The system of The New Dutch Houten-Gedekte Waterline Plan gemeenschapsweg Plan

Muiderberg Highlight: A Cycle Route Muiden At this moment we live in a time in which the landscape Weesp Naarden from the past changes along the main defence line. On a higher level, there already is a focus on a densification West of the main defence line and a larger openness at the Eastside of the line. Bicycle routes Nigtevecht Bussum passing by the fortifications are merged into a cycle route that physically connects the fortifications. The route will be physically pointed out by

boundary marks. Except for the cyclist who travels 85 kilometres – and Vreeland Hilversum probably that same distance back- the person who doesn´t follow the Loenen complete line, but only part of it would also get the ´perspective of Loosdrechtse plassen 红岩峡谷中心平面图 memory´ of the entire line. Breukelen

Maarssen

De Bilt

Zeist Utrecht Bunnik

Houten

Nieuwegein

Culem

Leerdam

Gorinchem

Werkendam

Not Directly Visible Inundation System New Dutch Waterline

Developer: Municipality of Houten Landscape Architect: OKRA landscape architects Location: Houten, the Netherlands Site Area: 30,000m2 Contributed Coordinator: Yalin Zhang Contributed by: OKRA landscape architectsArchitecture

Project Background Localized Design Features Netherlands is known for its the seawalls and The main defense line in its purest shape forms windmills. Due to its low sea level, specifically, the border between wet and dry and is closely one-third of the territory below sea level, the connected to the underlying landscape: during the Dutch built dikes to stop the water, and used construction, existing embankments and natural windmills to generate power for water pumping depressed areas are used as much as possible. and land reclamation. And the main defense line, Because of irregularities in the relief and higher in Houten, is one of the most well-known projects. lying accesses in the form of infrastructure and The main defense line, or sometimes also called waterways, the inundation fields could not form a main resistance line, is part of the system of The continuous water plain. New Dutch Waterline”. Spread along the line, one On the weak spots, one now finds the places that finds a sequel of citadels, an enormous amount of most speak to the imagination, where citadels, smaller objects such as sluices and other water inundation works and the connecting concentration scientific works and the later added casemates. of bunkers and casemates come together. The In combination with the inundation fields, they spatial image that arises consists of intensively form a large 19th century defence system. A large defended accesses surrounded by a high density number of cuttings, to be made in embankments of objects, succeeded with parts of several form a not directly visible but essential part of the kilometres long, without any apparent defence. inundation system. The location of that is only Interesting about the main defence line is that it visible on chart images. The line has several passes several landscapes and takes on several intensively and extensively defended zones. forms of appearance.

444 Global Stylish Landscapes >>Natural Modern Style imagine the boundary and that has formed a threat it is part of a pretty neat ensemble, the former that now, in an era of fast transport by land and by gantry of Honswijk, of which the Lunet at the Snel air is also hard to imagine can now be flooded. It and Fort Honswijk are also part of. The water, ´s a secret landscape that is not visible but does the roads and the embankments have a hidden need to become experienceable again, without purpose, which is put back on stage within the losing the magic of the secret. For this reason, the scope of the recreational development of the decision has been made to make ´cuts´ at crucial New Dutch Waterline. Besides reconstruction of New Cryptography places that have the character of disguising and the buildings, re-profiling the earthen bank and With that, the plan for the main defence line revealing the secret. They contribute to the ´story making a viewpoint, partial recreational use can be is based on making intervention producing a telling´ by means of a series of spots, each with enhanced by improving cycle and foot paths. readable landscape, by which the line does their own cut, different of type, size and story but The Covered Community Road at Fort Honswijk become special but not always and everywhere, characterized by the same design and use of is not a damming embankment, but a defence just like the secret writing with invisible ink material. These limited procedures add continuity embankment. The main defence line as a system becomes visible when it’s lighted by fluorescent along the cycle route and offer an insight into each calls for particularization and explanation, much light. The recent execution of the plan for the part of the fascinating system that is the New Dutch more then concrete lining. By adding the ´ Covered Community Road at Fort Honswijk proves Waterline cut´ through the embankment, the defensive the power of the cut. character of the embankment has been made Covered Community Road experiencableand a short walk is made possible. The Cutting as An Intervention The covered community road at Fort Honswijk The water lying behind becomes accessible An intervention of the line is critical. Opposite to connects a number of defence works at the by an entrance through the cut in the ground. the rationalism of the military engineering art is the North-side of the Lek, as part of the New Dutch Southwards, a series of step stones form a magic of the waterline – and with that, the line that Waterline. The project of the covered community staircase over the embankment, making the is part of it. A landscape of which we literally cannot road near Tull en ´t Waal is interesting because defence work accessible.

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