Under the prosaic title “Infrastructure as a showcase for the ingenuity” was the Dutch Architecture Institute (NAI) its second Major Projects debate. The stakes were clear: “The infrastructure can play a leading role in organizing the rest of the country.” What should have been a fierce debate among politicians, critics and designers turned into a private chat between developers and officials. Nieuw Amerongen Frido of reports.
Construction of the Betuwelijn
The discussion has already crippled by the initial absence of the two speakers. Michelle Provoost critic (author of Asphalt) let sickness turn up and Minister of Transport Tineke Netelenbos was absent because of construction fraud investigations. She had a duty of confidentiality.
Netelenbos was still virtually present. Her custom and partly censored story was read and commented by van Schaik, project leader at Rijkswaterstaat. He was not always agree with Netelenbos. So he told it her appreciation for the French Grand Projects, but the lack of comparable Dutch projects he fervently denied, referring to the 19th century Dutch tradition of canals, polders and stations. Van Schaik agree that RWS had directed the design has lost the last decades. A rapid improvement he foresees no. In the integrated approach of the A12 motorway Rijkswaterstaat must start all over again. “There is still trying to analyze the design task is”
Joost Schrijnen of the board space and mobility, South Holland province, finds a second introductory speaker in recent years architects infrastructure contracts storm. “What do civil engineers themselves?” he asks. “Nothing!” The TU Delft is no attention to the civil design and the players have no interest. If it fails to establish a connection between spatial designers and civil engineers, then all effort useless and design changes nothing. ” He joins Van Schaik Netherlands in the art of making disappeared. “We must learn this art all over again. And in a society where infrastructure is not autonomous, it will not be an easy task. “
Links: Körmeling designs on the A12 (from: Taste 05, photo: Janine Writer). Right: Mobility Aesthetics, proposal Mecanoo architects.
Problems in education and the authorities, unclear and fragmented responsibilities, and a decreasing autonomy, the speakers do not hopeful picture for the future of infrastructure design. The other panelists did not make it better. Paul van der Ree, architect in Holland Rail Consult, tells of his difficult task as the creator of the HSL Zuid. “Coming up with a consistent design for the entire route has not been easy. But economic and political arguments, dilutes as a concept ever. ” He says. “The tunnel under the Green Heart was for him the last bloodletting. “From an ambiguous route design is no longer. Remaining are few delights, including the bridge over the Moerdijk van Benthem Crouwel Architekten. ”
Also increasingly used “Design and construct” contract method (where the government the project to the constructing Party) impedes a good design according to the panelists because usually the economic motives prevail.
The absence of the reply of political outsiders and creates a sort of old-boys-currant atmosphere. John Körmeling defends his ‘social’ eight-lane highway, open to all traffic. ‘Racing left and right foot step “and Rein Jansma Zwarts & Jansma Architects know of a solution to the proliferation of noise barriers to counter:” Give all assignments to our office “The facts remains with pins and exchange, a fundamental discussion on the use of Infrastructure is hard to find.
Proposal for three Mecanoo snelwegtracees.
From the audience prick Aaron Betsky, director of NAI, the balloon of crippling unity:”All the panelists are, unconsciously, one aspect of all in agreement: The desire for big and clear. Why anyone looking for less unambiguous, but more varied solutions? ”
Most panelists not to seek such a solution. Their gaze is focused on the greatness of the French project, but without the associated powerful driver. Whether and how this can then in Holland with its ambiguous cultural consulting responsibilities, it segmented bodies and its emphasis on economic considerations, no one could answer. Maybe Betsky’s suggestion to seek variety in the design to be played by teams in the next debate on Thursday, March 28 to defend their views.
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