Growing carbon-scapes in growing AMA: From emissions to circularity

Growing carbon-scapes in growing AMA: From emissions to circularity

Georgali, E.
Cardoso Pera Eboli, C.
Song, J.
Liu, X.

Qu, L. (mentor)
Khosravi Al-Hosseini, H. (mentor)
Dabrowski, M.M. (mentor)
Rocco de Campos Pereira, R.C. (mentor)

Architecture and The Built Environment

Urbanism

2017-04-01

In 2016, 54.5% of the world population was living in urban areas, whereas cities occupied only 2% of the total land. (United Nations: Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2015). Climate change, inequality, peace and security issues are just some of the factors affecting urban areas and at the same time posing new challenges for urban planners. However, one approach that rises in popularity in order to provide cities with solution on the basis of these complex issues is the idea of establishing a circular economy in the built environment. In this framework and having as a starting point the high ecological footprint of the Netherlands, the present report attempts to propose an alternative spatial strategy for one of the most competitive metropolitan regions, Amsterdam Metropolitan Region, for 2040. In other words, our approach focuses on how we can realize a regional strategy that aims at lowering the ecological footprint by proposing a concept that has in its core the idea of “carbon-scapes”. Namely, we propose a set of policies, projects and actions that can shape a hybrid sustainable landscape where reduction and reuse of CO2 are our main principles for circularity and urban development. One of the key elements to support this vision for the region is the construction of a regional CO2 pipeline network that connects CO2 consumer with CO2 producer. Nevertheless, the project addresses a versatility of urban challenges, such as the symbiosis of cultural, natural and urban landscape, the reuse of vacancy, the regeneration of public spaces, the productivity and efficiency of land, as well as the importance of landmarks (museums) as a catalyst for urban growth. Considering that the ecological footprint is expected to reach higher levels, if we do not find a way to establish a new agenda of spatial design and policies that would include circularity, this research addresses a widely known waste material (CO2) as an asset to implement it. In general, it can be seen as an additional layer and an example for combining ecological footprint issues and circularity so as to achieve a more sustainable future also in other regions, beyond the AMA.

co2 emissions
circular economy
Amsterdam metropolutan area
carbonscapes
ecological footprint
urban growth
co2 pipeline

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:93a6254b-0f06-4e3e-b635-2e472ea16337

Student theses

student report

(c) 2017 the authors