Tomasz Bulczak - Emerging Submerged

The project explores ways to qualitatively densify Ghent XX century belt. Through careful studies of built, natural and social we can gain insights on how our designs should emerge respectfully submerged within the existing - blending into one synergistic system.

land (noun)
the surface of the earth and all its natural resources

landscape (noun)
a) representation of a view of natural inland scenery
b) a particular area of activity

”In 17th century landscape became a mode of subjectivity. A way of seeing the world”

~Charles Waldheim

Kleine Broekstraat, 2018

Ferry boat - Esaias Van De Velde, 1622

During the course of last century the urban sprawl became one of the most unsustainable phenomena, that humanity needs to face and counteract. On European ground Belgium was a shameful leader of extensive urbanization, what is still clearly visible on the map of Europe’s built environment. Gent was no different to the trend and it’s effects left a scare on the areas of it’s XX century belt. Mariakerke is it’s northern edge. Through the ages an upper-class retreat into nature, a marshland and an area of agricultural production all interlinked by biological cycles. Today it is covered up by the sea of fenced single-family houses, infrastructure and heavy industry. Some of the relics of the shattered ecosystem can be found in an unbulit stripe of land neighboring the highway in the area called Vijfhoek.

Emerging Submerged aims to study the boundaries of the extent of densification with respect and care for existing natural land. It also challenges the ways in which architecture as an art can bring up the desired landscape and be an intertwined added value to it. Through an in-depth research of the cultural and natural forms it seeks for a new vernacular in order to achieve a synergistic image embedded in the local Flemish environment. Parallel the design looks for possibilities to be integrated into the ecosystem and have an revitalising influence on it. Finally, responding to the individualized, homogenic context of Mariakerke the project proposes a wide introduction of diverse functions, social mixture and spaces for collectivity. Balancing between a critique and complement forwards the existing, it hopes to achieve a fitting yet game-changing combination to set an example for the future of the Low Countries - new quality emerging submerged within it’s land.

Global Urban Footprint map

Water

”Landscape architecture is not a cosmetic act of gardening.
It is an art of survival. It is about how to design spaces for people to live.”
~Kongjian Yu

In the Low Lands water has been always a looming danger to humans. For land productivity ditches was introduced. Through Flemish paintings it became an inseparable component of the landscape. Furthermore vernacular melioration ended up in more than just a survival. In fact it went on to familiarize and befriend the force of nature. It created an ecological infrastructure for the benefit and joy of both sides.

Having successful melioration system increases biodiversity of plants and small animals, cleanses the environment and bigger water reservoirs, decreases urban heat, creates leisure spaces, increases crops, is a part of local identity of Flemish vernacular landscape and through needed maintenance can provide jobs for unemployed.

In Mariakerke the system has been significantly disrupted by growing industrialization and urbanization. Two local rivers: Lieve and Caele are barely to be recognized. The first steps need to be taken towards preservation and gradual revival of the ecosystem.

Depictions

July - Limburg brothers, 1412

Bringing in the nets - Emile Claus, 1893

Photo-documentation of relics

Passage towards modern housing over preserved melioration with row of willows

Water on the marsh present for the majority of the year - a resting space for local individuals

Historic transformation

XIX c
For ages the area of Mariakerke Noordt Broecken was used as an agricultural land mixed with luxurious upper-class mansions. Located on the verge of wetland alongside two rivers, as art of survival the melioration was introduce alongside all property partitions in order to ensure quick movement of water from farming land into bigger reservoirs. Willow trees grew alongside it as a consequence of a thriving ecological infrastructure emerging alongside small water which acted also as cleansing system for more contaminated big water.

XX c
During second half of previous century with the growing housing settlements, most of the melioration system was enclosed in underground tunnels. Also some of the landlord mansions along with their garden lakes were replaced. In the north, the rivers were channeled alongside newly built industry zone and cut off from south by the highway. Heavy industry, traffic and concrete enclosure disrupted the ecosystem.

XXI c
At present day only a small part of the original water-system is left untouched. Covered streams are in danger of being contaminated without notice and they do not contribute to neither flourishing of ecosystem nor to the water cleansing process. Along with the water the identity of the area got hidden and forgotten. Within two centuries the ecological infrastructure present for ages changed into the continuously growing cancer of extensive urban sprawl.

Current condition

Land

”The landscape architect was originally conceived as a professional responsible for designing the shape of the city rather than exceptions to it”
~Charles Waldheim on Olmsted

The topography of the land was a resultant of human struggle and befriending with the water. An endless sequence of ditches were dividing the land, simultaneously being an visual manifestation of property divisions. In Mariakerke the development was clear. Upper class mansions were popping up along the main road to the bridge, using water for leisure - a landscape element in their gardens. Other than that the farmland with pragmatic use of melioration was transitioning in and out smoothly with the fens.

With rapid XX century urbanization the grazing marsh was gradually covered up with single family housing and road space in-between them and the main marsh by the rivers was drained to make place for highway and industry.

Currently we look in the cities for as much nature integration as possible, but the damage is done. Especially in Belgium where the urban sprawl reached it’s peaks and by the way of development with row houses by the streets the remaining land that survived is mostly enclosed from streetscape view. As a present reaction the city of Gent aims for an green belt on the verge of the highway, but separates the it visually with the earthwork.

More in-depth solutions are needed. Flanders needs to completely rethink the way to develop and naturalize cities in the age of densification. Instead of creating invisible green islands the the sea of concrete the aim should be to research new synergistic ways for the grown to co-exist in the same space with the build and how they together can form a new city - a new quality of life and it’s landscape manifestation.

Depictions

The Harvesters - Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1565

Pastoral scene - Jan Siberechts, 1665

Photo-documentation of relics

View from the marsh towards the field

Ditches, willows, ground wall break with a view on industry

Green belt

Gent Ruimtelijke Struktuurplan - map 79: desired spatial green structure

Current condition

Community

”The function of the grown is not to emphasize qualities in the built, but to provide residents with the opportunity for natural experiences in the habitat with insects, birds and plants, as well as for social relations between them”
~Stig L. Andersson

In the mode of urban sprawl, the space for collectivity is in decline. Single family houses, underused front-gardens, lack of qualitative public space, car dominated streetscapes with no sidewalks, small amount of services and public transportation - it all contributes the downfall of possibilities for daily interactions between neighbors. For the moment most of community interaction seem to be on KSCE Mariakerke football games, in schools and during the summer season in the coffee house, in the park of one of remaining upper class mansions, which unsurprisingly is a longing for the remaining atmosphere of the past.

In the landscape paintings of low-lands artists across centuries, the village is always a place of labor and collectivity. We see the locals working but also spending time together with families and neighbors in the fields or nearby the water. A small bridge over a stream can be a calming place of intimate conversation. Is there still a possibility of this vibe in the area?

The only spontaneous interaction with a Mariakerke inhabitant I had, during my visits was a chat at the marshes. The man was relaxing alone at the edge of pond and me passing through got him curious. After a talk it became clear to me that in the eyes of the locals remaining nature relics are crucial to be preserved and that the grown have a special role to play for the community by providing leisure and a possibility of informal meetings, so scarce in the private, car-oriented everyday of the suburbs.

Depictions

A Meeting on the Bridge- Emile Claus, ~1890

Le Pique-nique - Emile Claus, 1887

Photo-documentation of publicness

Man relaxing while looking at the pond

Locals at 7th division home game of KSCE Mariakerke

Location in relation to local social centers

Design area lies on the intersection of paths in-between main collectivity points - two schools and a football club

Elements with potential for collectivity

”You need artistic intervention for a land to become the landscape”

~Bas Smets

Scenic values:
Remoteness & tranquility, enclosure & scale, light & reflectivity, pattern & texture, sense of time, skylines, visibility & inter-visibility, accessibility & experience/recreation

Historic forms in relation to landscape