European Master of Urbanism: Technology

During the technology course we will address two important issues that will influence our way of designing tremendously. The first concerns the flexibility of the plans we make. In the Harvard Design Magazine reader Urban Planning Today, Saunders (2006) defines the future role of governments as establishing intelligent and flexible guidelines, or incentives. These guidelines should not prescribe solutions or particular built forms, but should define principles or performance criteria that leave the designer free to be creative in solving design problems (Punter 2007: 507). The second issue concerns the effects of climate change and especially the changing balance in the hydrological cycle.

We will study both simultaneously by investigating the dynamic relation between rising water levels, type of water barrier, type of housing and various density variables. Important is to understand the performance of a chosen model (combination of the above described aspects) in normal circumstances and in case of flooding. Adding extra infrastructure on a safe level may cause an excess of network in normal circumstances. In cases of flooding a lack of open space may occur. Based on the knowledge developed during the course, truly ‘open’ flexible plans can be made for areas that have to deal with a certain risk of flooding. Flexibility and dynamics are thus key words for the approach we will take in the technology course.