Nature / Culture: Wonen op het Wad

Den Helder, 2100

A photo showing an abstract image of a sea dike covered in asphalt and grass, and a cloudy sky above. A single building is visible sticking out above the dike.
Aerial imagery showing the transition from dike to dune in Den Helder, 2022.

In this assignment, called Low Lands, an extreme scenario was presented: 3 metres of sea-level rise by the year 2100. How to deal with such an extreme change in a coastal city in the Netherlands which would be severely affected?

The focus of this project is the city of Den Helder, located in the northern tip of North Holland. My guiding theme for this project was "Nature/Culture," inspired by the transition from the rigid, man-made dike to the organic and natural dune landscape.

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A horizontal section of the city, showing the relative heights of different features. While the relative values displayed next to these images are precise, the absolute values are not very accurate.

Over the centuries we have claimed, diked and bordered off more and more land. The landscape around Den Helder used do be one of great dynamism. It even used to be part of the Wadden Islands (as the island of Huisduinen). With dikes protecting the land, the dynamic landscape is now frozen in one shape. But, in a future where extreme sea-level rise makes this uncompromising protection unsustainable, what if we would shift from protecting the land from water this rigorously, to a more hybrid way of living with the water? A new way of living in a dynamically changing landscape in which not only human, but also natural means have a shaping force.

1800 1900 2022
coast in 1600

What if... we lived on the wadden?

Aerial image of Den Helder, now. An edited Aerial image of Den Helder to visualise the new situation if it were partially flooded, and people lived on an expanded wadden area as well.

A new dike would be constructed to fit in with the current fabric of the city and the structures of the fortifications. This new dike would protect a large part of the old city centre from flooding, and could be realised in parts as a “soft” dike: a dike that is more accessible and has a dune-like appearance, taking inspiration from the Zanddijk (the dune area that grew around a dike west of Den Helder). This to make sure the dike would not be a hard border or wall around the city, as, crucially, the city would not end at this dike. The flooded area outside the new dike would be an extension of the wadden area to the east of Den Helder. While flooded at high tide, at low tide, it might be dry. A new way of living in an adjusted way could enable people to still live in this wadden area. While a combination of plank bridges and boats could facilitate transportation, existing houses could be transformed by re-enforcing the ground floor and moving the main entrance to the first floor, and, in some instances, adding a lightweight floor on top. New structures could be floating, or on smaller mounds. Removing hard ground covering surfaces will enable a more dynamic landscape over time, as the buildings interact with new sedimentation brought in by the tide.
ferry newwad extrahousing extrahousing extrahousing extrahousing extrahousing extrahousing new dunes militarybasebecomesdunes
Three simple sketches showing how sediment can build up along houses if the area is frequenly flooded.
floating
"terp"
ground floor flooded
& floors added
Four simple sketches showing different housing typologies.
New
Existing
Sketch of a map showing the naval port transformed into a new dune area.
Bird's-eye view sketch of a part of the city of Den Helder, flooded. A sandy looking dike covered in footpaths separates the flooded from the dry area of the city, and connects to a new dune area in the distance.
Sketch of a new dike, with houses on either side, cross-crossed by footpaths.
Sketch of a section of a new dike, with houses on either side.