Year: 2024
Type: report
Abstract: The aim of this research project is to make the city centre of Amersfoort a 'place to be' by greening the main shopping streets.The city centre is experiencing consequences of climate change and urbanisation, including local floodings, periods of intense heat, and decreasing biodiversity.Due to the rise of online retail, consumers are increasingly going to the city centre for the experience, urging urban shopping areas to invest in enhancing the attractiveness of public spaces.However, factors such as stakeholder viewpoints, regulations, and the underground infrastructure need to be considered when proposing interventions.This research focuses on implementable innovations for the Langestraat and Krommestraat of Amersfoort to reduce the effects of climate change taking various aspects and stakeholders of the city centre into account.Therefore, the main research question is: Which green innovations are best suited for improving water management, biodiversity, heat stress management and attractiveness of the Langestraat and Krommestraat in Amersfoort, which are viable when considering current challenges, limiting factors in the immediate surroundings and different stakeholder viewpoints?To answer the research question, extensive literature search and qualitative research in the form of interviews with stakeholders and experts were conducted.Semi-structured questionnaires were either sent to the respondents or discussed in one-on-one interviews.Stakeholders collectively wish for a greener and more biodiverse urban environment.They support green solutions for climate change and emphasize positive health effects as well as the attractiveness of greening, while highlighting challenges such as maintenance, car-traffic, and bike-related issues.The identified primary challenges are heat stress, extreme precipitation, biodiversity loss, and the impact of online shopping on urban retail.The most significant limitations are the current infrastructure, transport, and traffic related issues within the city centre.Urban green spaces, including street trees, play a crucial role in enhancing human well-being and satisfaction in cities.The following green innovations were considered most relevant: Street trees, climbing plant structures, façade gardens, shrubs, plants and grass, planters, infiltration crates, infiltration strips, and a drainage transport (DT) and infiltration transport (IT) sewer system.The cables underground permit planting trees on parts of the street.Future research should build upon these findings to enhance the comprehension of appropriate green innovations for Amersfoort, focusing on aligning the innovations in the Langestraat and Krommestraat with the city's broader green infrastructure.Additionally, further investigation is needed to assess the drawbacks and financial implications of green innovations.Around the trees shrubs, herbs, and grasses, among which a variety of nectar producing flowers should be planted.This will greatly increase the attractiveness for customers and improve biodiversity.Seating area is incorporated into this design by creating an elevated border which will make customers stay longer.Trees implemented with this system will create a return of investment of €2,14 in ecosystem services while trees without this system would only create a return of €0,18 in ecosystem services per €1 invested.3: Change the sewer system from combined to a separate system together with a hollow street.This increases the dispose rate of water during heavy rainfall and decreases its water pollution which decreases water treatment costs.Besides creating a separate sewer system, the stormwater system can be semi permeable, thus allowing stormwater to infiltrate into the soil in order to be used by plants.4: Create hanging green facades that are attractive for customers.The green facades cool the building which reduces energy consumption during the summer and without restricting the usage of space or view on the shops.These green facades can be made with planters hanging down.5: Make semi buried but movable tree planters.These trees are smaller than the trees in the Langestraat but provide similar benefits.Placing them in movable planters enables the municipality to move them out of the way when needed.On the bottom of the planters, infiltration crates are placed to store water during rainfall events and provide the tree with water during droughts.This ensures that the trees stay healthy and reduce maintenance costs.These planters are designed to provide seating spaces for visitors.6: Develop façade gardens with sturdy climbing plant structures.In the façade gardens shrubs and flowers will be planted together with climbing plants that fill the climbing structure.This provides customers with attractive green and cools the building. Final adviceWe believe that there are great opportunities available to green the city centre of Amersfoort.As long as all parties are willing to collaborate and contribute, limitations can be overcome, and the city centre of Amersfoort can evolve from a place to buy to a place to be.vi List of definitions Innovation -"a new idea or method, or the use of new ideas and methods" (Cambridge Dictionary, n.d.-b).This definition is interpreted in a way that if an idea or method is applied to a different location (Amersfoort) it is also considered an innovation. Greening -"the process of making somewhere greener by planting grass, trees, and plants there."(Cambridge Dictionary, n.d.-a). Green innovation -"all type of innovations that contribute to the creation of key products, services, or processes to reduce the harm, impact, and deterioration of the environment at the same time that optimizes the use of natural resources" (Leal-Millán et al., 2017). Flooding -An overflow of water on usually dry land caused by rain. Future-proof -An object being able to sustain itself in the future. AcknowledgementWe would like to take this moment to thank our commissioners, Viola Bennink and Fokke de Jong from the Science Shop, who greatly supported us during this project.We are grateful for the opportunity to work together closely with them, and their guidance and encouragement ensured that we stayed on track to achieve our goals.We also want to thank our academic advisor, Joop Spijker, whose expertise and advice significantly contributed to the quality of our project report.We want to express our gratitude to Theo Miltenburg from the OBA for the enthusiasm with which he shared his knowledge of Amersfoort.His insights and contributions played a significant role in shaping our understanding of the local context, enhancing the outcome of our project.Lastly, we want to thank our coach Saskia Leenders-Pellis for her
Authors: van Ekeren, Julian, Goettinger, Lena, Dijsselbloem, Josha, Langhout, Froukje, Leenders, Rutger, Hopstaken, Jesse, Hogendoorn, Siemen, Bennink, Viola, de Jong, Fokke
Language: English
Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7110484225