Floating urbanisation

Researching the preconditions for urban development on surface water in the Netherlands

Master thesis (2022)

Authors

T.P. van der Voort Maarschalk Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

E.W.T.M. Heurkens Urban Development Management - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
H.D. Ploeger Urban Data Science - Architecture and the Built Environment (graduation committee member)
V. Muñoz Sanz Urban Design - Architecture and the Built Environment (coach)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment, Architecture and the Built Environment
Copyright: © 2022 Tessie van der Voort Maarschalk
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Published Date

03-11-2022

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

Due to climate change, the built environment will have to deal with rising surface
water levels in the future. We could cope with this situation by making our buildings adaptable to changing water levels and develop floating urbanisation. Although quite a few floating projects have been realised in the Netherlands they are mostly of the smaller scale (1-20 buildings). To serve as a robust solution the floating urbanisation projects need to scale up. The aim of this research is to understand the preconditions that are needed to do so. The method used is mixed and combines literature research, case studies and a validation panel. The results have been grouped in seven themes: knowledge & skills, regulation & legislation, exploitation & economy, infrastructure & planning, technology & scale, environment & ecology and public perception. Topics within these themes that play an important role in the success of a project are developing parties with the required knowledge and skills, the presence of suitable legislation, an appropriate location and a bank willing to provide mortgages. The preconditions as they are now make the development of floating urbanisation in the Netherlands possible. Improving these conditions will make it easier to develop more floating urbanisation projects. If these improvements are needed on the short term or the long term depends on the context of that time.