotion, which is why we wanted to create a strong brand for our project, and to also seek out the best ways of contacting and engaging the community.

A Facebook page “Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark” was created where people can learn more about the project, contact us, and get to an online questionnaire.

Page 11

Three site visits were made to the neighborhood, to conduct surveys in the park, at a nearby outdoor market, and to flyer in the surrounding residential areas. In total, about 1000 pieces of literature were distributed, either through conversations with members of the community or by leaving them at their doors in the housing areas that border the corner of the park, as well as a handful of posters throughout the sign cases in the petting zoo and Heimanshof areas. The feedback and results from these were used not only as a significant segment of our social research but also as preliminary reactions to guide us in our future actions and decisions.

Email invitations were sent to select members of the park community and other residents of the Hague who might have an interest in participating in the project, either through attending the workshop or meeting for an interview. Current users of the gardens, both individuals and groups, were contacted as well as people in the project commissioners’ networks. Though this method was affected by time restrictions of the project, and did not allow for much in terms of experimentation and for building momentum, it was of limited success. Two interviews came out of the communication that were valuable contributions to community input.

More time would have created better turnout and responses, though this exercise produced important results in and of themselves. It is clear that face-to-face and on-the-spot interaction was the most effective promotion tactic and produced immediate results. Significant time and organized and thorough outreach is needed for more serious group gatherings, such as a workshop or focus-group interviews.

Favoured activities

Page 12

Online and On-site Survey The purpose of the questionnaire was to investigate into the users of the Zuiderpark, if they are familiar with Heimanshof, petting zoo and community gardens and what they think could be improved. The questionnaire (see Appendix 3) was printed at the Wageningen University, conducted at the site on 8th of June 2016, and also published on Facebook page the same day.

Four members of the team surveyed visitors of the Zuiderpark at different locations, while one member conducted the site analysis. The results were based on 21 respondents which were collected on the site and online on the Facebook page “Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark”.

According to the questionnaire, the majority of the respondents live in neighborhoods within 5 kilometers, or 10 minutes, and reach the park by bicycle or foot. Only one person who is living more than 5km away from park reported to come by car.

All respondents have visited the park at least once, and 38.1% which was the majority, visit the park once to twice per week, and 85.7% of respondents stay in the park for more than 1 hour.

The main reason why people visit the park is to do different sports, recreation and leisure activities, but also spending time with their family and friends.

Reportedly, the highest valued spaces in the park are green areas, herbal and rose gardens, as well as the petting zoo. Respondents choose to go to the park to enjoy peace, quiet and nature, but they are not very much interested in gardening or farming.

They also pointed out some problems in the park, including lack of toilets, low maintenance, hours of operation, and the fact that barbecuing is allowed everywhere and people tend not to collect their garbage but rather leave it on the open field.

The specific questions considering the Heimanshof showed that 61.9% of respondents have visited Heimanshof and community gardens. The 38.1% of people who haven’t visited this part of the park are mostly not interested in local gardening or urban farming. The survey results show that 75% of respondents who haven’t visited Heimanshof are not interested in gardening and urban farming.

From the retrieved results it can be concluded that people like Heimanshof, petting zoo and community gardens just the way they are, and they would not like to see major changes there.

Minor changes were proposed by the participants which are building more toilets and implementing more recycle bins in the park.

Interviews To gain more insight on our project and the task at hand, enhancing sustainability, we conducted interviews of people that are involved in the park or in city farming and agriculture. First, an academic expert was consulted to understand more about sustainable urban food systems. We also met with two active community members in the park, the leaders of IVN and the Permacultuur den Haag groups that use the space. The outcomes of these meetings are discussed here, and demonstrate our methodological process throughout the project.

Zuiderpark

Project area

Appreciated values

Page 13

At the end of our second week, we met and discussed with Prof. Dr. Arnold van der Valk, who specializes in Land Use Planning at Wageningen University and the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS). He advised us of the concept of foodscapes and a strategy to successfully intervene in the park.

According to him, this consists of two parts, first to make a scan of the situation, and then to make a design. This scan would be an analysis or inventory of our case and involves two elements. First, to investigate into the values of users and usage of the park, including current and potential users and abusers, and to do so by identifying patterns within the surrounding communities. He references Jane Jacobs on her idea of neighborhood parks, that the environs of the area impact its functions and should be seen as an asset. The second element is to assess the visual dimensions of the park space, and evaluate uses, specific usages, possible areas of improvement, and contributions that can be made. Above all, van der Valk stressed that our approach must come from the needs of the people. Our design strategy must be built upon this foundation, to meet the needs of the current and of the future. Specifically, design should be made in an acupuncture style, making targeted interventions to strengthen the areas of the park. Caution should also be taken to beware the ‘ego’ as a planner, avoiding making big changes, as part of a ‘grand design’. Instead, co-design by bringing together the community and professional expertise can reconnect and enhance the space and people.

Cohesion is needed to create the ripple-effects and synergy that ultimately make up a foodscape. Suggestions for a workshop included conducting around 100 interviews and selecting community and interest group leaders to take part in the co-design. Due to the constraints of our project, we incorporated this advice into our strategy and plan on a limited basis, more in theory than in the resources to implement it at full scale.

During the sixth week, on the day of the workshop, we also met with community leaders from the IVN and Permacultuur Den Haag groups.

Max Leerentveld of IVN (Instituut voor natuureducatie en duurzaamheid) is a member of the volunteer-based chapter of the Hague, part of a greater network of volunteers and professionals of the nationwide organization. They work to educate the public on nature, sustainability and nature conservation. For a few hours a week, he provides guided tours throughout the Heimanshof, and does maintenance in the space. He provided insight about previous planning efforts that took place about 15 years ago, concerned with how to get the right audience to come in.

This was at a time that involved his predecessor, who was very involved with the systematic garden, and are now the permanent signage, fences, gates, pathways that exist today. For him, the Heimanshof specifically offers more peace, quiet, serenity, and is good for leisure but is not an exquisite nature space. Although he defends the importance of maintaining a certain audience and crowd, so as to preserve these areas, he and the IVN group would like to see more people interacting in the space.

Page 14

Leerentveld discussed his interest in boosting their efforts by updating their website and reaching out more into the community (e.g. Wegcentre). While he maintains a close working relationship with Sylvia van den Berg, he would like to see the communication and coordination between park actors improved.

Menno Swaak is an active member and leader of the Permacultuur Den Haag chapter, which has a plot section in between the community gardens and the Heimanshof in addition to a farm outside the city.

He got involved in permaculture some years ago, after having developed an interest in healthy food and living and natural farming. What started eight years ago as an art project has now blossomed into a pavilion with dense, rich vegetation and symbiosis.

Permaculture is also more of a process and project than it is an end product. It is a very good method to educate and heal through food, healthy soils and sustainability. While he admits it is relatively messy at present, Swaak’s vision for the group in the park is to make their activities and area more understandable, attractive and accessible. The group also intends to start developing a few projects regarding water (edible gardens and drainage/treatment management) and a food forest concept. Ideally, this space could be a prime example of sustainability and food in the city. For this, they would benefit greatly from having more room/space (expand projects, maintenance, accessibility, components, etc), resources (investment/funding, volunteers, etc) and from creating more coordination amongst the park members and users. There are many ways (/possibilities) to make significant improvements in these areas that permaculture practices and techniques can offer, but need some resources to be dedicated to them.

The group, he says, will jump on an idea if there is a good plan, and have a lot of ideas to offer in the planning and design. In addition to the water ideas such as stormwater gardens, swales, ‘swamps’, widening and making gradual slopes to canals to help relieve drainage problems in the community gardens and adjacent areas, he also made mention of programs such as the beehouse, compost and green waste. Swaak also brought up important issues, opportunities, and problem areas in the park, confirming and highlighting our initial suspicions, that were taken into consideration in our proposed intervention strategies such as drainage, accessibility, signage, limited/scarce resources, technical problems~compost contamination, plastic degradation, among others.

Some feelings and concerns were expressed by both Leerentveld and Swaak. Based on these insights from actors on the ground, some consistent ideas and issues can be identified, including but not limited to: Visitors: want more community involvement but it is hard to create attraction. The consequences of more foot traffic must also be managed.

Accessibility: improve access for people of limited mobility, for whom nature could be particularly beneficial and important.

Resources: all groups are limited in available resources but should also be seen as assets themselves. Opportunities to collaborate with other groups, communicate and share information, coordinate activities and responsibilities or other duties (tours, events, patrol, maintenance, etc.)

Page 15

Signage: investment needed for better educational displays and communication but are not enough on their own. There is more of a story to be told, and people are there, but efforts can be coordinated Maintenance: an issue mostly of volunteer capacity, but also relates to the importance of an official authority on weekends to patrol the park space. Theft and proper spaces for children are also of common concern.

Purpose: ultimately, the park still lacks and would greatly benefit from a more unifying theme, a name, and a role to play in the park. This is supported by communication and coordination of its constituent parts, using the resources on the ground and investing wisely.

Workshop The workshop took place on 17th of June at 14 o’clock. The planned location was the entrance of the petting zoo in Zuiderpark. The workshop was supposed to be finished at 17 o’clock the same day, but because of the opening hours of Heimanshof and petting zoo, we had to stop our workshop at 16:30 to be able to return everything we took from the building so the employees can lock it.

The original plan was, if the weather permitted, to hold the workshop in the park. Because it was cloudy, we set up the workshop in one of the educational buildings at the entrance near the educational garden. The workshop supplies were provided by the commissioners (post-its, pens, pencils, flipchart etc). We were also given tea, coffee and some snacks for our workshop participants.

At 14 o’clock, only one person showed up for the workshop. Considering the fact that we distributed 1000 flyers in the neighborhood, and also talked with people on the streets inviting them to join the workshop, we expected to see more people showing up that day. After 15 minutes, another person showed up for the workshop carrying the flyer which we made. However, the weather has changed and we decided to put the tables outside and do the workshop in front of the entrance of the Petting zoo.

Two members of the group were interviewing the first person who showed up for the workshop. He is the representative of Permaculture group in Zuiderpark. The rest of the group was busy with bringing people to the workshop tables and talking with them.

At the end of the workshop, we had 12 active participants in total who were involved with all the exercises we prepared. Although we planned different activities for the workshop (see Appendix 1 and 2) we were not able to perform all of them in the exact order. We focused our attention to two exercises we planned: Small exercises gaining more site information Design (needs) exercise In the following section, we will describe the outcomes of the exercises.

Feedback on small exercises The main purpose of this exercise was to have an open discussion with the visitors of the park. The people were very open to the discussion, telling us the problems they are facing in this part of the park.

Not all participants were familiar with Heimanshof, and they were surprised to find out about it from us.

Page 16

We also asked the participants to put the post-it on the parts of the map which they like and they do not like. Different colors indicated the preference for and familarity with the varous parts of the park. During this exercise we also asked people to point out which path they usually take when they visit the park. From the retreived results, we could conclude that they are all approaching the Heimanshof using the entrance at the petting zoo, then pass through the educational garden and enter Heimanshof.

From this exercise we can conclude that Heimanshof and petting zoo have the biggest value in this part of the park, and are the most visited places there. From the discussion with people we can conclude that people are happy with the current design of Heimanshof, and a petting zoo, and would not reccomand any design changes. Some participants suggested more different activities which could bring people in the park, for example places for children to play, farmers’ market and fruit forest.

The educational garden had one purple post-it on it, meaning that one person does not like this part of the park. This person said how that part of the park is not so inviting and it felt like it is privately owned and how ‘park visitors don’t belong there’.

Originally, we wanted to present each photo separately on the projector in the building with a small explanation, and later present the prepared flipchart and ask people to cast their votes. Because we were outside, we were unable to perform this activity as planned, so we decided to talk with people and present different ideas which were displayed on the flipchart board.

Pink and purple post-its were prepared for this exercise. The colored post-its had different meanings so the pink color was representing positive, and purple post-it color negative impression.

Respondents reacted very good towards the presented ideas. They also gave their own ideas, for example “living sculpture made by kids”. These sculptures can be made using different types of living plants. The second idea from one respondent was to implement culture gardens (i.e. Kweektuin Haarlem). Many people also agreed on putting more recycle bins in the park because they have experienced problems with people who are having a barbeque in the park and leaving garbage behind them.

One respondent reacted to the image of roof garden, explaining how that concept could be incorporated in the buildings in Zuiderpark.

Feedback on Design exercise He also said how there should be more green For this exercise, we prepared a flipchart board spaces in the city, and one way of making that with different photos of design ideas and asked possible is to implement green roofs. people to put a pink post-it on the picture of a de- Farmers’ market was also liked by many worksign they would like to see in this part of the park. shop participants. They liked the idea of havThis exercise was planned differently, but be- ing a farmers’ market in Zuiderpark, although cause of the circumstances we were in, we had to they were not sure where the market could be placed. change it.

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

Unfortunately, we didn’t make a good structure for this exercise to perform it without a projector. If we could do this exercise again, we would give people two pink post-its to place on the idea they like the best and would like to see in the park, and one purple post-it.

Page 17

Site a n a ly s is Hy s to r y It is quite re markable h ow t h e Zui de rpark came into existe n ce sin ce t h e park was f irst de sign ed an d bu i l t i n a w ide open polde r area wit h out a ny urban are a surroun din g it at t h at po i nt .

At t h e be gin n in g of t h e 20t h ce nt ury, Th e Hague n e e de d to expan d. New h ousin g was n ee de d an d in 1908 t h e mun icipalit y assign e d Berlage , a fa mous cit y-plan n e r, wit h t h e t ask of de sign in g t h e expan sion of t h e cit y o n t h e sout side . In orde r to facilit ate a gre e n recreat ion al are a closeby, Berla ge de sign ed a park of aroun d 105 h e c t a re s in t h is st ill wide open polde r area ( U n kn own aut h or, 2001).

In t h e maps t h rough out t h e ye a r s i t i s also visible t h at a ‘e e n de n kooi’ wh i c h i s a h istorical an d n at ural duck t ra p wa s e n close d in t h e park. Th is h isto r i c a l lan dscape e lement is st ill bein g ma i n t ain ed as a h istorical re mn ant w i t h i n t h e park (Un kn ow n aut h or, 2001 ) .

In t h e n ort h -we st part of t h e pa r k t h e syste mat ical lan dscape -garden wa s created aroun d 1933 a few yea r s b e fore t h e ope n in g of t h e e nt ire p a r k.

Aroun d 10 ye ars later t h e pet t i n g zo o was added in t h is part as well, w h i c h was ope n e d in 19 49 (Un kn ow n a ut h o r, 2001).

1915

1935

1955

1975

1995

2015

Page 20

Project area

Functional areas

The specified project area of the assignment The main functional areas are themed around comprised the petting zoo, the community gar- food or education in the project area and are dedens, the corn maze, the future health garden scribed below. area, the permaculture garden, the educational 1. Petting zoo plots, the educational center, the systematic gar- 2. Education center den and the landscape garden (Heimanshof). Ac- 3. Sense garden cording to the site observations and map studies, 4. Chicken cage the redefined project area also includes the public 5. Educational plots herb garden and its additional meadow area. The 6. Community garden reason is that the herb garden, with its theme and 7. Permaculture garden spatial location, is strongly connected to the proj- 8. Greenhouse ect area. The joining is a beneficial solution to avoid 9. Fruit tree garden vandalism in the herb garden and to create a tran- 10. Corn maze sition or entrance zone to the Heimanshof on the 11. Health garden (future plan) South-eastern side.

12. Systematic garden

13. Landscape garden/ forest area Surrounding built up area

14. Public herb garden The importance of the surrounding building system is the connection of the park to the city, to the residential area. As it can be seen in the North-western side, the building blocks are parallel to the edge of the park, and the only opening is overlapping with the entrance of the park. The South-western side connects differently into the fabric of the city. The buildings are arranged perpendicularly and a small transition zone is wedged inbetween the project area and the residential area. The close parallel buildings act as a second edge closing off the project area, whereas the South-western side has a more opened context with a transition zone which separates and leads the transition from the city fabric to the park.

Pathways and gates (opening hours) The North-western part of the project area is geometrically formed, the paved pathways are parallel and organized around the functional parts, the systematic garden has high percentage of paved surface coverage while the landscape gardens’ dirt pathway system is a more informal style.

The semi-public operation of the project area requires a system in order to keep the garden closed during specific time periods. The fencing and gate system results in two main areas, which are handled differently. The first is the petting zoo, community garden and educational areas, the second part is the Heimanshof. From eight existing gates, seven provide entry to the areas.

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

The mentioned first area is open to the public until 17:00 on weekdays, while the community garden users have their own keys to reach their rented plots anytime.

The second area, the Heimanshof, is only open until 16:00 on weekdays, and on weekends volunteers have the possibility to keep it open but are responsbile for patrol and access management.

Enclosure//edges The project area can be interpreted as a park within a park, separated by its location and the different operations systems (semi-public with specific opening hours).

The behaviour of edges, or the rate of enclosure, provides the connection or separation. The balance between connection and separation creates a healthy, peaceful, transparent and visually attractive environment.

The analysis of the project areas edges shows that no visual connection exists with the inner core of the Zuiderpark, and that the community garden is not separated from the petrol station.

Open-closed The inner core of the project area is fragmented by functions and clusters without visual connection. The difference between the landscape garden’s forest area and the petting zoo and community garden’s open field is very definite and visible.

Page 21

Summary Th e most import ant observat ion i s t h e un suit able use of e n closure in t he e dge s. Th e project area is more o p e n e d towards t h e pet rol st at ion t h an i t i s to t h e rest of t h e park. C on side rin g t h e exist in g f un ct ion s, an d t h e con ce pt s of h e alt h an d visitor at t act ion , t h e o p p o site is more appropriate .

Th e secon d an d n ot less impo r t a nt circumst an ce is t h e h idde n pos si b i l i t y of t h e Sout h -e ast corn er, as a n ew co n n e ct ion an d e nt ran ce zon e an d a l so a n ew f un ct ion (public h e rb garden ) .

Legend path project area

Project area

Surrounding built up area

1.

2.

3. 4.

6. 5.

10. 9. 7.

11. 8. 12.

13.

14.

Legend functional area education area food area

Legend pathway gate

Pathways and gates

Functional areas

Legend opening slightly closed closed very closed completely closed connection

Enclosure // edges

Legend closed area open area

Open-closed

Actor analysis

Page 24

Municipality

education center

ivn

permacult

DESCRIPTION Providor of green spaces for recreation and leisure activities. Recent interest in park to invest for future.

DESCRIPTION On-site extension of municipality. Offers common space and education for park user groups and wider community.

DESCRIPTION Organisation dedicated to educating the public on nature, sustainability and nature conservation.

DESCRIPTIO Organisation educating th sustainable ecology, hu vironmental

VISITATION & FREQUENCY

VISITATION & FREQUENCY

VISITATION & FREQUENCY

VISITATION &

presence

presence

presence

presence

operation

operation

operation

operation

open / closed

open / closed

open / closed

open / clo

vision food themed park, attraction

vision food theme, education

vision nature values, education

vision sustainable s cation

demographics predominantly Dutch

demographics predominantly Dutch

demographics predominantly Dutch

demographics predominant

power & saliency

power & saliency

power & saliency

power & saliency

Page 25

ture group

community garden users

frequent users

occasional visitors

ON n dedicated to he public on systems and uman and enhealth.

DESCRIPTION Community members renting a plot for one growing season for personal use.

DESCRIPTION Residents and users of project space, near-daily sports, recreation, and leisure.

DESCRIPTION Residents and users of the park for select activities and events.

& FREQUENCY

VISITATION & FREQUENCY

VISITATION & FREQUENCY

VISITATION & FREQUENCY

presence

presence

presence

operation

open / closed

operation

open / closed

operation

vision personal food production

vision leisure & recreation, family and personal time

vision leisure & recreation, family and personal time

demographics tly Dutch

demographics predominantly Dutch

demographics predominantly Dutch

demographics predominantly Dutch

saliency

power & saliency

power & saliency

power & saliency

osed

solutions, edu-

open / closed

SITE DESIGN

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

The project area contains an enormous amount of interesting areas that are well-maintained as well as loved by the visitors. The results of the study made during the eight week period show that users are satisfied with the project area and how new users can be attracted by promotion. According to the conducted study, no big changes and no new design is needed. Since we do not have the aspiration to change large parts of the current layout we focused on creating an ‘acupuncture’ design.

This means that we focus on certain hotspots, connections and boundaries. If we make these hotspots attractive with a sustainable and high quality design, we will have an acupuncture design that celebrates the current design by making it coherent and more accessible.

We have noticed however that the main parts of the project-area are often referred to as ‘secret’ or ‘hidden’ and are not very inviting. In the following chapter, starting with design principles, functional design and two conceptual designs we are providing a more sustainable environment. This will give visitors a chance to have a small peek of what is inside which will make them curious to come in and explore.

Page 27

These viewpoints will allow people to create an vision of what the area provides.

The second design principle shows how regular paths are used simply as a way to cross from one place to another. The paths we suggest for the entrance areas have small side-tracks that invite people in and give them space to rest or look around. The arrow which can be made on the pavement can easily draw people’s attention to go instine the area.

The third design principle shows the current entrance to the petting zoo with the hedges near the entrance. It makes the entrance very enclosed and not welcoming. Opening up this area will provide a wider view on the area, and people will be more curious to see what else they can discover if they move further.

The fourth design principle shows the transition area near the fence of the petting zoo and the small square. Although we have mentioned that some places need to be opened up more, we think that a small lane of cultivated trees (e.g. fruit trees) could provide a cosy shelter for people staying in this area. The directional path of the trees following the water directs visitors towards the educational and community gardens.

The last two design principles show how acDesign principles cessibility can be addressed on a detailed levSince we decided to focus our design on co- el. Wide paths with rounded off corners makes herence and accessibility we have created higher accessibility for all kinds of visitors, insome design principles that can be used as cluding people in wheelchairs or people with other disabilities. Another option for accessibility simple guidelines for an acupuncture design.

The first two design principles show that amongst a large focus group could be to create opening up parts in a line of trees or a closed raised planter beds. It provides easy access to set of trees can provide viewpoints and visual garden plots for elderly and physically disabled people. accessibility.

Design principles

open up the entrance and provide a wide view Page 28

Functional design

Detailed design

The functional concept design shows the mentioned acupuncture design spots for the whole project area, as well as the visual and functional connections in wider context. The main functional areas are reorganized from the current fragmented pattern to a more integrated system.

The new entrance zones (main entrance, new entrance and public herb garden) attract more people because of the quality of open space. The community garden is enlarged to offer more rentable plots and community functions to the users. The educational garden is also enlarged to create a space which shows different sustainable gardening solutions (e.g. vertical gardening or implement other education themed gardens).

The permaculture garden is moved to the back side of the project area to allow it to expand with an edible forest.

The suggested playground connects the different functional areas, allows space for kids to learn and play while spending time in a healthy, natural environment.

The Heimanshof stays spatially untouched except some carefully chosen, reopened areas to improve visual connections and thereby attractiveness.

The detailed designs show two possible inspirational models for entrances. The first one shows a remodelled version of the current main entrance. The second one shows a entrance that could be created in the east side of the Heemtuin in Heim a n s h o f.

T h e f i r s t d e s i g n s h o w s h o w t h e c u rrent main entrance could be re-modelled to make a more inviting appearance and to bring people into t h e e d u c a t i o n a l a n d c o m m u n i t y g a rdens. The design is focused on creating an open, but still comforting square-like place where people can s t o p a n d e n j o y.

The second design is carefully located at a place which is now very distant. The place where the entrance could be placed is right in a big opening between two groups of trees which makes it easily visible f r o m t h e b i g g r a s s f i e l d i n Z u i d e rpark. The entrance will directly link Heimanshof with the rest of the Zuiderpark.

open up closed boundaries

path are more inviting

vegetation as a cosy shelter, direction to viewpoint

increased accesibility on paths and garden beds

ENLARGED COMMUNITY GARDEN

PLAYGROUND PERMACULTURE FOREST

ENLARGED EDUCATION GARDEN

INCLUDED HERB GARDEN

ENTRANCE AREA

ENTRANCE AREA

Page 34

The Building On our first meeting with the commissioner, we were told about the plans for building a new building near Heimanshof which. The building will multi purposes such as a common space for the users of the park and it will contain offices for the employees. There are many different ways of using this building. We came up with activities which can be held in the building. The information is based on the answers of the park users who participated in the Workshop and filled in the Survey sheet.

The proposed activities are the following: Community kitchen workshops The users can share their cooking knowledge using organic produce which is bought at the Farmers’ market in Zuiderpark Community classroom The users can gain knowledge about different types of food produce and where it comes from. They can also share different recipes.

Green roofs The idea can be implemented on the roof of the building. It will make the building more sustainable and attractive.

Space for team building activities Business people can also make use of the building and spend quality time in the nature, away from stressful situations.

Workshops for children Children can learn more about gardening and different types of food and where the food comes from. They can learn which plants are safe and not safe to eat.

SUSTAINABLE INTERVENTIONS

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

Introduction & Strategy To achieve the desired objectives of increasing sustainability and visitors in the Northwest corner of the Zuiderpark, solutions must target a variety of factors. It can ultimately be seen as a combination the three elements of sustainability - or the triple bottom line, people - planet - profit. Overall, there are social aims, environmental aspects, and economic exchanges.

In our case, social aspects must receive particular attention, not only because of the end goals, but also its significance throughout the process. Moreover, many environmental or technical solutions will require human investment and maintenance, and must also be attractive to the public. Considering the amount of ‘man-power’ that goes into park management, and also the myriad of activities and projects taking place, more attention could be paid on how to harness this power and energy from within. By coordinating and communicating efforts, sharing resources, and exchanging ideas, perhaps a certain type of synergy could be created, the idea that 1+1=3, where the whole would become greater than the sum of its parts. This approach, however, cannot be so simply manifested with a clear cut division between short and long term, or small and large scale. Instead, a comprehensive plan is presented that is comprised of intervention ideas, or sustainability solutions, that can be chosen in isolation or in any combination. These include suggestions and concepts related to the site itself, food and health, and sustainability more broadly.

Page 37

Seeing that many are already in practice, a more serious site intervention is largely a question of harnessing the synergy of the space and community, scaling up projects, and making them accessible and attractive to the public.

Sustainability Assessment Tool In view of the social aspects of the park and project, and much less emphasis on economic factors, this tool was developed to go beyond environmental and technical solutions to sustainability. The purpose is to aid in decision-making, as a holistic and balanced reflection of the elements of sustainability in the Heimanshof, and surrounding gardens and spaces. Depending on the goals and priorities, different parts can be emphasized for different results. Some methods to make assessments would be a cost-benefit analysis, or measuring impacts and outcomes of possible interventions to current situations. The tool is divided up into the following categories and indicators which are open to interpretation and further development.

Categories: Personal experience-oriented (education, eco-therapy, peace & serenity, socializing)

- relationship (level of engagement/ commitment as work/volunteer, renter/owner, visitor)

- interaction with space (with family, personal/solitary, time, parts or whole) Ecological - resources (conservation/preservation/renewables, in terms of shares, usage)

Page 38

- diversity (ecosystems, but also social ecology)

- food and health (human and environmental, natural/eco/organic versus mainstream products or methods) Organizational

- events, activities and functions

- capacity, human will and networking

- access (time, space, special needs, garden plot rental system, etc) Social

- visitors (volume, behavior, awareness)

- garden plots/users/renters

- fairness (across time, space, society)

Food focus Permaculture Permaculture is a term generated from words “permanent” and “culture”. It presents a system of agricultural and social design principles with a focus on simulating or even utilizing the patterns which are observed in natural ecosystems (King, 1911).

Sustainable solutions such as permaculture are often seen as problematic and not attractive to the public. However permaculture is just a method of growing plants, and if done properly, can be attractive, sustainable, and economical, and has been practiced throughout human history. One permaculture technique is grafting trees in order to create more different species which can adapt faster in the new environment.

Intercropping is also a technique which consist of different plant species which benefit from each other for example pest control or nutrient value (King, 1911). However the main permaculture technique we propose in Zuiderpark is the food forest, which will provide food in a sustainable and eco-friendly environment.

Food forest The concept of food forest is based on the art of permaculture and science of putting plants together for managing agricultural landscapes in harmony with nature. By putting these plants together in woodland-like patterns, it is possible to forge mutually beneficial relationships and create a sustainable garden system. A food forest or edible forest garden represents perennial, low maintenance crops that leverage natural nutrient inputs, drainage patterns and climate to achieve a self-sustainable, food-producing ecosystem. Food forests can produce food items such as fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms and other plants by mimicking natural ecosystems. It is a beautiful, diverse, high-yield garden. Food forest gardens can be largely self-maintaining if it is designed with care and a deep understanding of the ecological processes in the site and the ecosystem functions (Jacke & Toensmeier, 2005).

There are four key aspects of forest ecology: community architecture, ecosystem social structure, the structures of the underground economy (nutrients), and how the community changes through time (also known as succession).

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

In the architectural features there are five important elements in forest gardening: soil horizon, soil structure, vegetation patterning, vegetation density and community diversity, influence yields, plants pest, pest and disease dynamic, maintenance requirements, and overall community character (Jacke & Toensmeier, 2005).

By choosing the appropriate species, it is possible to create a food web and a guild structure, forming an ecosystem social structure.

Through this, the species will be able to maintain a balance allowing the food forest to reach its climax (Jacke & Toensmeier, E. 2005). Using the food web, it is possible to visualise the underground economy, or the way nutrients are used. All plants have their own root patterns, growth, nutrients absorption rate etc. which are key components in order to erect a self-renewing fertility in natural ecosystems. They help by creating organic matter, and attract soil organisms. Some of them can even be “dynamic accumulator” plants that can stock nutrients in leaves which will then fall on the ground, fertilizing again for the next season (Jacke & Toensmeier, 2005).

Ecosystems are dynamic and ever-changing, a plant succession is non-linear but through patch (Metapopulation theory), and even though for a specific community you can have the “immature”, “mature”, and “climax” stage, the climax is almost never reach since often a disturbance occur. This general dynamic is something to take into account when creating a edible food garden (Jacke & Toensmeier, 2005).

Page 39

This food theme solution is socially and ecologically sustainable, moreover it is possible to grow an edible forest/garden even in a small land area (9 by 15m, or smaller) and under any climate (Jacke & Toensmeier, 2005).

With the seven different layers, what is characteristic for a food forest, and the keys aspect of food forests, it is then possible to create an appropriate design which can serve a specific goal: increase of popularity, a more sustainable area, reconnect the community with the origin of food, and more (Jacke & Toensmeier, 2005).

Proper knowledge and preparation is essential to create a food forest. Site analysis helps us understand if the site need to be altered, and how. The choice of plants is also very important in order to have the best usage of the plants. Once it is in place, the best part begins: management, harvest and co-evolution (Jacke & Toensmeier, 2005).

Zuiderpark will greatly benefit from a food forest that can provide free food to its visitors.

It will serve to bring more visitors to the park.

By walking through the forest and gardens and experiencing the same food-related experience, they can connect through the common topics. It is also possible to educate visitors about seeds, insects, medicinal plants, etc. and the symbiosis between us and nature.

By letting nature take its course, it is not needed to use any chemical or artificial components for a better growth of the plants. In the long run, the soil will recover, and retrieve the balance of miscellaneous natural cycles such as nitrogen, water or biomass, producing better products for human consumption.

Page 40

Green walls The popularity of green walls or vertical green structures has been a recent development related to the importance of urban farming, owing to their aesthetic qualities but also their ability to change microclimate, attract and increase biodiversity or to build insulation. However, vertical farming has its focus and strenght on smart use of water, soil and most importantly on space while producing food.

Considering the size of the project area and the future goals, such as a new building and the expansion of the range of food production and new technologies, both types can be implemented.

Green walls can play an important role as smart solutions for using the project areas limited space for food production/education without any building as well as creating a more sustainable building.

To have a better insight to the constantly developing green wall system world, it is important to make a clear distinction between different types, technologies, approaches. Authors are using different terms from ‘vertical garden’ (Bass, Liu, & Baskaran, 2003), ‘green vertical system’ (Pérez, et. al., 2011) or ‘vertical greening system’ (Perini, et.al., 2011) as an overall expression, whereas some sources using the well-known ‘green wall’ term to describe every way of vertical gardening, which enables greening in vertical surfaces with any technology or plant collection. Green walls are subdivided into two main categories: green facades and living walls (Manso, & Castro-Gomes, 2015). Green facades are based on technical solutions to hang or climb plants vertically (Manso, & Castro-Gomes, 2015).

Living walls are using more difficult technical solutions and support structures including a planter system and growing medium to allow non-climbing plants to root and grow along the wall (Natarajan, Rahimi, Sen, Mackenzie, & Imanbayev, 2015).

System overview of green walls after (Manso, & Castro-Gomes, 2015) and (Maslauskas, 2015) indicating the suitability as free-standing solution in the project area. The suitability based on site specifically considering the capacity for food production, the maintenance and construction needed and the possibility to apply as a free-standing solution (no building involved).

- Green facades

- Direct

-Traditional green facade

- Indirect

-Trellis/modular trellis system

-Cable, wire or rope system - Living walls

- Continuous

-Vegetated mat system

- Modular

- Modular compartment/tray system

- Flexible bag system Considering the suitability and effectiveness of the systems in the space and its development to a food themed park not all the systems can be used. Most of the vegetables are annual plants, their replacement is needed yearly, in continuous living wall systems this process is difficult and the system is vulnerable. Also, the construction system is lightweight where exact weight calculations are necessary.

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

Page 41

Whereas vegetables with their growing edible Modular living walls parts causing some uncertainty, the more ro- In case of modular living walls, the cultivabust constructions can handle it. For food cul- tion possibilities are not limited to the plants tivation, modular living wall systems or green growing form (not only climbing plants are facades are more suitable. suitable). The irrigation and growing medium management is more efficient, however the Use of green wall systems in the project area establishment is more expensive. In site, the possibilities of using modular free standing, Indirect green facades Site specifically, the indirect facades is one of double sided walls are endless from growing the most costly and space effective, traditional herbs and vegetables or experimenting with way to grow climbing vegetables using the soil. edible flowers, root vegetables.

In regards to irrigation, the use of the soil base Modular compartment/tray system is not more effective than the normal soil using Consisting a support or holder construction for the modules, which can be compartments planting techniques. or other trays. The module contains the rootTrellis/modular trellis system ing medium and also the pre-grown plants Consists of a continuous or panel-like rigid, lightweight wire-made from steel to ensure (Maslauskas, 2015). support for climbing plants. The system’s ad- Flexible bag system vantage that it can be either attached to an Similar to the modular compartment system, existing wall or can be free-standing with a an extra support construction is needed. In the heavier support construction. Considering the case of flexible bags, the module is a speciflimitations of vegetation (the possible grooving ic textile bag filled with the growing medium height) the system can be multi-storey. While in and it has either pockets or other openings for case of the free standing arrangement it can be the individual plants to grow. double sided to use the space most effectively (Maslauskas, 2015).

Cable, wire or rope system As a continuous and adjustable system, it uses a wire net to give the foundation to plants to grow and climb. Cables are more suitable for fast growing species, whereas rope nets for example are used to support slower growing or heavier plants. A supplementary construction is needed either in case of attaching it to a building or using it free-standingly (Maslauskas, 2015).

Farmers market (boerenmarkt) in Zuiderpark From neighbors to neighbors!

Farmers markets are retail markets featuring organic food produce sold directly from farmers to customers. In The Hague, there are nine markets in total which include only one small farmers market (biological market) which is located in the city center in the Hofweg Street. It is open every Wednesday from 10am until 6pm.

Page 42

A public market is also located near Zuiderpark in Leyweg Street in The Hague. This market is open every Tuesday between 9am and 5pm, and it offers different general goods and food.

Farmers markets are places where people come together. The benefit is that buyers have a chance to buy organic and healthy products, and sellers have an opportunity to earn extra money for the invested effort in gardening. The existing farmers market in The Hague is quite small, and consists of only 20 stalls. The market in Zuiderpark can expand the capacities of farmers markets and local food production on the regional level.

This corner of the Zuiderpark is a perfect place for organizing an organic market in The Hague where people who are renting plots can sell their produce directly from gardens to customers. The purpose of a farmers market in the Zuiderpark can also be educational, where sellers can share their experiences with renting plots in the park, producing food and where the food comes from.

The farm-to-table program, or in this case garden-to-table refers to the different stages of food production which includes harvesting, processing, packaging, selling and consuming food. It also refers to the movement of the locally produced produce which is delivered to the local people. In that case, local farmers can instead of overproducing and wasting food, deliver food to their customers, their neighbors, on their demand for a certain fee.

The recent attention has been drawn toward buying local produce in order to reduce harmful emissions which result from transporting the goods from different parts of the world. While not always an option for some produce, locally grown food is a good alternative for many mass produced food (Baumer et al., 2011).

Organic food has been positioned as a way to connect urban eaters to more rural way of living and consuming food. Many sustainable agriculture experts say that consuming local food is a way for eaters to gain a better understanding of the natural features such as soil structure and weather patterns of their region. It often happens that food producers educate customers on the importance of this. Some bioregional writers in US emphasize that the connection of local place and local people can encourage practical environmental sustainability (Alkon, 2008).

The results of the study conducted in June this year showed that visitors are interested in having a farmers market in the Zuiderpark. This project would require organizing a second research and outreach effort to local farmers and community gardeners to see if they are interested in selling their produce on the market. If the results of the research are positive for both sides, the next phase of the project would require organizing the space where the market could take place.

The existing buildings could be used for organizing cooking and educational workshops for children and adults.

Page 43

Resource cycles/systems Water Section Between rising urban populations, precipitation, and paved surfaces, we are confronted with problems of water management, from sweet to brackish to waste waters.

This water cycle is important to maintain other networks, such as energy, transportation and roads, and agricultural production. Decreasing freshwater availability will highlight the importance of urban hydrology as an important part of sustainable cities. The park can play an integral part in its surrounding neighborhoods to demonstrate sustainable water cycles as well as provide relief to increasing precipitation induced by climate change.

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) combines the disciplines of water management, urban design and landscape planning to design and improve urban water cycles.

The main objective of this concept is to address the demands of sustainable stormwater management in urban planning. While mainly focusing on rainwater, which present the biggest challenge in cities (impermeability), the WSUD takes into account the management of the whole water system, across natural and urban cycles. By managing the stormwater, the quantity of runoff water will decrease, protecting the city from various flood and from an over charge of the structure dealing with this water (Hoyer, Dickhaut & Weber. 2011).

Based on Urban Stormwater - Best Practice Environmental Management Guidelines of the Victorian Stormwater Committee (The Urban Stormwater Best Practice Environmental Management Guidelines 1999), the goals of WSUD are:

- Protection of natural water systems within urban developments;

- Protection of the water quality by using filtration and retention techniques;

- Reduction of stormwater runoff and peak flows by using local detention and retention measures and minimizing impervious areas;

- Reduction of drainage infrastructure and the related development costs, whilst improving sustainability and amenity of urban areas; - Integration of stormwater management into the landscape by incorporating multiple use corridors that contribute to the visual and recreational amenity of urban areas ( H o y e r, D i c k h a u t & We b e r. 2 0 1 1 ) ; Fro m t h o s e g o a l s , p r i n c i p l e s we re drawn and by which techniques were found in accordance with the WSUD. By dealing with the stormwater beforehand by landscape planning, we will be able to bring them back to a nature-oriented water cycle in the c i t y ( H o y e r, D i c k h a u t & We b e r. 2 0 1 1 ) .

Page 44

According to Hoyer, Dickhaut and Weber (2011) various methods can be developed: Rainwater use

- Rainwater harvesting Treatment

- Bioretention

- Biotopes

- Gravel or sand filters Detention and infiltration

- Rooftop retention

- Permeable paving

- Infiltration zones and trenches

- Swales

- Geocellular systems

- Detention ponds Conveyance

- Open stormwater canals/drains Evapotranspiration

- Passive evapotranspiration

- Active evapotranspiration By looking at those methods, we notice a great number of them can be, if they are not already implemented in the park, such as infiltration zones, biotopes for water treatment, or rainwater capture for miscellaneous usages. Harvested rainwater is of sufficient quality for use in replacing toilet water flushing demand, or in agricultural irrigation (Hoyer, Dickhaut & Weber. 2011).

Urban drainage systems

Another issue is that water that does seep into the soil can sometimes be polluted with sediments or an excess of nutrients. Sustainable urban drainage systems help mitigate these problems by creating a more natural water system (Jones & Macdonald, 2007).

Conventional drainage systems just discharge the water into runoff pipes, typically in a combined sewer system. Sustainable drainage systems reduce and slow down the runoff of water in urban areas, help protect the water quality and the surrounding biodiversity, are a durable natural solution and can be adjusted to the (aesthetic) needs of the local community (Charlesworth et al., 2003).

Water that is conventionally discharged through drainage pipes has to be managed differently. A few possibilities include: Infiltration

- Let the water seep through the surface and underlying soil easily. - E.g. Permeable pavement, infiltration trenches, rain gardens.

Retention

- Store the water temporarily at a local scale. - E.g. Retention basins, flood plains, rain gardens.

Evapotranspiration

- Water can evaporate from water surfaces or when it is absorbed by vegetation. E.g. Rain gardens.

Rain Gardens

In urban environments the drainage discharge is much higher than in rural areas, A rain garden is a patch of cultivated garden and the infiltration of water in the soil is a placed in a shallow depression. lot lower.

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

The soil in this garden can easily absorb and drain water, unlike impervious surfaces like; roofs, paved surfaces or parts or developed land would do. The gardens are used to slow down the water runoff from impervious surfaces into drainpipes and the water system (Teague et al., n.d.). But they are also used to filter the water from too many nutrients, rubbish and sediments, which might otherwise pollute the water system (Dietz & Clausen, 2006).

The plants in the garden are rain resistant can withstand short periods of flooding. Mostly deeply rooted plants are used because they absorb the water and the excess of nutrients.

The grains in the soil can capture sediments and rubbish. The soil can also retain the water for around 48 hours (Teague et al., n.d.).

The best way to place rain gardens is where water can runoff into the garden freely, either near drainpipes from the roof or near paved surfaces that deal with a lot of water runoff after some rainfall. The rain gardens could be placed next to buildings or at small patches in between paved surfaces (Bray et al., n.d.).

Since they are not only a water retention areas but also a green, planted area it can be an aesthetically as well as ecologically pleasing solution for rain water excess or pollution.

The rainwater gardens could also be placed in-between or around the community gardens. In that way, they could soak up the excess of nutrients that are put in the soil by the fertilization for the gardening or agricultural purposes.

Page 45

Waste and nutrient cycle In recent years, people are becoming more aware that recycling is important and needed because of resource scarcity and pollution problems related to linear urban metabolisms. If one were to intervene in the cycle to recover resources, it is possible to use those cycle, by understanding them, to maintain or create a more sustainable place, and a more attractive place.

For example, compost is widely known concept. In The Hague, most likely, everyone has the opportunity to sort their waste. Through further decomposition, the organic waste becomes a rich natural fertilizer. By understanding these concepts, it is possible to create space and elements to improve the creation of compost. By combining green and organic waste the waste fluid will be absorbed allowing more air to penetrate the pile of waste.

By allowing more air in the waste, aerobic decomposition of the organic matter will be in place, releasing no smell, contrary to an anaerobic (without air) decomposition.

Compost can be used to naturally add nutrients and micronutrients to the soil, and improve its structure and texture. It will boost plant growth on a sustainable way avoiding artificial fertilizers. Compost will rejuvenate the soil, balance pH, and close the nutrient cycle, and is a prime example of the cradle-to-cradle principle, waste = food.

Waste can be used on many different ways, for example using recycling material (bottles, glass or similar) to create art.

Page 46

The creation of a space dedicated to recycling will bring people which are either interested in art, but also people who are supporting sustainable solutions. These exhibits will make people realize the potentials of materials previously considered as waste.

Energy Sustainable energy Sustainable energy is gaining interest in political, economic and environmental discussions. One of the main reasons behind this is the insufficiency of the conventional energy sources to meet future energy demands (Everett, et. al., 2012). The energy raised to be a dilemma with its three pillars; oil, carbon and growing demand. Our current energy dependence on oil is 40 percent, and on fossil fuels 85 percent, which has big implications and risks for economic, environmental and national security (Randolph, & Masters, 2008).

According to Everett et. al, sustainable energy sources can be described with three requirements: (1) they are not depleted by continued use; (2) they do not emit pollutants or other hazards to human or ecological and climate health (3) they do not perpetuate social injustices (2012, p. 10).

Similarly, creating a more energy sustainable future is based on three pillars. Improving the efficiency of energy use, replacing oil as an energy source and increasing carbon-free, renewable energy sources. Thus arises the question, what is the way towards this future?

One of the points is to develop advanced sustainable energy technologies for an efficient production as well as use. Another really important aspect is the consumer and community choice to invest in sustainable technologies, while the role of public policies is to enhance this choice through incentives and regulations (Randolph & Masters, 2008).

One of the indicated points to achieve sustainability in energy use is the choice of the consumer and the community to invest in sustainable technologies. The way to change a community’s habits is founded in education, to make them aware about their choices, the circumstances and consequences in context of our energy consumption. And what is the most important to show the alternative and required solutions to make better choices for the future. The municipality sets an example to its community through the decisions it makes and how it fulfills its responsibility to provide goods and services.

The opportunity of the project area is to show, in operation, the use of renewable energy sources in small human scale to help them understand the new possibilities. Also to educate people about the changing circumstances and dangers of fossil fuels and our dependence on energy.

The solutions can be demonstrated and used in the project area, considering the available site and resources: Solar energy

- Solar panels

- Transparent solar panels

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

- Solar pavement

- Solar thermal collectors Wind power

- Microturbines

Page 47

Biogas production seems to be an unwise idea to establish in the project site, however with the locally produced manure from the petting zoo and the possibly increasing food waste (with events or any catering unit as a future developBiogas ment) biogas could be made mostly to show another way of energy production from local mateSolar panels and a wind turbine are already rials and from food waste which is an increasing used in the park for demonstration and actu- problem around the world. al energy production. We have no information about the capacity, effectiveness or oth- Sports and Recreation er technical details about the existing solar energy system (production, storage, use). Ev- Meetup point for sports and other activities ery energy system can be more sustainable, more effective, the solar panel density can The Zuiderpark can be a perfect meetup point be increased b using it on other buildings for the people who do different sports in The of the site. The possible future building also Hague. According to the results of the conductshows numerous options to use solar panels. ed research, the visitors of Zuiderpark like doing One of the outstanding new inventions is the sports in the park (running, walking, swimming, transparent solar panel technology, which is cycling etc.). Organizing group trainings could a water clean solar panel can be used just bring more people to the space, and also bring as glass. The possible use is changing win- them together so they can share their experiencdows and glass surfaces to energy produc- es. tive transparent solar panels (the technolo- Some proposed sports that could meet or pracgies effectiveness and specific construction tice in northwest corner of the Zuiderpark are:

- Eco therapy details are not detailed in this report).

- Tai Chi and Yoga on open space Another solar panel invention is the walkable

- Critical mass (riding bicycle on the solar panel or solar pavement. The pavement exactly working like solar panels but also as streets of The Hague) - Adult and Children marathons a modular pavement. The most important - Adrenalin park and rock climbing feature of solar pavements the ability to save

- Geocaching extra space, contrary to solar panel farms.

The meeting point can be in front of the petting Solar thermal collectors are not new inventions but their ability to produce warm water zoo in the open space. The building facilities can for consumer use and heating, makes them be used for sportsmen to refresh themselves or use toilets. interesting to use and show to people.

Page 48

Eco therapy

The landscape garden would be a perfect place to implement the forest adrenaline The term ‘ecotherapy’ serves an umbrella term park. According to the survey and workshop for different techniques and practices of healing results, respondents are missing activities in the human mind by connecting it with the natthis part of the park. The adrenaline park can ural world. It includes horticultural therapy, time be a good activity for people to get together stress management, spending time in nature and spend time in the natural environment, and also animal-assisted therapy (Burls, 2007). while learning about different climbing and Burls (2007) concluded that ‘disconnection survival skills. These activities encourage from the natural world in which we evolved proopen mindedness and overcoming fears. duces a variety of psychological symptoms that include anxiety, frustration, and depression” (p. Geocaching 64). He also end with how reconnecting to the nature not only lessens mentioned symptoms, Geocaching is a website and program where but makes people healthier, increases their people use geolocalisation to find miscellaself-esteem, self-relatedness, social connec- neous hidden packages which are mapped for people to find using GPS. An application tion and joy. for mobile phones was also developed which Adrenaline Park and Rock Climbing help people to find those packages. Inside the packages are different objects that peoAn adrenaline park is an area which consists of ple left behind. Users are free to take somevariety of activities such as rock climbing, ropes, thing from the cache and replace it with obstacle courses, balance exercises and more. something else. They also write about what The goal of these activities is to overcome fears, they have discovered in the package on their improve motor abilities and concentration, pracprofile and the website of the application. tice balance, increase endurance and improve There are no geocaching places in Heiteam spirit. It can be practiced by both adults manshof, petting zoo, educational gardens and children under professional supervision. nor community gardens. Nevertheless, geoThe polygon requires professional safety ascaching boxes can be installed in Heimansistance persons who are trained for these kind shof, educational garden or petting zoo, and of activities. The participants must be secured displayed on the geocaching map. The game with safety equipment, such as helmets and can bring people together to the park where harnesses, and tightened by a double knot for they can explore places which they haven’t safety cable and be supervised. The obstacles explored yet. This is a fun game which is simcan be placed on any height, but preferably, it ilar to treasure hunting, but instead of paper should be placed closer to the ground. maps, electronic maps are being used.

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

Also , s i m i l ar trea s u re hu nting games co u ld b e i mp l em ented in Heim a n sh of a nd e d u c at i o na l g a rden, fo r example se a rc h i n g fo r a s pec ific pla nt s pecies a nd h ow to u s e them . T he m es sage s ca n b e h i d d e n wi thin the pa r k a nd con ta i n d i f fe re nt us a g es of the p la nts an d w hat are t h e i r o r igi ns . Us er s c a n also co nt r i b u te by s ha r i ng di fferent recipes a nd h ow to p rep a re di fferent fo o d an d u se t h e h e r b s .

Open s pa c es The b i g g e s t b enefit a nd highly valu e d as p e c t of the Zu ider pa r k a re wide a nd o p e n s p a ces , whi c h c a n b e de si g ne d i n t h e no r thwes t co r ner to sati sfy a p l et h o ra of needs a nd wa nt s by i nstal l i n g te m po ra r y a nd/o r s eason al p roje c t s . P sycho lo gi c a lly, peo ple prefe r gre e n , o p e n s pa ces i n the cit ie s, b u t al s o re s t i ng a rea s where they can fre e t h e i r mi n d a nd enj oy fres h a ir an d natu re .

I n th e Zu i d e r pa r k, o pen s pa ces c an be e nhan ce d by im plem enti ng c han ges su ch as b u i l ding m u lti p u r po s e pavili o ns, o rg an i z i ng o pen exhibi ti o ns, org a niz i n g s mal l fa ir s a nd fu n p a r ks, an d ho ld i n g eve nt s a nd a c ti v ities . Th e se o p e n s p ace s c a n have di fferent seaso nal p u r p o s es , fo r exa m ple, i t can ho st swap / f l ea m a r kets , o pen- a ir f ilm scre e n i n g s , o r co ncer ts , a nd c a n also ho u s e b i g g e r events like des ign exposi ti o n s o r h o l i day m a r kets o r fes tivals.

Page 49

CONCLUSION

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

Although the current state of the park is impressive and includes various urban agricultural techniques, some additional design strategies have been discussed and considered.

This space also has an incredible history, capacity, and unlocked potential for educational opportunities and community empowerment.

While working on this project we discovered a lack of presence, which can be attributed to a few pivotal factors. First, little interaction takes place between visitors and park management.

This is echoed further by users of the gardens reporting an absence of coordination and collaboration, and ultimately a true sense of community. Perhaps most obvious is that the northwest corner lacks a unifying theme and a proper name. Through our community outreach efforts, we can conclude that users love the Zuiderpark just the way it is today, and only minor changes for the improvement were proposed by the users. We also discovered that most of our ideas were actually already present in the park itself or in the minds of the current users and the municipality.

Interventions we would like to explore in the redesign include expanding permaculture practices through the concept of a food forest within the landscapes, particularly for the already existing area of the educational garden, as well as vertical gardens, which would increase access to community gardening and significantly expand local food systems. We also proposed ideas for different sport activities and workshops which can be done in this part of the park.

Page 51

Suggestions were also put forth to open up entrance areas in order to make the park more welcoming and attractive for new users.

These strategies are in line with an ‘acupuncture’ approach to development, with smaller, more concise and targeted interventions to enhance spaces and communities, and are multifunctional in the aspects they touch upon.

Based on the research results, we propose sustainable solutions and design ideas that are in agreement with the input we received from the community. Our ideas, which are presented as distinct options, can be evaluated by the Municipality, who can then choose which ideas are appropriate and possible to implement in this area of the Zuiderpark.

We hope that Municipality of The Hague will take this paper into consideration before starting to redesign the Heimanshof, gardens, and surrounding features. This paper contains important information and feedback retrieved from the actual users of the park and a personalized tool developed to aid in future decision-making. Their opinion matters the most in order to make Zuiderpark more attractive and welcoming not only for present users but also for the future generations. We also hope this project has highlighted the strengths within the park, and revealed resources and potential that will make the space more sustainable in the years to come. Any interventions in the space should take people into account as its primary consideration, not just in terms of increasing or decreasing sustainability, but as a means to achieve it.

REFERENCES

Page 52

Alkon, A. (2008). Paradise or pavement: the social constructions of the environment in two urban farmers’ markets and their implications for environmental justice and sustainability. Local Environment, 13(3), 271-289.

Bardot, J. B. (2012, May 16). Benefits to composting for organic sustainability in natural vegetable gardens. Retrieved from http://www.naturalnews.com Bass, B., Liu, K. K. Y., & Baskaran, B. A. (2003). Evaluating rooftop and vertical gardens as an adaptation strategy for urban areas.

Baumer, E.P.S., Halpern, M., Khovanskaya, V., and Gay, G. K. (2011). The Practice of Everyday Sustainability: the View from a Farmers’ Market. in Everyday Practice and Sustainability: Understanding and Learning from Cultures of (Un)Sustainability, Workshop at ACM SIGCHI Conference, (Vancouver, BC).

Bray, B., Gedge, D., Grant, G., Leuthvilay, L. (n.d.) Rain garden guide. RESET Development. Retreived on 29-06-2016, from http://raingardens.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/UK-RainGarden-Guide.pdf Brundtland Commission. (1987). Our common future, Chapter 2: Towards sustainable development. World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED). Geneva: United Nation.

Burls, A. (2007). People and green spaces: promoting public health and mental well-being through ecotherapy. Journal of Public Mental Health, 6(3), 24-39.

Charlesworth, S. M., Harker, E., & Rickard, S. (2003). A review of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS): A soft option for hard drainage questions?. Geography, 99-107.

Dietz, M. E., & Clausen, J. C. (2006). Saturation to improve pollutant retention in a rain garden.

Environmental science & technology, 40(4), 1335-1340.

Everett, R., Boyle, G., Peake, S., & Ramage, J. (2012). Energy systems and sustainability: power for a sustainable future. Oxford University Press.

Hoyer, J., Dickhaut, W., Kronawitter, L., & Weber, B. (2011). Water sensitive urban design: principles and inspiration for sustainable stormwater management in the city of the future. Hamburg, Germany: Jovis

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

Page 53

Jacke, D., & Toensmeier, E. (2005). Edible Forest Gardens, Volume One: Ecological Vision and Theory for Temperate Climate Permaculture. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing.

Jones, P., & Macdonald, N. (2007). Making space for unruly water: Sustainable drainage systems and the disciplining of surface runoff. Geoforum, 38(3), 534-544.

King, F. H. (1911). Farmers of forty centuries: or, permanent agriculture in China, Korea and Japan. Mrs. FH King.

Manso, M., & Castro-Gomes, J. (2015). Green wall systems: A review of their characteristics.

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 41, 863-871.

Mars, R. (2005). The basics of permaculture design. Chelsea Green Publishing.

Maslauskas, T. (2015). OF THE REPORT: GREEN WALLS. The vertical planting systems.

Mollison, B., Slay, R. M., Girard, J. L., Bourgignon, C., & Bourguignon, L. (1991). Introduction to permaculture. Tyalgum,, Australia: Tagari Publications.

Natarajan, M., Rahimi, M., Sen, S., Mackenzie, N., & Imanbayev, Y. (2015). Living wall systems: evaluating life-cycle energy, water and carbon impacts. Urban Ecosystems, 18(1), 1-11.

Pérez, G., Rincón, L., Vila, A., González, J. M., & Cabeza, L. F. (2011). Green vertical systems for buildings as passive systems for energy savings. Applied energy, 88(12), 4854-4859.

Perini, K., Ottelé, M., Fraaij, A. L. A., Haas, E. M., & Raiteri, R. (2011). Vertical greening systems and the effect on air flow and temperature on the building envelope. Building and Environment, 46(11), 2287-2294.

Randolph, J., & Masters, G. M. (2008). Energy for sustainability: technology, planning, policy.

Island Press.

Smith, J. R. (2013). Tree crops: a permanent agriculture. Island Press.

Teague, K., Daniels, M., Pennington, J., Brown, M. (n.d.). Rain gardens and stormwater. University of Arkansas, Division of agriculture research and extension. Retreived on 29-06-2016, from http://www.uaex.edu/ Unknown author. (2001) Welkom in het Zuiderpark. Facilitaire dienst Multimedia-denhaag. Retrieved on 29-06-2016, from: http://zhbsdata.zuiderparkhbs.de/Zuiderpark-brochure.pdf

APPENDIX

Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark

Page 55

APPENDIX 1 Workshop outline APPENDIX 2 Workshop timeline APPENDIX 3 Online and On-site Survey sheet APPENDIX 4 Online and On-site Survey results APPENDIX 5 Seeds for the future in Zuiderpark flyer