Innovative components
A team of urban designers, hydraulic engineers, and marine archaeologists developed the Vlissingen and Southend-on-sea pilot spatial visions discussed in this paper. The aim was to explore alternative models of coastal management and planning. Accepting water overtopping, using temporary dikes, and implementing changes in land use and building regulation are taken as main principles and translated into spatial actions to reduce overall flood risk in these cities.
Implications to practice
In Vlissingen, the spatial vision will impact an empty but spontaneously vegetated area called “Spuikom”, once connected with the nearby harbour that has been partially filled after the 1970s to allow the construction of new buildings and parking lots.
In the Southend-on-Sea the spatial vision adapts the area as a retention basin for excess water in the case of extreme events, while the existing and enhanced drainage network is used to drain the area at the end of the storm.
Drawings by Andrea Bortolotti and Luca Iuorio. Visions developed within the TU Delft Sarrc team (Departments of Urbanism and Hydraulic Structures, F. Hooimeijer, D. Wuthrich, J. Bricker, A. Diaz, Q. Ke, A. Bortolotti, L. Iuorio)
Related Content
Publication open access journal
- Hooimeijer F., Yoshida Y., Bortolotti A., Iuorio L., 2021, “Integrated urban flood design in the US and the Netherlands”, Brody S. (edited by), Coastal flood risk reduction in the Netherland and the US upper Texas coast, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
- Iuorio L., 2021, “Lagoons in a century. Failed projects, interpretations and territorial visions”, Tosi C. (edited by), iQuaderni di U3, Journal of Urban Studies, Università degli studi di Roma Tre, Roma.
- Iuorio L., Bortolotti A., 2021, “Integrated coastal flood design strategies: changing paradigm in flood risk management”, International Forum of Urbanism, 24-25 November 2021, Delft, The Netherlands.
Last modified: 12/12/2021