Experiencing Aachen's Hidden Streams
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Experiencing Aachen’s hidden streams A research and design(ing) into the visual experiences of three valleys in and around Aachen REPORT By Rachel Backbier Master thesis Landscape Architecture Wageningen University July 2017 II Experiencing Aachen’s hidden streams A research and design(ing) into the visual experiences of three valleys in and around Aachen Master thesis report MSc Landscape Architecture, Wageningen University Rachel Backbier 910105 025 050 Wageningen, July 2017 Supervisors Dr. Ir. Ingrid Duchhart (Wageningen University) Kevin Raaphorst MSc (Wageningen University) External supervisor Ir. Jhon van Veelen (Landschap in Verandering) Prof. Dr. Ir. Adri van den Brink (Examiner) (Wageningen University) Dr. Ir. Marlies Brinkhuijsen (Second reviewer) (Wageningen University) III Colophon Rachel Backbier [email protected] All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of either the author or the Wageningen University Landscape Architecture Chair group. This publication is written as a final master thesis in landscape architecture by order of the chair group of landscape architecture at Wageningen University. Landscape Architecture Chair group Phone: +31 317 484 056 Fax: +31 317 482 166 E-mail: [email protected] www.lar.wur.nl Postal address Postbus 47 6700 AA Wageningen The Netherlands Visiting address Gaia, building number 101 Droevendaalsesteeg 3 6708 PB Wageningen The Netherlands IV Examiner Prof. Dr. Ir. Adri van den Brink ....................................................... (Second) Supervisor Kevin Raaphorst MSc ....................................................... External supervisor Ir. Jhon van Veelen ....................................................... Second reviewer Dr. Ir. Marlies Brinkhuijsen ....................................................... V “Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.” ― A.A. Milne VI Preface As a creative person with a great interest in the landscape I felt that the final result of studying landscape architecture for some time should involve a research topic that I was passionate about and the outcomes should be both academic as well as an artistic expression. This however created a struggle between designing with the purpose of supporting the research and designing with aesthetics and form in mind with the purpose of making something beautiful. Landscape architecture in my opinion includes both scientific research and a degree of artistry. So I combined both as I am convinced that a strong spatial design makes use of the existing spatial characteristics of an area to the fullest. There are a lot of processes going on in nature, in the landscape, which we easily overlook. The outcomes of these processes can make us stop for a moment and make us realise that these processes are actually continuously going on and we sense them at that moment not just with our mind, but with all our senses. The change of the seasons seems to happen almost overnight sometimes. Heavy rain can make us aware of the presence of water where we didn’t notice it before. So while we can look at facts, the dates that tell us when the seasons change or at a map showing rain clouds, what we see, smell, feel, hear and taste with our body does influence how we experience our surroundings and how aware we are of it. I am grateful to my supervisors for guiding me through the process of writing my thesis. I thank Jhon van Veelen for guiding me in the design process and Ingrid Duchhart for her guidance, difficult questions and for helping me be critical about my own work. I also want to thank Kevin for his help in the final stages of my thesis, providing feedback and supervising me in the effort of bringing everything together into a coherent report. VII Summary Landscapes with characteristic landscape qualities and a strong link to the regional landscape identity are important to preserve. Where urbanization and expanding urban areas have impacted these landscapes measures must be taken to guide changes. The landscape identity is both regionally defined and perceived by individuals. Urban areas especially affect the natural water systems. The cross border region of the Three Countries Park (Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands) has several strong landscape characteristics. In the case of Aachen urban expansion has affected the visibility of the landscape identity. The visual experiences, as part of the visibility of the landscape identity, of three stream valleys in and around Aachen have been researched. By research-through-designing the outcomes of the research and the analysis are directly incorporated in the design. The design process acts as a research tool as well. The final design aims to improve the visibility of the landscape system by designing a stream valley as a connected element. The landscape analysis introduces the landscape characteristics and explains the relationship between Aachen and the landscape, because the presence of the streams and thermal springs play an important role in Aachen's history. The landscape characteristics are used to guide part of the visual research. The visual research concentrates on the visual experiences of three stream valleys, the valleys of the Johannisbach, Gillesbach and part of the Wurm. The focus of this research lies on the visibility of the stream, the appearance of the stream and valley, dominant landscape features and defining landscape elements. The main findings show that; there are several critical points where the visual experiences are diminished because of obstacles, there is a lack of visual continuity and a missing connection between the springs and the tributary of the Wurm River, and that interventions can improve the visibility of the stream and the presence of water in the valleys. The outcomes of the research are translated into four visual design guidelines and 10 smaller specific interventions which should improve the visibility of the stream and strengthen the characteristic landscape system of the valley. In the design these guidelines are elaborated into three detailed designs for the valley of the Gillesbach. The continuity of the stream valley and the coherence of the system is shown by designing both the valley on a larger scale and the interventions in detailed designs on a smaller scale. The outcomes of the design can be important tools in creating awareness about the role of the stream valleys in future urban renewal and the development of the landscape. VIII Zusammenfassung Landschaften mit charakteristischen Landschaftsqualitäten und mit einer starken Verbindung zur Landschaftsidentität einer Region sind besonders schützenswert. Wo Urbanisierung und städtischen Erweiterung diese Landschaften beeinflusst haben, sind Schritte erforderlich um die Veränderungen zu lenken. Die Landschaftsidentität ist sowohl regional definiert als auch individuell lokal wahrgenommen. Städte beeinflussen vor allem die natürlichen Wassersysteme der Landschaften. Die grenzüberschreitende Region des Dreiländerpark (Deutschland, Belgien und die Niederlande) hat mehrere dominante Landschaftsmerkmale. Im Fall von Aachen hat die Stadterweiterung die Sichtbarkeit der Landschaftsidentität beeinflusst. Die visuellen Erlebnisse entlang drei Bachläufen in und um Aachen werden als Teil der Sichtbarkeit der Landschaftsidentität erforscht. Durch research- through-designing werden die Ergebnisse der Forschung direkt in das Design integriert. Der Designprozess selbst dient dabei auch als Forschungsinstrument. Das Design hat als Ziel die Sichtbarkeit des Landschaftssystems zu verbessern durch die Gestaltung eines Bachlaufs als ein zusammenhängendes Element. Die Landschaftsanalyse führt die Landschaftsmerkmale ein und erklärt die Zusammenhang zwischen der Stadt Aachen und ihrer Landschaft, denn die Anwesenheit der Bäche und Thermalquellen spielten eine wichtige Rolle in Aachens Geschichte. Die Landschafts Charakteristiken geben dabei der visuellen Forschung eine Richtung. Die visuelle Forschung konzentriert sich auf die visuellen Erlebnisse von drei Bachtälern, den Tälern des Johannisbach, Gillesbach und einem Teil von der Wurm. Der Schwerpunkt liegt dabei auf die Sichtbarkeit von den Bäche, der Erscheinung des Baches und des Tales, dominante Charakteristika der Landschaft und ihren definierenden Elementen. Die wichtigsten Ergebnisse sind; dass es mehrere kritische Punkte gibt bei denen die visuellen Erlebnisse aufgrund von Hindernissen vermindert sind, es fehlt an visueller Kontinuität und an eine Verbindung zwischen den Quellen und dem Wurm Fluss, und Eingriffe können die Sichtbarkeit des Baches und die Erfahrung von Wasser in den Tälern verbessern. Die Ergebnisse werden in vier visuelle Gestaltungsrichtlinien und zehn kleinere spezifische Interventionen umgesetzt. Sie sollen die Sichtbarkeit des Baches verbessern und das charakteristische Landschaftssystem des Tales stärken. Diese Richtlinien werden in drei detaillierte Entwürfe für das Tal des Gillesbachs ausgearbeitet. Die Kontinuität des Bachlaufs und der Zusammenhang des Systems wird gezeigt durch den Entwurf von Tal und die Interventionen in detaillierten Designs in einem kleineren Maßstab. Die Ergebnisse des Designs können wichtige Mittel sein um Bewusstsein zu schaffen über die