Precedent Studies I
Our third project of the studio is to do precedent studies. The work is closely related to our final design. I studied Schoonschip, a sustainable floating community in Amsterdam. The site carries activities in the 20th century, which are mainly reflected in its heavily polluted soils, water soils, poor surface water quality, and other related problems such as incidental asbestos.
The decrease in industrial activities leaves polluted vacant and abandoned parcels. They are waiting for new development.
The number of residents in the area is low (646 on 1 Jan. 2010) and most of them are students. However, this number is increasing and expected to grow to 11000 people in 2030 (Stadsdeel Noord, 2010). As for land use, the site is predominantly surrounded by offices and business buildings. During 2000–2010, there has been a major rise in business activities, with the number of business companies rising from 691 in 2000 to 904 in 2010 and the number of jobs rising 27% from 7433 in 2000 to 9471 in 2010. In these activities, consultancy and research are the largest sectors.
As shown in the master plan below, there are roof gardens, greenhouses, solar heat collectors, PV cells, urban farmlands, etc. The aims of these strategies are decarbonization, health, and close community.
As for energy, the project uses wind energy, solar collectors, hydropower, biogas, and geothermal energy. And the use of clean energy is taken step by step. And the community will become fully self-sufficient eventually.
The community has a very efficient cultural and economic regulation. The community is regulated by selected boards. Fruits and vegetables planted in the farms will be partly stored, partly sold in nearby markets and partly sold to the community restaurant to residents. Some residents have begun a successful food processing business by DIY products with these vegetables and fruits on the farm. Half of these profits will be recycled back into the community.
