SAVA VALLEY ROOTS, a landscape strategy for the linear village in the network city by Seppe Broekx

SAVA VALLEY ROOTS A landscape strategy for the linear village in the network city

Hannelore Thomas

SAVA VALLEY ROOTS A landscape strategy for the linear village in the network city

ABSTRACT Sava valley roots is a strategy deploying a careful insertion of trees, slopes, trails and local development in the Sava river valley transforming it into a resilient asset for todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ljubljana. The once evident parallel relation between river, agricultural land, main road and linear village sequence, has changed over time. With the arrival of new transport paradigms the linear model is almost wiped out, replaced by other patterns such as the network model. This landscape strategy aims at a coexistence of several mobility systems and paradigms, following both linear and networked formal strategies. The project distinguishes two parallel zones with great potential, defined by the topography: the wet- and the fertile strip; a buffer during floods and a provider of fresh food on the local scale. The insertion of trees improves the ecology of each zone. A network of new trails increases the accessibility and an indication of local development shows how the villages can expand. By including specific programmes, such as a resting point on a dike and an agropark, a network emerges of recreational nodes, connected by trails. The Sava valley ground becomes more robust, literally due to the strength of the tree roots, but as well by considering the historical roots of the linear village system. The distinct pattern subtly indicates how the villages have adapted to new conditions. The area gains value by creating a counterforce to the brutal network infrastructure crossing the landscape.

Studio Balkan 2014-2015 Author: Hannelore Thomas Promotors: Ward Verbakel Tom Thys Readers: Bieke Cattoor Darja Marincek Erik De Deyn Thesis submitted to obtain the degree of Master of Engineering: Architecture

© Copyright KU Leuven Without written permission of the promoters and the authors it is forbidden to reproduce or adapt in any form or by any means any part of this publication. Requests for obtaining the right to reproduce or utilize parts of this publication should be addressed to K.U.Leuven, Faculty of Engineering – Kasteelpark Arenberg 1, B-3001 Heverlee (België). Telefoon +32- 16-32 13 50 & Fax. +32-16-32 19 88. A written permission of the promotor is also required to use the methods, products, schematics and programs described in this work for industrial or commercial use, and for submitting this publication in scientific contests. All images in this booklet are, unless credits are given, made or drawn by the author.

THANK YOU, Ward and Tom. The intensive guidance made this a sleepless, but so instructive year. Being ever critical, enthusiast and motivating pushed me, and this thesis, in a direction I would never have guessed one year ago. Many darlings were killed, but better ones were (hopefully) born. Bieke Cattoor (your input was always so to the point), Erik De Deyn and Darja Marincek, for the time you spent on this project. Studio Balkan. In de Molen, we laughed together and we (almost) cried together. The critical opinions, the hammock, the ice creams, the dinner dates, they all helped. Margot, Margaux and Kaat. You made me relativize and remind me that architecture is not the only relevant thing in this world. Mama, for always picking up the I-cannot-do-this-anymore calls. Papa, for at least trying to understand that an architecture student can neither finish a project days, or even hours, before the deadline, nor study a math course throughout the semester. Thank you both for the last minute proofreading. Charlie, for the advice on layout, colours and so much more.

INDEX PROLOGUE

DISCOVERY OF THE SAVA VALLEY

The Sava valley Linear sequence The wetland The fertile land The urban land Two enclosed strips Roots for the Sava valley REDISCOVERY OF THE SAVA VALLEY

26 41 43

Four tools

Insertion of trees Insertion of slopes Insertion of trails Insertion of small-scale development The wetland as water regulator The fertile land for local food production

58 60

EPILOGUE

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sava

Ljubljanica

The linear valley

The radial city

The concentric city

The network city

PROLOGUE Sava valley roots is one of the two sequels to The urban transformation of Ljubljana, written with Seppe Broekx. In this first part four city models, all still tangible in today’s tissue, helped us to interpret the morphology of Ljubljana. The northeast of Ljubljana, with the Štajerska cesta as the most recent infrastructure development, is an example of the simultaneous presence of the linear, the radial, the concentric and the network model. As the title suggests, I concentrate on the area along the Sava valley. Through time the linear villages emerged along the Sava river, and were connected by a parallel road. In the radial city, this line got connected with the city centre. The bypass in the concentric city created a clear division between the villages and what is now considered the city. With this, the pressure of future housing development has dropped outside the bypass. The proximity of the bypass, and national infrastructure, still makes big development projects tempting though. The network city, and its large infrastructure, literally cuts trough the historical line of villages. Whereas before the different models lied next to each other, the network city now slowly starts dominating, and replacing the linear model. It creates a hierarchy in the once co-existing models. Although the linear system is part of the most ancient model, it still has characteristics, peculiar to this system of parallel lines, which can mean something for Slovenia’s capital. So, I wondered: Can the linear village exist in and contribute to the contemporary network city? This landscape strategy deploys a careful insertion of trees, trails, slopes and local development in the Sava river valley, transforming it into a resilient asset for today’s Ljubljana. It is an exercise on applying the conceptual analysis of different city models to obtain a coexistence of several mobility systems and paradigms, following both linear and networked strategies. Let me lead you through the story of the rediscovery of the Sava valley.

DISCOVERY OF THE SAVA VALLEY

The linear villages would not have existed if there were no river; they are inextricably tied to the Sava and its valley. The topography has made it possible to cultivate land and live off it. When taking this landscape as a starting point, one can discover an interesting layering in the valley. From the cartographic representation of the valley, several linear structures, natural and constructed ones, can be distilled. The natural slopes form the line between two parallel strips: the wetland along the river and the fertile land on the plateau. Each strip has its own feature, with great value, but also weaknesses and needs. Simultaneously, urbanisation expands towards the valley. Today the bypass determines the border between both. With the river and the radials, it encloses the area where the linear model, and its system of nature integration, is still alive, but gets threatened by the network city. The different layers recognisable in this landscape form the base of an intervention for a more resilient structure. This leads to a design strategy starting from, and working with the specific landscape structures, turning the needs and problems of each strip into a benefit for the villages, and the whole city.

500m

Toma evo

Stozi e

THE SAVA VALLEY Sava river Slope (natural or manmade) Agriculture plot Trees Built space Asphalted road Country road Trail

250m

Obrije

LINEAR SEqUENCE Different parallel lines are visible. The Sava is the most ancient, and robust one. Its valley topography determined where and how the villages developed. The bypass, which was dug by means of a manmade slope, can be seen as another dominating linear structure in this area. Sava river Slope (natural or manmade) Historic road with line village Bypass

250m

THE WETLAND The natural topography of the valley defines parallel strips. The wetland lies on both sides directly along the Sava. Several villages, like Toma evo along the Ĺ tajerska cesta, have expanded into this land. The river tends to flood every 5 years1. North of the Sava, the forest can absorb the extra amount of water, but in the south, where development is unprotected, the floods diminish the living quality. The sports fields, hippodrome and horse meadows can deal relatively easily with a flood. Sava river Natural slope Sports recreation Trees Built space Asphalted road Country road Trail

250m

Ljubljana explored - an empirical analysis of Sloveniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

capital, Studio Balkan 2013-2014 22

THE FERTILE LAND The fertile land lies behind the first, naturally formed slope. Here lies the core of the ancient linear villages, since the water has never reached that height. Villages and agriculture fields are linked to the main road in a linear pattern. The plateau with agriculture extends towards the city, but the concentric bypass cuts through the system. Further division of the fields makes it impossible to operate on a large industrial scale. Natural slope Agriculture plot Trees Built space Asphalted road Country road Trail

250m

THE URBAN LAND Two sorts of slopes confine the urban land next to the valley. Along the radial Dunajska cesta, a natural slope indicates the long existing border of the larger city developments. The dug-in bypass forms a new, manmade border of the city. The unnatural slope interferes with the ancient valley slopes, restricting the fertile strip. The Ĺ tajerska cesta can be seen as an element from this urban land, which is radically crossing its strip, laying the network over the linear model. Slope (natural or manmade) Agriculture plot Large tree structures Built space Asphalted road Country road Trail

250m

TWO ENCLOSED STRIPS Today the system of the linear villages has shrunk. The wetland and the fertile land are still essential parts of it, but a third sort of land has narrowed this last one. One could say that the linear villages are now situated between two sharply defined, robust borders: the bypass and the Sava river. Contrary to the constructed bypass, the river is a natural line, so strong that even the network has to adjust: it has to become a bridge to cross it. These borders are physical borders for the villagers and define the zone in harmony with nature that the upcoming network threatens. The two strips have their own morphology. The fertile plateau shows a linear structure in the plot divisions, the fields and the roads. Only the abandoned grind quarry disrupts this historic pattern. The wetland appears less organised. As more housing was necessary, villages extended piece-by-piece towards the river, with no clear strategy for the whole.

Sava river Slope (natural or manmade) Trees Built space Asphalted road Country road Trail

250m

SIX LAYERS The enclosed strips can be unfolded in six different layers, revealing the character of the area. 0

250m

Site boarders Sava river V

Bypass

Slopes Slope (natural or manmade)

Trees Trees

Roads Asphalted road Country road Trail

Built area Built space

Plot structures Plot structures

The borders of each strip are defined by trees.

The tree-layer indicates that vegetation does not only influence the character of each strip, but also defines the borders between the strips. The trees were not planted as one line on the linear slope; they belong to different structures, like small woods, hedges along roads or private gardens. This is unlike the trees on the riverside, which stand out as a intended line pattern following the river. Small forests Trees aligned along roads Trees in private gardens

250m

The lines of trees are part of different tree-structures, showing the borders â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;by accidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Bypass

Fertile land

Wetland

Sava

Section AAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Bypass

Fertile land

Wetland

Sava

B A

B’ A’

Section BB’

The wetland

The fertile land

The authentic, untouched parts of the river, only known by locas

The bypass as a sharp incision between the city centre and the Sava valley

ROOTS FOR THE SAVA VALLEY What is left of the linear villages along the Sava has a unique character. The area gives a very authentic feeling, with the city lying imperturbably behind the fertile land. Generations have been able to live here by utilizing the strengths of the valley landscape. The network city enables families to stay there. The fast connections to the city compensate the weaknesses that sneaked into the linear structure, like unprofitable agriculture and flooded houses. Still, the two strips have specific qualities, related to the landscape, which can become meaningful for the whole city. With the protection of the villageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expansions, the wetland can serve as a buffer during floods and purify water before it flows into the river. Since this area is an important source for Ljubljanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drink water, the whole city benefits from clean water going into the ground. The fertile land cannot compete with large-scale industrial production. Still, it can be an important actor on the scale of the city. It can respond to the increasing tendency towards the consumption of healthy, locally produced crops. The interpretation of the tree-layer forms the base for the strategy to turn these potentials into something real. Trees are the tool to improve the ecology of the valley; they absorb water and protect land against wind and pollution. The trees reinforce and adapt the specific strip structures to the new needs and conditions of the linear village. Next to the tree line on the riverside, they create a distinct pattern in each strip, not by forming a line along the slopes, but by taking into account the different structures present. In the wetland, they run organically along the river; in the fertile land, the trees accentuate the linearity perpendicular to the Sava and main road. The trees create a recognisable landscape in the valley. The strategy of respecting the specific structures in each strip can be implemented in all layers. New trails connect the existing path structures to a complete soft network in the linear valley. The small-scale, spontaneous expansion of the villages works best when it completes the existing tissue. Only the layer of the borders, of the network infrastructure, is accepted and left untouched. The network and its connecting roads are a present and useful structure that should not be hidden behind green. By adjusting the layers correctly, additional recreation becomes possible. Due to specific programmes, such as a resting point on a dike and an agropark, a network of recreational nodes emerges. The city has the intent to redevelop the whole riverside as a recreational area and wants to create a cycling path between the neighbouring capitals. This means that the untouched, authentic character of the river would disappear everywhere. By creating a recreational network over the whole valley, the authentic parts of the river can be preserved, and the already developed areas can handle more programs. As the river does not define the only distinct pattern anymore, it is no longer the only recreational zone. All these interventions make the Sava valley ground more robust, literally due to the strength of the tree roots, but as well by considering the historical roots, the ancient structures of the linear village system. The distinct pattern subtly indicates how the villages have adapted to new conditions. The area gains value by creating a counterforce to the intrusive network infrastructure crossing the landscape. Not by hiding the big infrastructure, but laying a hybrid, soft network in the linear strips.

REDISCOVERY OF THE SAVA VALLEY

The subtle completion of the decomposed layers creates a more resilient linearity in several ways. Although the same tools are used in both strips, the specific structure of each of them becomes a distinctive pattern adapted to the current conditions. The tools manifest themselves differently in each strip, strengthening its specific qualities. The wetland has now a defined protected and a floodable area; the fertile land can become an important player in the awareness and production of fresh, local food. The thought-through positioning of each tool allows specific programmes in each zone, and can thus create a network of recreational points in the whole area. These aspects make citizens, and villagers, rediscover the linear model. What was an unattractive, rather empty valley, except along the riverside, is now a vivid area with important functions in contemporary Ljubljana.

Current situation

FOUR TOOLS INSERTION OF SLOPES A first layer that is adapted to the new needs, is the one of the slopes. Unlike the following tools, this tool is only applied in the wetland. The houses close to the river ask for a dike that protects them during floods. Slope (natural or manmade)

250m

V V

Altered situation

Current situation

INSERTION OF TREES Planting trees improves the ecology of the valley; the trees prevent too big a flow at once into the Sava by absorbing it gradually. It protects the slopes from erosion and the agricultural land from wind and pollution. To meet the specific ecological needs best, the trees adapt to the varying structures in both strips. In the wetland, they define the new floodable area, adapted to the contemporary condition of expanded villages. In the fertile land, the trees are inserted linearly along the plots in order to protect them in the best manner. Small condensed forests Trees aligned along roads Trees in private gardens Trees protecting the villages Linear trees along agriculture plots Trees reorganising the landscapeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anomalies

250m

Altered situation

Current situation

INSERTION OF TRAILS The network strategy of connecting different nodes is applied in the linear model to make the whole area easy accessible for vulnerable road users. Next to the riverside, the whole area becomes enjoyable for hikers and cyclists. The new trails connect existing ones, so that loops are formed. Each loop crosses a village, and its back-landscape. They all run through the two strips, instead of following one in the linear direction. The loops are connected with the city -the connection over the Toma evo roundabout is designed by Seppe- and run along existing parking lots, so that the transition between the hard and soft network happens easily. Asphalted road Country road Trail

250m

Altered situation

Parking lot Built space Loops in the network of trails

Current situation

INSERTION OF SMALL-SCALE DEVELOPMENT When villages need some additional housing, this is an indication of how it could, and should stay in line with the existing tissue. The linear villages can expand along the line at certain places, but by subtly shifting the houses, collective courtyards emerge, and an endless sequence of linear houses is avoided. The new dikes also allow new, safe houses to infill the edges of these village expansions. Built space

250m

Altered situation

By meeting the needs for a better ecology, accessibility, and growth, each strip gets a distinctive pattern, underlining the character of it. As the river is defined by a line of trees and a linear trail, the wet- and fertile land become recognisable. The structure of the trees is the most obvious, but also the trails and houses follow the linear or more intuitive structure. The different layers interfere. Trees and trails run along, cross, leave and come back to each other; the trees and slopes show where, and how far the villages can expand, and what should remain open space. The positions of the trees produce alternating views towards the river and the city. The interventions reinforce and give a function to both strips. They create the opportunity to implement recreation in them. The slopes with trees allow recreation along the Sava and the roads running through the agricultural fields permit trade and larger recreational or educational activities. A network of recreational nodes emerges in the linear valley. Current situation Altered situation

250m

Bypass

Fertile land

Wetland

Sava

Section AAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Bypass

Fertile land

Wetland Sava

B A

B’ A’

Section BB’

THE WETLAND AS WATER REGULATOR The different tools define which zones along the river can buffer the water during floods. The slopes protect the houses; the trees improve the stability and absorb water. By adding reed plants, the water is purified before flowing into the Sava. Additional storage tanks can provide the fertile strip with water, as through time this strip lost its direct connection with the shrinking river. The completed network of trails makes the whole strip accessible. The loops ensure that when the wetland is flooded, destinations can still be reached.

Altered, floodable public area Sava river Natural slope

The dikes form an opportunity for public recreational points along the Sava, uniting citizens, villagers and tourists. The riverside besides Toma evo is already a public domain and can thus handle this extra program. The slope distinguishes the very public area along the river from the more introvert villagegardens. Those become a new heart for the village that until now had no clear orientation.

Trees Built space Asphalted road

250m

Country road

Trail

Wetland (tgdaily)

THE FERTILE LAND FOR LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION The agricultural land can function as a local food production unit for the citizens of Ljubljana. Hereby, the strip responds to a growing tendency towards the consumption of healthy, biological and locally produced crops. By inserting trees along the plots, they are protected from wind and absorb rainwater. They leave each farmer the choice to develop the vegetation to a denser hedge, so that after years, a playful differentiation of vegetation lines characterizes the strip. The trails through the fields make the area accessible, so that passers can rediscover the importance of farming. Two newly implemented roads allow motorized vehicles so that larger recreation can take place here. The grind quarry, abandoned since 2008, forms the ideal occasion for an agro-park: a park where the different facets of agriculture can be experienced to raise awareness for this indispensable strip. The road allows an easy distribution of local products. And with several roads implemented, a network of distribution points can grow. The storage tanks in the wetland can provide clean water for this whole system

Agriculture plots Slope (natural or manmade) Trees Built space Asphalted road

250m

Country road

Trail

Parckfarm (Brussels) is a well working, bottom-up initiative by and for the locals.

Fermet, an online platform for local agriculture, The communication between farmers and clients is very important.

Current situation

Altered situation

Tree-patterns emerge along the valleys of Ljubljana.

EPILOGUE The small, often subtle interventions in the different layers of the valley create a resilient linear structure. The linear village is preserved, but adapted to the conditions of contemporary Ljubljana, with the help of recent model-strategies. The new robust and distinctive pattern acts as a counterforce to the large network infrastructures like the Ĺ tajerska cesta, so that both can coexist. The Sava valley roots project uses simple tools to protect large areas from getting incised or built up by giving them a specific meaning for the city. The success of this strategy depends a lot on the inhabitants themselves. The design gives opportunities to enliven the area, but it is up to the villagers to seize them. The agropark will only get lively if people gather there, have picnics etc. To make sure that this agriculture area stays preserved, a system of shared ownership, and maintenance, between the local farmers should be designed for this new pit ground. When the farmers benefit from the ground they own, they will not sell it to project developers. The strategy for the Sava valley can be applied to other ancient linear structures along the rivers of Ljubljana. It is only in the here-discussed area that villages, agriculture and river are so close to each other. Mostly, agriculture fields are situated directly along the river. By creating a small purifying strip between them, the dirty farming water is cleaned before entering the river, and possibly stored for reuse. Trees on the fields protect them from wind and pollution, and they create more biodiversity in the area. Besides the infrastructure models, another landscape structure becomes visible in Ljubljana.

BIBLIOGRAPHY DE CAUTER L., Parckfarm als concrete utopie (volkstuintjes 2.0), 17/11/2014, De Wereld Morgen, consulted on 05/06/2015, http://www.dewereldmorgen.be/artikel/2014/11/17/parckfarm-als-concrete-utopie-volkstuintjes-20

JAKOŠ A., Ljubljana – Phases of Urban Development, in: Urban Challenge (Urbani izziv), Volume 17, no. 1-2, 2006, Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, Slovenia, pp. 176-180 KNOCKAERT D., De virtuele boerenmarkt die alles moet veranderen, 14/03/2015, De Standaard, consulted on 05/06/2015, http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20150313_01578647

MLAKAR A., Urban green areas as the starting point for planning hydroelectric and urban developments: the case of the Sava River in the City of Ljubljana, in: Urban Challenge (Urbani izziv), Volume 19, no. 2, 2008, Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, Slovenia, pp. 184-191 PROMINSKI M. et al., River. Space. Design planning strategies, methods and projects for urban rivers, 2012, Birkhauser Verlag AG SIMONETI M., MATJAŠEC D., The landscape of the Sava riverbanks - opportunities for the development of protected areas, in: Urban Challenge (Urbani izziv), Volume 12, no. 2-01, 2006, Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, Slovenia, pp. 137-141 STUDIO BALKAN 2013-14, Ljubljana explored - An empirical analysis of Slovenia’s capital, 2013-2014

BASE MAPS SINERGISE D.O.O., Geopedia, Geodetski inštitut Slovenije, 2013, consulted on 05/06/2015, http://geopedia.si/#T105_x499072_y112072_s9_b4

GOOGLE, Google Maps, 2014, consulted on 05/06/2015, https://www.google.be/maps/

IMAGE CREDITS p.59

Wetland: TgDaily, consulted on 05/06/2015, http://www.tgdaily.com/general-sciences-features/93136-claim-wetlands-likely-to-blame-forgreenhouse-gas-increasesv

p.61

Parckfarm: Openbaar groen, consulted on 05/06/2015, http://www.openbaargroen.be/application/public/upload/114/default/114987/ farmparck_web_0.jpg

Parckfarm: Infopunt publieke ruimte, consulted on 05/06/2015, http://publiekeruimte.info/prijs-publieke-ruimte/laureaten-2015 Fermet: De Standaard, consulted on 05/06/2015, http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20150313_01578647