Water Biography and Timeline of Curaçao

For our heritage and nature inspired water sensitive planning approach we look at what we can learn from the past for the future. We wanted to visualise the historical development of waterscapes and -management in an engaging way. We hope the Water Biography and Timeline helps to create awareness and inspires islanders, planning and water professionals to learn from the past for the future.

Room for the Rooi: A nature and heritage inspired water sensitive planning approach for Curaçao

Rooien and dams, a historical water system of ephemeral streams, were already cultivated in pre-columbian times. Rooi-systems are often neglected or disturbed during urbanisation and land use changes. This contributes to significant reduced water retaining capacity and increased flood risk during heavy rain. Because of their importance the integration and coherence with the rooi- and dam systems has become central to our heritage and nature based water sensitive planning strategy.

Thirsty Cities | The invisible water system of Curaçao

Fresh water systems in Caribbean small island states are particularly vulnerable to the effects of the climate crises. With limited fresh water resources longer periods of drought and irregular patterns of extreme rainfall and storms will result in increased risks of water shortages and floods. A historical water system of ephemeral streams, often neglected and disturbed during urbanisation and land use change, could help improve water resilience.

Article: Thirsty Cities, Shared Water Heritage in the Small Island States of the Dutch Caribbean

The research Thirsty Cities: Shared Water Heritage in the Small Island States of the Dutch Caribbean was presented on The International LDE Heritage Conference 2019 on Heritage and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). My article investigates the typologies of vernacular and historical fresh watermanagement systems and their potential for water security.

Learning from water heritage for a resilient future | Thirsty Cities Curaçao

Many so called 'Small Island States', like the islands of the Dutch Caribbean, have always struggled with their fresh water supply. Surrounded by salt water with often little or mainly brackish groundwater its inhabitants needed to be very resourceful in securing water supply. In this rainwater harvesting played an important part. Due to their extreme vulnerability to the impact of climate change and natural distaster the UN has a special focus on increasing the resilience of Small Island States. In that light my Thirsty Cities research focuses on water supply heritage of the (former) Dutch territory in the Caribbean.

Circular Water Stories

The research project Circular Water Stories explores what we can learn from historical water systems in terms of the interaction and engagement between people & water, when building resilient and valuable waterscapes for the future. The project is funded by NWO / KIEM.

Thirsty Cities Research Project

HOW THE THIRST FOR WATER SHAPED AND STILL SHAPES OUR CITIES

An investigation into the landscape architecture of objects, artefacts, structures and systems for freshwater supply and their potential for water stressed cities

Lines in the Landscape | Grevelingenmeer

The Grevelingenmeer, the largest saltwater lake of Western Europe, is located in the south-western delta estuary of the Netherlands is the largest saltwater lake of Western Europe. In this vision the visibility of the local landscapes is emphasized and made visible and tangible. The Grevelingen area is both a nature area and of economic importance for the oyster and tourism industry

Bali tourism water abstraction / Subak system

For my Thirsty Cities research I joined a Subak and bird walk with Wayan Sumadi. It turns out that the Subak system and it's farmers that manage and support it suffer greatly from periods of unprecedented drought. The water stress is amplified due to extreme water abstraction for the tourism industry.

Fashion Village Bandung

Welcome to the Fashion Village develops a strategy to improve the homes and neighborhoods of industrial worker communities in Bandung (number 1 textile region of Indonesia) using a circular and cooperative development approach.

Historical green and water-structures analyses of Middelharnis and Sommelsdijk

These 'twin' villages are located on the banks of the River Haringvliet on the island of Overflakkee. Typically the historical centres are called 'sleuteldorpen' (key village) as the shape resembles a key. Due to continued sedimentation the old 'ringpolders' were expanded with new land. Tidal creeks became part of the polder-water systems and its harbour canals were elongated to reach the river. This investigation of historical green and blue structures focuses on the historical villages as well as it's border.

Heritage Landscape of Korendijk | Hoeksche Waard

For the municipality of Korendijk, Hoeksche Waard, I made an assessment of the value of objects, elements, structures and ensembles of landscape. The ...

Publications