Location:
Nijmegen/Lent, Holland
Status:
River channel and bridges constructed
Client:
Nijmegen Muncipality & Private Developer
Budget:
€365 million
Scale:
c200 hectares
Constraints:
Not enough room to accommodate a significant flood event
Scope of Works:
Managed retreat of existing town, new river channel, masterplan and flood mitigation strategy phasing
FLOOD MASTERPLAN
Nijmegen
Introduction
Construction began in 2013 on a major flood relief channel between Nijmegen and Lent in the Netherlands at the threshold with Germany. The holistic project includes a major dyke relocation and new 1km-long flood relief channel as part of the national ‘Room for the River’ programme to reduce flood-risk and support urban growth in Lent. It involves the creation of 3 new bridges over the 3 years construction.
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Introduction
Construction began in 2013 on a major flood relief channel between Nijmegen and Lent in the Netherlands at the threshold with Germany. The holistic project includes a major dyke relocation and new 1km-long flood relief channel as part of the national ‘Room for the River’ programme to reduce flood-risk and support urban growth in Lent. It involves the creation of 3 new bridges over the 3 years construction.
Vision & Approach
An island ’Retreat’ will be created between the River Waal and the new flood relief channel (gully), combining water recreation, river ecology, flood resilient development and sustainable infrastructure to create a self-sufficient ‘eco-leisure’ destination. It will be an exemplar, integrated solution and showcase for international architectural and technical innovation. The new island development comprises a 70m tall landmark tower to the east, overlooking the two rivers, and a series of 100 luxury flood resilient homes and holiday lets cascading down to and touching the water, and linking with a floating quay. The west of the peninsula will become a parkland for recreation, nature and seasonal flooding. The project is envisaged to unite on many levels, fusing the past with the future, harmonising nature with development and re-connecting residents with the water.
The intention is to create an integrated design solution for the retreat. One, which maximizes investment, returns both in terms of economic and qualitative benefit. This approach seeks to use both the land and water for multiple functions, including development, house boats, recreation, renewable energy production, water storage and flood alleviation. Through the room for the river project the site will be more sensitive to the impacts of climate change. Therefore an integrated approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change is essential.
Concept Drivers
Four core concepts directed the design; provision of riverside leisure for local residents, architectural innovation as an exemplar destination for The Netherlands, environment and ecology richness and a zero carbon development and sustainable community. As an activity rich destination both on land and on water the proposal provides the opportunity to ‘touch ‘ the water.
The site is very much informed by the river dynamics with new buildings showcasing international architectural talent and innovation. The new leisure accommodation will harness natural resources to create a fossil fuel free development and will ensure clear cradle-to-cradle use of materials through the life of the project.
Outdoor Rooms
The island is divided into a series of outdoor rooms, each offering a slightly different experience of the ‘Retreat’. To the north of the main river, low-lying land is to be excavated to make room for seasonal flooding, creating a new protected water arena and series of outdoor ‘water rooms’. Landscape characteristics will include river dunes, embankments, dykes, riparian habitat and marginal river stands.
Introduction
Construction began in 2013 on a major flood relief channel between Nijmegen and Lent in the Netherlands at the threshold with Germany. The holistic project includes a major dyke relocation and new 1km-long flood relief channel as part of the national ‘Room for the River’ programme to reduce flood-risk and support urban growth in Lent. It involves the creation of 3 new bridges over the 3 years construction.
Vision & Approach
An island ’Retreat’ will be created between the River Waal and the new flood relief channel (gully), combining water recreation, river ecology, flood resilient development and sustainable infrastructure to create a self-sufficient ‘eco-leisure’ destination. It will be an exemplar, integrated solution and showcase for international architectural and technical innovation. The new island development comprises a 70m tall landmark tower to the east, overlooking the two rivers, and a series of 100 luxury flood resilient homes and holiday lets cascading down to and touching the water, and linking with a floating quay. The west of the peninsula will become a parkland for recreation, nature and seasonal flooding. The project is envisaged to unite on many levels, fusing the past with the future, harmonising nature with development and re-connecting residents with the water.
The intention is to create an integrated design solution for the retreat. One, which maximizes investment, returns both in terms of economic and qualitative benefit. This approach seeks to use both the land and water for multiple functions, including development, house boats, recreation, renewable energy production, water storage and flood alleviation. Through the room for the river project the site will be more sensitive to the impacts of climate change. Therefore an integrated approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change is essential.
Concept Drivers
Four core concepts directed the design; provision of riverside leisure for local residents, architectural innovation as an exemplar destination for The Netherlands, environment and ecology richness and a zero carbon development and sustainable community. As an activity rich destination both on land and on water the proposal provides the opportunity to ‘touch ‘ the water.
The site is very much informed by the river dynamics with new buildings showcasing international architectural talent and innovation. The new leisure accommodation will harness natural resources to create a fossil fuel free development and will ensure clear cradle-to-cradle use of materials through the life of the project.
Outdoor Rooms
The island is divided into a series of outdoor rooms, each offering a slightly different experience of the ‘Retreat’. To the north of the main river, low-lying land is to be excavated to make room for seasonal flooding, creating a new protected water arena and series of outdoor ‘water rooms’. Landscape characteristics will include river dunes, embankments, dykes, riparian habitat and marginal river stands.
SITE COMING SOON
