Selected Projects
Zaandam in 100 years
Zaandam developed alongside Amsterdam as a site for economic activities that were restricted in the dense city core. Today, it stands at a crossroads, facing major challenges: rising sea levels, overtourism, shifting economic models, and a growing housing crisis. With sea levels projected to rise by up to three meters over the next century, the question is: how can we respond proactively?
Using adaptable floating infrastructure, the city can respond to evolving needs over time. Mobile cranes can transport modular elements across the water, allowing spaces to be reconfigured as demands shift. Functions are clustered dynamically—based on season, urgency, or demographic changes—creating a flexible urban fabric that evolves with its inhabitants.
In order to apply this concept to the specific location of Zaanstad, I have developed four design principles:
– the introduction of new economies,
– the transformation of remaining spaces into housing,
– the renaturalisation of the polders,
– and the creation of a lively mix within the urban fabric.
By applying these principles, I aim to ensure that urgent needs—such as economic transformation, affordable housing, species protection, and water management—are addressed, while also creating a liveable city with short distances that support the coexistence of humans and animals.
Quarter 1, Urbanism, TU Delft, 2023
Supervisor: Francesca Rizzetto
Birgit Hausleitner, Taneha Kuzniecow Bacchin