Flux has developed a spatial future perspective for the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, commissioned by the National Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug, the municipality of Amersfoort and the Provincial Advisor Spatial Quality Paul Roncken. The project is part of the design research Holtland, a design research into new forms of forests in the Netherlands.
In the vision Utrechts Heuvelland the watersystem is taken as basis for the planning process. Both top, side and edge of the Heuvelrug are part of this system and form the basis for a new future perspective; the Utrechts Heuvelland. A new thickened edge of hedgerows, lanes, forest-rooms and city-forests are forming a gradual transition between the Heuvelrug and the surrounding landscape. This doesn’t only offer opportunities for new forests and recreation, but also enables seepage water to be absorbed quietly instead of quickly draining it. In the edges new forest structures are improving the reachability of the forest from the villages and cities and on the top of the Heuvelrug are opportunities for more nature, diverse deciduous forests and an improved percolation of rainwater. In this way recreation can be absorbed in the edges so that the heart of the Heuvelrug can be relieved. By developing new forests in the edges, there will be directed at strengthening the spatial quality of various landscapes around the Heuvelrug. In addition, the new forest contributes to greater transitions that are involved. In this way the linear forests improve the connection between the city and the country-side, will new forests be part of a sustainable agricultural system in the Gelderse Vallei and will new coppice forests arise in the estate-zone around Langbroek.
The project is part of the project Holtland, a design research into new forms of forests in the Netherlands. Flux sees a high abstraction level in existing researches about forest, without a deeper insight. Therefore, Flux believes that the research into planting forests in the Netherlands is crucial, with focus on diverse forest types, in a strong relation with both current challenges in the Netherlands and a concrete spatial development. The design research consists in three parts: the forest book with forests of the future, several case studies and an alternative forest vision for the Netherlands.
Four case studies have been set up with concrete locations. The stakeholders are: The Province of Utrecht, WWF, Synchroon and Staatsbosbeheer. The project has been financed by Stimuleringsfonds with co-financing of several parties. The focus group for the research exists of Berno strootman (National Advisor Landscape, engaged in the forest strategy of LNV), Kees Hendriks (researcher into forest of Alterra Wageningen) and Martijn Boosten (researcher and advisor at foundation Probos).
Take a look at the results of the case study Forests for Building here. The research into River Forests with the WWF is expected in the beginning of 2022.
The exhibition Sponsland was opened at the Grote Markt in Groningen, at the beginning of November. Maquettes of different bureaus were exhibited, including the maquette of Flux. The exhibition is about the future of the Groninger landscape and can still be visited on various locations.
Simultaneously to the exhibition, the book Sponsland was presented on Friday the 5th of November, where Gerwin de Vries of Flux was present. The project Edible Waddencoast of Flux is included in the book Sponsland.
Together with the Vereniging Deltametropool and Bureau Buiten, Jonas Papenborg of Flux presented the results of the project Landvestors II last Thursday. In the project Landvestors II, Flux has conducted research on how companies and residents (Landvestors) in the Dutch Region Brainport Eindhoven and in the German region Rheinische Revier can contribute on the development of an attractive and sustainable landscape.
The results are collected in the publication: Landvestors II, The Region
Flux part of movie open call Toekomstbestendig Landelijk Gebied
As part of a new programme of the Stimuleringfonds Creatieve Industrie, called De Nieuwe Ruimte (The New Space), Gerwin de Vries of Flux landscape architecture has been asked to tell something about the design research Holtland, a research Flux is working on at the moment. The interview was filmed at the office of Flux and in the forest as well.
Flux was asked to develop a vision for the greenstructure of Vlaardingen Westwijk. Previously, in collaboration with Shift architecture and urbanism, Flux has won the competition of Panorama Lokaal. Together with Shift, a spatial elaboration for the Zuidbuurt is being developed, and now a vision on the greenstructure of the complete neighborhood as well. Commissioned by the municipality of Vlaardingen. Results are expected at the beginning of 2022.
Image: first prize of the competition Panorama Lokaal: Westwijk Rooted, Flux landscape architecture, Shift, Acaciawater en Bureau stadsnatuur
Completed roofgarden Amsterdam Oostenburg
Four years ago, Flux has won the tender together with VORM, Workshop architects and OZ architects, to design and develop the area and buildings at Oostenburg. The roofgarden ‘De Keijzer’ has been completed now, a natural and strong rooflandscape, designed by Flux. Read more about the character and development of the design of the roofgarden in the interview of Hillen en Roosen, with Gerwin de Vries:
Four times the surface area of the city of Utrecht of new forest: this is what minister Carola Schouten aims for 2030. This is beneficial for human and biodiversity, but since every square meter in the Netherlands already has a destination, where can these forests take place?
Gerwin de Vries of Flux landscape architecture was guest at De Koplopers, a series in which Teun van de Keuken meets people who put solutions of the future already into practice.
Last Monday, the new forest-strategy was the subject to discuss at the Balie. Gerwin de Vries has presented the design research Holtland: how to integrate more forest in the Netherlands in a smart way. Several types of forest came out of this research, which seem promising to provide in wood on short term for the building of houses. These forests contribute, next to the production of wood, to multiple challenges each time. For example, they contribute to increase biodiversity, to store CO2, to purify contaminated land and to improve the urban/countryside connection.
Last week, the mayor and aldermen of Breda approved the design proposal from the design team Barcode architects and Flux landscape architecture. The design will be located at the place of the current Kadaster building, the Markendaalseweg in Breda. This striking location is located close to the city center and is characterized by high ambitions for climate and biodiversity. In collaboration with the municipality of Breda and commissioned by BPD development.
The image displayed is a conceptual representation
Flux designs phonebooth
Flux designed a phonebooth, to give the online meetings an easy and quiet space in the office. The wooden phonebooth is completely isolated and contains a comfortable bench and desk. The phonebooth is also demountable to move, equipped with planting on top and a display wall on the outside for projectbooks! In collaboration with Lukas Appel.
Flux is working on the design research ‘After Corona’
Commissioned by the Province of South-Holland, Flux is working on the design research ‘After Corona’. Flux researches the changes in use of our outdoor space at the time of a pandemic and how this can lead towards an improved design in the future. In collaboration with and commissioned by the Provincial Advisor Spatial Quality (PARK) Noël van Dooren. Parallel to this and within the same project, Urhahn is working on a design research into the changing relation between home and work. The results of both studies are expected in the end of 2021.