Cities on Mud is a comparative exploration of the relationship between hydraulic interventions in the water systems of deltas and lagoons, and the development of the spatial form of cities in these environments. The exploration is focused on Venice with the Lagoon of Venice, Rotterdam and the Rhine-Meuse delta, and New Orleans and the Mississippi River delta. During history, important interventions in the hydraulic systems have influenced the spatial development of these cities. Also, the current period can be considered as a critical phase in the evolution between water system and urban form. The question is which changes in the water system and urban form are necessary to reach a new balance between both.
Cities on Mud
Cities of Making
Cities of Making is an investigation into the possibilities to improve the conditions for the making industry in cities. The project focuses on Rotterdam, Brussels, and London and is funded by the JPI (Joint Program Initiative) ‘Urban Europe’. The members of the project team are based at TU Delft, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, University College London, and several other institutions in the three cities. Birgit Hausleitner, Victor Muñoz-Sanz, and Han Meyer participate in the research on behalf of TU Delft. The results will be published in the course of 2020.
Urbanism – Fundamentals and Prospects
Urbanism – Fundamentals and Prospects is a book on the historic roots and the prospects for the future of the discipline Urbanism. A large number of urbanists involved in TU Delft and from practice contributed to his book, edited by Han Meyer, MaartenJan Hoekstra, and John Westrik. The book has been published by Boom in 2020.
The 'Nieuwe Waterweg' as a tidal river
The Nieuwe Waterweg as a tidal river is a reconnaissance of the possibilities to transform the Nieuwe Waterweg into a tidal river. This artificial river mouth, with an extremely deep navigation channel, creates increasingly problems like flood risk, salt intrusion, and degradation of the ecosystem. A transformation of the Nieuwe Waterweg will not only contribute to a solution to these problems but creates also possibilities for new, attractive urban waterfronts. The project is being carried out by Deltastad (Han Meyer) in collaboration with ARK Nature development (Esther Blom), World Wildlife Fund (Bas Roels) and H+N+S Landscape architects (Jasper Hugtenburg), in collaboration with students of TU Delft, Hogeschool Rotterdam and Hogeschool Haaglanden.
https://www.wwf.nl/wat-we-doen/actueel/nieuws/meer-natuur-ondiepere-rijnmonding/
Room for Living Rivers
Room for Living Rivers is a program of six nature organizations and can be considered a follow-up of the national program ‘Room fort he River’ (2005-2015). Room for Living Rivers is a plea for creating more room for river beds in relation to other functions and stakeholders in the river area, such as shipping, recreation, mineral extraction, flood defense systems, and housing. One of the projects in this program focuses on the possibilities for a relation between broadening the river bed and housing. This project is being carried out by DeFacto-Urbanism and the Rebel group, supported by Deltastad as an advisor.
Chennai – City of 1,000 Tanks
The City of Chennai in India is situated in a lowland area, where a large number of rivers discharge tot he sea. Because of explosive urbanization, the water-absorption capacity of the territory has decreased. The result is that the city struggles increasingly with serious floods during the rainstorm season. The project ‘City of 1,000 tanks’ aims to increase the water absorption capacity of the city and the region, by building on the centuries old but neglected tradition to construct large ponds or ‘tanks’ next to religious or cultural centers. The project team is composed by experts from the Netherlands and India and led by Ooze Architects, Rotterdam. Han Meyer en Steffen Nijhuis (TU Delft) are responsible fort the embedding of the project in a regional strategy.
See: http://ooze.eu.com/en/urban_strategy/city_of_1000_tanks_chennai/
Review revision Delta program 2021-2027
The Dutch government determined a Delta program in 2015. This program should be revised and adapted to new knowledge and/or changed circumstances every six year. In preparation for the revised Delta program 2021-2017, the Delta program staff prepared a number of documents, which will be reviewed by a scientific review committee. The review committee counts ten members and is chaired by Prof. Frans Klijn (TU Delft/Deltares). Han Meyer is one of the members.
See also https://english.deltacommissaris.nl/
