Author(s): Stalenberg Bianca; Vrijling Han
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Urban; Flood protection; Creative designs; Adaptable flood defence; River cities
Abstract: Countries that are part of a river catchment or border the sea or ocean have to cope with floods. The Netherlands is such a country and therefore has a long history of flood protection management. Along the coast line dunes and sea defences are used. In the river landscape dikes are applied in combination with fixed structures. Improvement of these structures is inevitable due to climate change and economic developments. These economic developments do not only make improvements necessary, they also create great difficulties in executing these improvements. Urban functions like working and recreational activities demand much space. Traditional flood protection improvements becomes difficult, if not impossible in an urban area. A new approach towards urban flood protection is therefore needed. The concept of adaptable flood defences brings relief. This concept integrates several functions into one multifunctional structure which can easily adapt in time (Stalenberg 2006). The concept is still an abstract idea of a new type of flood protection. The objective is therefore to investigate if the concept is feasible and if it is not only an abstract idea. This is done by developing creative designs which combine the technical function of flood protection with urban functions. These designs were made using the analogy method, brainstorm method and intuitive method. Looking at functional analogy of the technical function flood protection and at similar flooding problems with known solutions triggered new ideas for flood protection structures. Examples produced by the analogy method are the inside drive-in, the umbrella-valve and the super quay. The power behind the brainstorm is to think-out-of-thebox by approaching the problem from different angles with a group of people with different backgrounds. The Venice concept, season shopping, and the flood boat are some of the creative designs. With the intuitive method the concepts were designed individually, solely based on intuition. The movable road, the multiple-use dike and the stairs are a few examples.
Year: 2007