This thesis explores the Brabant, a region deeply marked by the presence of water and industry.
There five towns are, for historical, cultural and functional reasons, closely related : Tilburg, Helmond, s-
Hertogenbosch, Eindhoven, Breda.
There five towns are, for historical, cultural and functional reasons, closely related : Tilburg, Helmond, s-
Hertogenbosch, Eindhoven, Breda.
The aim of the thesis is to get the different expressions of a new shared living which in the last twenty
years has been literally colonizing many area of this region : single and frequent episodes seizing
dismissed area, abandoned or , just the opposite, well fitted in urban contexts. In all these episodes we
can find new and different “ vivre ensemble” declensions as phenomenon having ancient roots in North
Europe ,above all in the Netherlands.
The first part of the thesis have focused on shared living practices around the five towns.
The inquiry has been guided through several observations, ample photography surveys and maps
drawing which aim at representing the frequency of sharing episodes in different territorial contexts.
Main outcome of this first part is the map B5 Kanaalzones : a synthetic representation which, thanks to
different graphic and interpretational registers, renders these territories through the lens of the shared
living.
The second part of the thesis inquiries Breda city.
The thesis has explored the current condition of Breda through statistical survey and land
investigation concerning, especially, uses and consistency of soil. After these inquiries Breda emerges a
well organized town, permeable (with the exception of shifts caused by significant dismission episodes
within the urban tissue ), characterized by a lively association web. Maps and diagrams show the
localization and the intensity of the association network.
Breda has recently been the object of several urban projects among which "Via Breda", a project fermly opposed by inhabitants associations its tactless approach.
The project developed within this thesis concerns two area of Via Breda project, Markoevers and Zoete
Inval, currently not assailed by the transformations yet and proceeds with tree urban reconfiguration
strategies
Inval, currently not assailed by the transformations yet and proceeds with tree urban reconfiguration
strategies
The first is a move paying attention to the specific conditions of the soil : of its physical and
morphological characters, of its pollution level, of the remainders of the industrial pas of the site. This
first strategy articulate phases of reclaim, cultivation, reforestation and construction.
morphological characters, of its pollution level, of the remainders of the industrial pas of the site. This
first strategy articulate phases of reclaim, cultivation, reforestation and construction.
A second strategy pays attention to the water presence and to its closely related activities. A consideration leading to decision of expand the current water system up till the tree wise tanks in the central part of Zoete Inval. A wide –spreading practices system is connected to the water, from the sailing, the boats and
houseboats construction, up to living, associational and educational forms at the edge of the water
The third strategy concerns the mobility on wheels and water and, especially, rethink the infrastructure
plans of Breda north district within the huge sector between the railway and the ring road. This strategy
imposes a new connection system linking the city center with the new districts and a tinier path.
plans of Breda north district within the huge sector between the railway and the ring road. This strategy
imposes a new connection system linking the city center with the new districts and a tinier path.
A conceptual diagram recaps the tree strategies and allow to articulate the new expansion in four parts
1-the water square ( meaning the area connected with the main canal, the most public area of the Zoete
Inval), made from the sugar factory drying basins.
2-the park, in a tight relation with the rural territories north-westward, specifically designed for
reclaiming, protect from the noise pollution, introduce shared farming practices
reclaiming, protect from the noise pollution, introduce shared farming practices
3-the living area , inflected through different settlement strategies inspired by projects emblematic of the last twenty years dutch experimentation concerning the housing.
