Portfolio 2012 Robin Boelsums

PortfolioUrban design & planning

Robin Boelsums MSc.

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Table of contentsAbout me

Urban design & planning

& cetera

Living next to a flagship development

p. 5

Selection of works

p. 26

Interests, education, fascination

p. 3

IJsselmonde centralities

p. 13

Play - design competition

p.27

Rotterdam GPS tracking

p. 16

Paintings

p.28

Spaarne North

p. 20

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FascinationComing from a traveller’s family, I had the spirit of travel-ling already as a young child. Trips to the USA, Istanbul, Barcelona and many others broadened my scope of the world. My fascination for the city grew when I started my Bachelor studies in Architecture. Choosing Urbanism as a master was a decision I made, for I loved the societal aspect of it. Now, I am highly interested in the spatial, eco-nomic and social influence that urbanism has on people. I studied in Delft, Rotterdam and Vienna and recently took the step to move to Munich to find a job. Globalisation takes part in my personal life, I like to think that the world is my backyard. But what consequences does this have on urban planning, urban design, and more important on the people, on the inhabitants of the world?Despite globalisation, I believe cities will never be the same for exactly those aspects that one cannot plan or design: their culture and inhabitants that shape the atmosphere in a place. One can never design a place, without regarding its history, culture and inhabitants. It is the task of urban designers and planners to take the current specificities to a place in the future.

InterestsOne of my main interests in urbanism is a very idealistic one: the even distribution of benefits and opportunities in a city for everyone. Especially in Large Urban Projects one can see the disbalance between the opportunities given to less fortunate (local needs) and wealthy people (regional/global needs). LUPs such as mega-events and flagships developments are my particular topic of inter-ests, the latter of which I used in my graduation project (p. 5). The combination of sociology and economics fasci-nates me when asking myself how this can be influenced by spatial interventions.This is an aspect that also takes a major part in less fortu-nate or deprived neighbourhoods. I believe it is the task of urbanists to be concerned with the well-being of peo-ple, especially those living in deprived areas. This regards for instance crime, social cohesion, economic opportuni-ties and spatial fragmentation.

Besides urbanism, I am highly inter-ested in architec-ture of all centu-ries, discovering different cultures all over the world, and modern art. In my spare time I practice paint-ing (p.28), graphic design, music and travelling.

EducationMy education started at Delft, University of Technology. This university takes part in the IDEA league, which is a network of five leading universities of technology and sci-ence. The architecture and urbanism studies rank among the top 10 of the world.During the electives of my study, I chose to go to Rot-terdam to study and work at the Veldacademie (field academy). This academy is a collaboration between TU Delft and the municipality of Rotterdam. Here I learned to cooperate with the inhabitants of an area, and to explain to them (layman in urbanism, but experts in their area) what kind of interventions we propose. I was discussion leader and presenter of that year’s study group.For half a year I attended Spatial and regional planning at the Technical University of Vienna, which gave me a broader inside in the theoretical aspects of urbanism.

My graduation project, that takes an entire academic year, took place in Amsterdam. I got involved in the plan-ning process, by interviewing key actors in the case such as private developers, public stakeholders and urban designers.

About me

Istanbul (2010) Painting on canvas (2010)

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ReseaRch

URban planning

URban design

Urban design & planning


p. 5

IJsselmonde centralities

p. 13

Rotterdam GPS tracking

p. 16

Spaarne North

p. 20

5

URban planning

URban design

ReseaRchLiving next to a flagship development

Description of the project

For the graduation project every student was free to form an own assignment within the scope of their chosen chairs.My focal point for this project was flag-ship development and the possible ben-efits it can bring to its adjacent residential neighbourhoods. A key case in Amster-dam has been studied to function as an example for further research on this topic. The goal stated for this case: the resi-dential neighbourhood Van der Pekbuurt benefits from the adjacent flagship develop-ment Overhoeks Amsterdam and vice versa, in socioeconomic and spatial terms.The project consisted of research and analysis leading to two final products: the altering of the planning process that cur-rently takes place in the key case; a new urban design, replacing existing plans.

A literature study and interviews with key actors in Amsterdam exposed the fact that a disbalance between the global and local effects of flagship development is present. Flagships cause many benefits on a regional and global scale, however many disadvantages on a local scale.

The strategic plan shows recommenda-tions in the planning process for the developers of Overhoeks and Van der Pekbuurt in order to reposition their aims to be more inclusive.

The urban design for Van der Pekbuurt and Overhoeks aims to enable local, mutual benefits by proposing an integral plan for an inclusive audience.

ChairSpatial planning and design

AssignmentGraduation projectIndividual work

End products Strategic planUrban designMaster thesisOral presentation

Key wordsFlagship developmentDeprived neighbourhoodDe-industrialisationGlobalisationNeoliberalism

DateSep 2011 - Jun 2012

http://www.slideshare.net/RobinBoelsums/living-next-to-a-flagship-development-master-thesis

http://www.slideshare.net/RobinBoelsums/living-next-to-a-flagship-development-13594992

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R esearchLiving next to a flagship development

a very large park aimed at attracting tourists and inhab-itants of Amsterdam. Several amenities are planned at Overhoeks, which aimed on the affluent, cosmopolitan inhabitants. In general, the opportunities to provide beneficial possibilities that answer to the local needs and wishes are present, but not being exploited by the key actors. Two important recommendations could help the local benefits being created and exploited by the local community of Van der Pekbuurt. First, benefits should be provided in the flagship area aimed at an inclusive audience; second, the disadvantages that prevent the surrounding inhabitants of Overhoeks from benefitting from the area, should be diminished.

al. 1992; Doucet, 2009; Loftman and Nevin, 1995; Majoor, 2011)

Which mutual, local benefits and disadvantages are applicable to the Van der Pekbuurt and Overhoeks in Amsterdam?To be able to give recommendations on the development of Overhoeks (the flagship development in Amsterdam) and Van der Pekbuurt (its adjacent residential neighbour-hood), it was necessary to research the possible local benefits and disadvantages in more depth. Interviews provided much information to understand the current process regarding the development of the project and the current state of both neighbourhoods. Key actors of the private and public developers explained the aims of the development at Overhoeks: in the past it did focus on local benefits but along the process, these aims were not applied any more. The municipality did not steer this in an inclusive direction either, on the contrary. In Amster-dam, the rule that developments need to have thirty per cent of social housing aims at diluting the gap between affluent and less affluent spaces. The development of Overhoeks however, was exempted from this rule, and is allowed to provide only twenty per cent of social housing.The research on the two neighbourhoods showed the applicability of benefits and disadvantages mentioned in the first research question. All of these effects are more or less applicable to the key case. One of the most important opportunities is to provide the possibility for a housing career from social housing at Van der Pekbuurt towards rental housing from the market sector at Overhoeks. However, figures by private developers Ymere (2012) and Vesteda (2012), showed that the gap between rent prices in both areas is far too large to enable a housing career.Other local opportunities are for the Overhoeks area to provide inclusive urban spaces, that now consists only of

What are the possible benefits and disadvantages a residential neighbourhood can derive from its adjacent flagship development, in west European cities?Papers written by -amongst others- Loftman and Nevin (1995), Doucet (2009) and Bianchini et al. (1992) appeared to be extremely useful to formulate the basic understat-ing of the issue. The result was a list of possible benefits and disadvantages that flagship projects could provide for local communities, as found in the literature study. This study has shown that flagship development can cause many disadvantages on a local scale, of which the most important are spatial fragmentation, social polarisa-tion and an unwelcoming appearance. But also individual planning and less resources or attention to the areas adjacent to the contemporary developments, can have a negative impact caused by the development of the flag-ship projects. (Doucet, 2009; Loftman and Nevin, 1995; Bianchini et al., 1992)The most important spatial and socioeconomic benefits that flagship development can generate for its surround-ings and inhabitants are: providing facilities, amenities, inclusive urban spaces, public transport and the pos-sibility for a housing career. Regarding the developers’ planning strategy, benefits can be found in e.g. resident participation in planning the flagship development and rethinking the goals that key actors formulate, in order to be more inclusive and balance the global/regional and local needs and wishes. (Doucet et al., 2010)

The literature study showed that currently private developers rarely aim for local benefits, but concentrate instead on the needs of ‘external‘ users (office users and higher income dwellers, generally connected to an idea of a globalised world). Only municipal aims showed awareness of the importance of local benefits mainly in the provision of facilities and public spaces. (Bianchini et

Current prices of Overhoeks and Van der Pekbuurt

€350 social housing€550€650 market rentfor sale - mid pricesfor sale - high prices

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Strategic p lanLiving next to a flagship development

From research to strategic planThe research (literature study, interviews, site analysis) provided a list of benefits that a flagship development could bring to its adjacent neighbourhood. Several points can be reached by altering the urban design (page 9) and others by changes in the planning process, which can be read here.

Benefits for stakeholdersThe reasons that flagship developers and other involved actors should create mutual, local benefits in Overhoeks for the local communities are:• Focusing on local benefits fits with the idea of Corpo-

rate Social Responsibility• Adding mutual, local benefits can help gaining public

approval and enthusiasm for the flagship develop-ments themselves

• Creating benefits for everyone fits in a democratic society

• The outcomes may add to spatial quality of cities, increasing quality of life

• Aiming for an inclusive audience helps to gain a greater support for facilities in Overhoeks area

• Enthusiasm of local community can help the develop-ment of Overhoeks

• The development of Overhoeks becomes attractive for much broader audience

The most important advantage for the developers of Overhoeks and Van der Pekbuurt is:• Mutual, local benefits improve the viability of the

development Overhoeks and Van der PekbuurtMany of the previously mentioned aspects contribute to the latter.

Reposition aims

Put mutual, local benefits on the agenda

Create enthusiasm amongst local community

Gain public approval and enthusiasm

Inform local community

Create enthusiasm amongst local communities

Increase viability of Over-hoeks

Local community participation

Frame the preferences and needs of local residents

Create enthusiasm amongst local communities

Make Overhoeks attractive for broader audience

Residents trust expenses of government

Integration plans

Make mutual, local benefits possible to employ

Decrease fragmentation and social polarisation

Make Overhoeks attractive for broader audience

Increase viability of Over-hoeks

Goal 1 Goal 2 Goal 3 Goal 4

Sub goals

MissionCreate mutual, local benefits between the flagship development Overhoeks and its adjacent residential neighbour-hood Van der Pekbuurt, Amsterdam

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Goal 1: Reposition aims In the answer of the first research question can be read that none of the aims that private flagship developers put forward are focused on benefits for the adjacent local community. As Doucet (2009) mentions, for mutual benefits it is crucial that flagship developers reposition their aims to be more inclusive. It means that developers will focus more attention to the adjacent neighbour-hoods. This can also contribute to the success of flagship development, as the facilities and amenities can be used by a broader public and thus be more successful.

Goal 2: Inform local communityWhen interviewing several actors involved in the flagship process of the key case, I could conclude that the local community of Van der Pekbuurt feels like they are not taken seriously by the developers. This is one of the dis-advantages the local residents experience, and this might lead to distrust municipal expenses and other negative perceptions. Whether these perceptions are based on facts or on personal opinions, it is a perceived disadvan-tage for the local community so it should be diminished or removed.

Goal 3: Local community participationThe participation of the local community in the new de-velopments can be of importance not only for decisions in the urban design (e.g. the choice for amenities, facili-ties, urban places), but also in order to make the com-munity feel involved and feel less suspicious about the flagship area. When the local community has a say in the building of facilities and amenities, this can have a posi-tive effect on the success of these, because more people will make use of these functions.

Goal 4: Integrate plansThe integration of urban plans of the flagship are and adjoining neighbourhoods is crucial to ensure beneficial possibilities. It also means that the development activ-ity of the adjacent neighbourhood can be raised and of course adapted according to the flagship plans.

The strategic plan and urban design focus on the selected areas

Target group at OverhoeksTarget group at Van der PekbuurtArea to create benefits

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Concept

Ur ban des ignLiving next to a flagship development

Research to designThe benefits that flagship developments can bring to their surroundings and that can be influenced by chang-ing the urban design, will be proposed here.

First of all the concept of the design and the phasing of the project will be shownNext, the different points that aim at providing local ben-efits and diminishing disadvantages, will be explained in the form of five goals that answer to all of these points.

Phasing

Amenities, facilitiesWelcoming, inclusive appearanceCoherence and connections between areasTransport possibilitiesRouting

Housing careerSocial returns

Connecting urban fabrics

Benefits for local community should be provided:• More inclusive spaces• Provide possibilities for housing career• Amenities• Possibilities for transport• Recreational facilities• Housing• Urban places• Economic opportunities (jobs)

Disadvantages for local community should be diminished:• Fragmentation of cities• Social polarisation• No public resources for deprived

neighbourhoods• Residents distrust expenses of govern-

ment• Alien, unwelcoming appearance of

flagship area• Delay, curtailment, failure of projects

Phasing of urban design

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Residential areaPublic green areaFacilities, amenitiesFacilities area

Conceptual drawing of urban design

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Five goals for local benefits

Goal 1: Create social returnsOne of the aims of flagship developers should be to create social returns. This means that the flagship area provides economic opportunities for the local community. Jobs will be created and this helps to retain social networks, and reduces social polarisation.

Goal 2: Amenities, facilities, transport possibilitiesThe design and planning for amenities, facilities and transport possibilities should fo-cus on an inclusive audience. When doing so, the local communities of Van der Pekbu-urt and Overhoeks can benefit from this type of programme.Facilities and amenities that focus on an inclusive, broader audience, can be more eco-nomically viable and thus help the success of the flagship project.

Goal 3: Housing career possibilitiesBy giving the possibilities for a housing career in the local community’s own (adjacent) neighbourhood, the social network can be maintained. It has been shown that people that live longer in one neighbourhood, feel responsible and attached to their environ-ment (Van Kempen, 2000).Public resources aim on the possibilities for the local community. The residents that live in Van der Pekbuurt have more reasons to visit Overhoeks if their friends/neighbours have moved there. Beside that, the area of Overhoeks appears less unwelcoming, for a part of the inhabitants of the area are not from a totally differ-ent background, but origin of the Van der Pekbuurt.

€350 social housing€550€650 market rentfor sale - mid pricesfor sale - high prices

Housing prices

New buildingNew building (no ground�oor)Existing buildingPublic space (no cartra�c)Public green spaceMain road (all tra�c)Secundary road (all tra�c)Pedestrian-, cyclepath

BuildingsBuildings (no ground floor)GrassPublic space (no car traffic)Main roads (all traffic)Secondary roads (all traffic)Pedestrian, cycle path

BuildingsGrass

Existing:

Interventions:

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Goal 4: Inclusive, outward focusThe urban fabric of the urban design should be inclusive, to attract a broad audience on not only the global or regional scale, but also on the local scale. When doing so, the flagship area can be more welcoming to the local

community of Van der Pekbuurt.This stimulates the local residents to visit the contemporary area and trust the municipal spending on the development.Residential block sight lines concept

Network of public places and sight lines to main attractors

Main attractorsSightline to main attractorNetwork of public squaresPublic green space

Section at canal between Overhoeks and Van der Pekbuurt

1:2000

View in residential apartment blocks

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Goal 5: Connect neighbourhoodsFragmentation between Overhoeks and Van der Pekbu-urt prevents the local communities from employing the future benefits. Creating connections counteracts fragmentation. Beside that, the groups of people living in both areas can get more easily acquainted and thus social cohesion can be strengthened.


Aligning buildingsPedestrian-, cyclebridgeBridge (all trac)

Urban fabric

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INTER/networks

central places

ACTINGINTER/networks

central places

ACTING IJsselmonde of economical actvities

Legends

infrastructure central spatial function central place in island (small scale)

central place out island

existing

proposed

national highwaycommerce

central place

working central place

commercial cental place

creative industrysportssporting parkrecreational parkrecreationeducationresidencemedical facilities

industrylogistics and transportationstation

o e

new metro line

new highway

new tram line

new recreational route

national railwaymetro linetram line

analysis

Regional planningCentralities IJsselmondeDescription of the project

IJsselmonde is a region in the Nether-lands, containing the southern part of the municipality of Rotterdam and other smaller towns, such as Barendrecht and Ridderkerk. This area is typified by the high percentage of unemployed, and low income households.The assignment was to focus on the trans-formation of centralities in the area. Based on a definition of the word, the different centralities were identified and valued. The characteristics of a centrality are: a density of people, a diversity of activities and connections to other places.The hierarchy and complementarity between centralities were guiding for the strategic plan, that aims at a balanced network of nodes in 30 years time.

ChairSpatial planning and design

AssignmentMSc 2 projectGroup work (4 students)

End products Regional planStrategic visionOral presentation

Key wordsCentralityNetworkNode

DateFeb - Mar 2010

http://www.slideshare.net/RobinBoelsums/ijsselmonde-centralities

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Analys is & theor yCentralities IJsselmonde

“It has been noted that three main factors contribute towards the condition of centrality.” • the density of people, using the centrality• the diversity of activities of the centrality itself• the connectivity of the centrality with other centrali-

ties (Mendes & Morgado 2008)

The development of a specific and programmatic profile, regarding the node and place value, will decrease the risks of competition and can be used as a guiding princi-ple for a strong network of central nodes.

The analysis of different transport networks show the lack of integration amongst these. Goal is to improve these networks by connecting them at the centralities.

The area of IJsselmonde is highly dense, in terms of inhabitants, and consists of a high percentage of low income households and unemployed. There is a disbal-ance between the density of people and the economic opportunities provided in this region. Goal is to improve the job opportunities at the central nodes.

The following picture in black shows the concept of the vision; the next page shows the spatial outlook of the regional vision of IJsselmonde.

INTER/networks

central places

ACTING Inter/Acting as a strategic approach

existing

networks

strategy

central economic activities

access of spatial node to networks

national e ect

non- spatial node access

regional e ect

local e ect

transform and strengthen

transformation and integration

national e ect

regional e ect

local e ect

national e ect

national e ect

national e ect

national e ect highway

national e ect-central economic activy



national e ect railway

regional e ect metro

local e ect tram

regional e ect tram

local e ect recreation path

1. Complete the network, providing a coherent framework of connections- Add public transportation connections- Adress a multimodal approach

2. Transformation oriented development

- Optimize the local conditions for centralities- Spatial integration of activities and the network

Existingsituation

Vision

INTER/networks

central places


existing

networks

strategy



national e ect


regional e ect

local e ect



national e ect

regional e ect

local e ect

national e ect

national e ect

national e ect







local e ect tram

regional e ect tram





Existingsituation

Vision

INTER/networks

central places


existing

networks

strategy



national e ect


regional e ect

local e ect



national e ect

regional e ect

local e ect

national e ect

national e ect

national e ect







local e ect tram

regional e ect tram





Existingsituation

Vision

IJsselmonde in the Amsterdam-Antwerp corridor

Train network

Metro network

Tram network

Nodes

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Centralities IJsselmondeR egional v i s ion

S

IC

IC

IC

IC

M

M

M

M

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M

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MM

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M

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MM

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M

ES

education

ship buildingspecial centre

urbanarea

core spatial node(best integrated with networks and divers activities)

colour inside / activities

(the core nodes have complementary relationships)

greenareawater related business

transformationother industrynon-water business

regional economicsports economicurban economicknowledge economictechnology economic

important spatial node( well-integrated with networks but not divers activities)

assitante spatial node( connect to the networks and not divers activities)

IC intercity stationtrain station

metro stationtram station

Mrailway networkmetro networktram network

highway network

LEGEND

national network

high quality public transport15

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For this project the pedestrian movement of 50 seniors (age of 55+) living in Oud-Charlois in Rotterdam was tracked, by means of GPS tracking devices.With the use of the computer program GIS, the tracks were converted into maps as seen on this page.The tracks exposed the places that are frequently visited, but also places that are less often visited. As my project focused on the social safety of the neighbour-hood, the latter was of most importance for my design intervention. An individual design aimed to improve the public space in order to let seniors be more attracted to use this space.

ChairUrban design

AssignmentElectiveGroup work (field work)Individual work (design)

End products GPS mapsUrban design interventionOral presentation for inhabit-ants

Key wordsGPS trackingSeniorsSocial safety

DateApr - Jun 2010

ReseaRch

Field woRk

URban design inteRventionGPS tracking Rotterdam

http://www.slideshare.net/RobinBoelsums/gps-tracking-rotterdam

http://www.slideshare.net/RobinBoelsums/gps-tracking-rotterdam

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The field work for this project consisted of two parts: GPS tracks of seniors and a questionnaire filled in by the same people. Over 50 seniors that lived in the neighbourhood Oud-Charlois, Rotterdam, were approached to wear a GPS device for four days and to fill in the questionnaire.Afterwards, the data of the devices was -anonymously- retrieved in GIS. The questionnaire results were converted to schemes and charts and analysed in combination with the GPS tracks.

Oud-Charlois is one of the most deprived areas of Rot-terdam, based on a high percentage low income house-holds, low subjective and objective safety and the highest crime rate of the city. Therefore, the urban design inter-vention focused on social safety.

Based on literature of Van der Voordt (2003) and the specificities of the neighbourhood, eight criteria were selected to measure the social safety in Oud-Charlois:

Two out of eight criteria can be influenced by active seniors that live in the neighbourhood: presence of other people, and involvement/responsibility of the neighbour-hood. Several ways to measure and influence them, are mentioned below (the highlighted ones are used for the urban intervention).

Presence of other people:- formal surveillance (police, security)- semiformal surveillance (street coaches, shop owners)- informal surveillance (neighbours, passer-by)- feeling of presence of other people

Involvement/responsibility of neighbourhood:- low moving tendency- design of public space- ability to recognise co-users- stimulation use of collective space- creating opportunities for semi-public use of space

These indicators were translated into a design, which aims to enable more seniors to use this street, in stead of avoid using. The first step is to define the rules that lie at the base of the urban intervention, seen in the image below.

R esearch & f ie ld wor kGPS tracking Rotterdam

Current

Small transition zone No semi public place to show involvement

Steps before entrance Poor accessibility

Cars in the street Not attractive for yellow/green people

Typology

Quiet street

Attracts people with yellow or green lifestyle

Place to pass

Proposal

Large transition zone Semi public place to show involvement

Entrances on street level Good accessibility

Exclusion of cars Quiet street, attractive for yellow/green people

Charlois Social safety* criteria*note: both actual safety as feeling of safety

1. Presence of other people

2. Visibility

3. Involvement/responsibility

4. Attractiveness of the area

5. Accessibility

6. Vulnerability of potential target

Checklist regarding social safety

1.Presence of potential offender(perpretator) 2.Presence of ‘social eyes’

3.Visibility

4.Involvement/responsibility

5.Attractiveness of the public space6.Accessibility/escape routes

7.Attractiveness of potential target 8.Vulnerability of potential targetLiterature: Voordt, D.J.M., van der ,‘Sociaal Veilig Ontwerpen, checklist ten behoeve van het ontwikkelen en toetsen van (plannen voor) de gebouwde omgeving.’, Delft, 1990

Criteria for social unsafety**note: both actual incidents as feeling of unsafety

1. Presence of potential offender (perpretator) 2. Presence of potential targetGelegenheidstheorie - rational action theory

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The Katendrechtse Lagedijk street is one of the streets that -according to the GPS data- seniors avoid using. Therefore this street will be the one of the design inter-vention, aimed to be more attractive for seniors.

After applying the rules of the previous page, the street sections will look as below:

Ur ban des ign inter vent ionGPS tracking Rotterdam

Katendrechtse Lagendijk1:500

Section with no transition zone

Section with small transition zone

Section with larger transition zone

privatetransition zonepublic

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GPS tracking Rotterdam

Urban design intervention Katendrechtse Lagedijk

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analysis

MasteRplan

URban design inteRvention

Description of the projectThe task for this project was to make an in-depth analysis of the landscape and city of Haarlem. After this, formulate a problem statement and an individual masterplan on a part of the city.

Haarlem is an old Dutch city that developed along the river Spaarne in the 13th century. Large expan-sions followed in the 20th century, instigated by infrastructural advantages.However, over time the city of Haarlem has formed a spatial fragmented urban pattern which pre-vents inhabitants and users of the areas to benefit optimally from the possibilities that Haarlem has to offer. That is the reason for the masterplan to aim for connecting the areas and herewith bring people closer to the possibilities that are already present.

The masterplan shows six principles that have been followed in order to reach the aim of connecti-vity. An elaboration on a crucial detail shows the urban design of a part of the masterplan.

Spaarne North - HaarlemChairLandscape architecture

AssignmentMSc1 projectGroup work (3 students: analy-sis, masterplan)Individual work (urban design intervention)

End productsMasterplanUrban designBooklet research & designOral presentation

Key wordsFragmentationLandscapeConnectivity

DateSep 2010 - Nov 2010

http://www.slideshare.net/RobinBoelsums/spaarne-north-haarlem-booklet

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Analys isSpaarne North - Haarlem

Open space is defined as the space that is unbuilt or rela-tively low dense. The urban patches in between, are the relatively high dense areas. What can be found in these spaces? How do they relate to the edges of the urban patches around?We take a look at the green structure and its functions, and the water functions. Furthermore we investigate the crossings on the infrastructure, and the building typolo-gies on the edges that are shown in the right figure.

The fragmentation of Haarlem can be explained by the historical growth of the city. Haarlem grew to be a fortress in the 19th century, with surrounding waters, forming the first boundaries. In the 20th century the city grew respec-tively along train and car infrastructure. The final expan-sion area was built with a surrounding green structure, a boundary that is still there this present day.

First settlement on sandbank Jump across the river Fortress of Haarlem Extension in East and West

182213th centur y 19151450

First major extension along infrastructure Second major extension along infrastructure

1930 1960

Development of Waarderpolder, North, and Schalkwijk

2010

Nolli-map (and its inverse) of the open space and the built space in Haarlem

The open space (colour), built edges (grey), highly dense area (white)

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Houseboats and bridges can be built on the water. In order to be able to create a road along the eastern riverbank, two bridges need to be estab-lished in the middle and south part. Living on the water will be in the two branches on the East. By building on the water, the urban fabric is mixed with the open space.

The urban fabric is an active space where a lot happens. Bringing this urbanised space close to the water creates a spatial relation between the two.This in contrast with for exam-ple an unused industrial area, that denies any relation with the water.

It goes without saying that sight lines towards the water create spatial connections. A traditional way of building is applied in the design, which ensures that the sight lines cut the building blocks into pieces.

Public space attracts people to stay at the waterside. This ensures a relation.Spatially it creates chambers along the linear space of the Spaarne. The open space is pulled into the urban patch. The open space is part of the open space as well as part of the urban fabric.

The roads are part of the open space as well as of the urban fabric. Therefore it creates a transition between the two. This bank side road is already present at the West, but will be established in the East, for pedestrians and cyclists.

Following the shape of the water bank is copying the form of the space to the urban fabric. Using this shape not only at the riverside, but also further inland can create a new relation.

M aster planSpaarne North - Haarlem

The masterplan was built upon six rules, guiding the design to make Spaarne North be less fragmented, but connected in its neighbourhood.

Pedestrian and cycle path along waterCar road along water

Sight line towards waterBuilding along waterBuilding on water

Public space along water Follow shape of waterbank

















Sight line towards water

Building along water

Building on water

Public space along water

Follow shape of waterbank

Masterplan Spaarne North in Haarlem

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Spaarne North - Haarlem

This area is approximately 500 by 500 meters, 25 hectares. Industry in the city is generally slowly shifting out of the city. For this approach in Haarlem this shifting is encour-aged. But Haarlem has almost no places where this indus-try can shift to, so the use of the groundspace should be intensified.The Waarderpolder will be transformed into an area with a mixed function of dwellings and offices. How can dwellings be combined with offices and industry? The light industry will therefore be converted from wide, low buildings, to smaller, high buildings with parking lots un-derground. The industry should be surrounded by offices, since in most cases it is not allowed to build dwellings next to it. Next to the offices can be a mixture of offices and dwellings.All of this will be established within the frame of the six principles.

The new residential areas are developed with green surroundings. In Haarlem there is a lack of public green therefore it is good to always keep this in mind when designing public space.Some building blocks have an inner garden, but all blocks have an outer garden or private zone. This makes the transition zone between public and private. This ensures that the transition from the open space of the river to the

public space around it to the actual dwellings is as sufficient as possible.

Ur ban des ign

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Spaarne North - Haarlem

In the image below can be seen how the six principles have been used in the design. This shows only the new added principles. There is built on and along the water, there are sightlines towards the water, public spaces and continuous roads along the Spaarne, and the shape of the riverbank has been followed.

Crucial detail of the masterplan, showing the six principles View between residential blocks

View from office building towards water

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& cetera

Selection of works

p. 26

Play - design competition

p.27

Paintings

p.28

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Selection of works

SantosThis renovation project for the Santos building in Rot-terdam was designed to be developed into a short-stay apartment building for expats.

The existing brick monument was covered by an exten-sion in wood, that made a connection in the surrounding urban fabric.

New BinckhorstThis project redeveloped the industrial area ‘Binckhorst’ in Den Haag into a mixed residential area. The urban design aims to combine existing industrial buildings with residential buildings, offices and facilities. The rigid grid is made out of closed building blocks, with a flexible designed, informal inner courtyard.

The existing buildings and urban places form the excep-tions on the grid to form a lively, vibrant and moreover legible neighbourhood.

Floor plan New Binckhorst

Home zone in New Binckhorst

Street view along the riverInterior Santos (model in Maya)

Exterior Santos (model in Maya)

Concept of grid with industry, residences and monuments or other exist-ing buildings

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design coMpetition

inteRioR designPlay - design competition

PrizeSecond prize

AssignmentDesign competitionGroup work (4 members)

End products Maya model and rendersOral presentation for judge

Key wordsPlayUrban guerillaInterior designTemporary designBudget design

DateDec 2007


The assignment for this competition was to design the interior of the Gasthuisfab-riek in Amsterdam. A temporary exhibi-tion of young, modern artists would take place for two weeks. The winning design was constructed.“Play” enhanced the idea of several fo-cal points in the area, with a clear but vital and varied routing following all the attractions. The main attraction was a specifically designed stage that could give place for young performers to show their act.

“Play” received a second prize in the competition.

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ModeRn aRt

paintings

hobby

From left to right, up to down:

HiddenAcrylic on canvas

Night fireAcrylic on canvas

Morning rainAcrylic on canvas

SecretAcrylic on canvas

View from trainAcrylic on canvas

Paintings

PORTFOLIO by Robin Boelsums MSc.

August 2012

Layout: R. Boelsums

Images: R. Boelsums

More information and download of portfolio, presentations and master thesis:

www.slideshare.net/robinboelsums

http://www.slideshare.net/RobinBoelsums

Portfolio 2012 Robin Boelsums

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