The Green City Philosophy, a Master Class by Niek Roozen at LAUD Bucharest 2016

Niek Roozen, leading architect of NIEK ROOZEN bv landscape architects, will hold a master class on Green Cities at this year’s LAUD Bucharest (June 14). This is done with the support of The Netherlands Embassy in Bucharest, an Institutional Partner of the event.

Green is not the only solution, but there is no solution without green

GREEN IS HOT
GREEN IS HEALTHY – Green purifies the air and green has a positive effect on the recovery of patients (parks, trees, roof gardens, living walls)
GREEN IS ENERGY – Green stimulates exercise, sports and walking (parks, roof gardens)
GREEN IS BUSINESS – Green has a big economic impact
GREEN IS LIVE – Green is very important for the liveability of residential areas

An important aspect of NIEK ROOZEN bv landscape architects designs in the past 15 years, that has appealed to clients and governments around the world, is the application of the Green City theory in designs. After all, green is “in” and sustainability is “business”. The profits of green space far outweigh the costs, but not everyone realizes that. Green in cities is not only good for aesthetics, ecology and health, but also for the economy. A city with the right trees in the right place can help solve many of our environmental problems. It seems simple and obvious, but it is unbelievable how rarely it is applied in green projects.

Air pollution, temperature and noise can be reduced by using trees. Trees can catch fine dust (PM10) and absorb gaseous pollutants (NOX) from the air. Temperature can be regulated both inside and outside of buildings with the use of trees and green. They can help reduce the heat island effect within cities by providing more shade and humidity. Plants can be used to shade and insulate homes which saves energy costs for air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter. Roof gardens are also effective insulators and contribute to an effective water management system in urban areas. The benefits of green far outweigh the costs.

Main Axis Hunnan

One good example of green in the city is the Main Axis in Hunnan. Hunnan Axis is the central urban park running 4 km north-south through the new city district Hunnan between downtown Shenyang and the airport.

The master plan for Hunnan District is based on an orthogonal network of streets and blocks with various land uses. The park area north of City Hall is dominated by hills and forest while water dominates the south of the park. Water occurs overall and acts as a binding element for the entire length of the park, but takes on many forms such as canals, water source, unique waterfall or large pond. This water structure and the huge amounts of trees and green space will have a positive effect on the high temperature in hot summer periods.

A series of hills that subtly vary in height fill the north area of the park. The slopes contain an alternating mix of dense planting and open lawn areas. The water element begins as a spring atop the highest hill. The water flows slowly downhill between the hills, over various steps towards a wider canal and ends by City Hall. The bottom surface of the canal was detailed with a natural stone pattern which is attractive not only when water flows but also when it is empty during the long frost period of Shenyang’s strong winters.

The hills are separated from each other by long paved plazas which not only connect the two sides of the park but also provide space for the facilities and functions of the park, such as play equipment, flower planters and benches. A lot of green space for the new citizens to recreate.

The park south of City Hall is made up of plazas with various water features and large fountains. The park ends in a fantastic lake, with orthogonal-shaped islands where people can rest in the shadow of the trees. This lake is a temporary storage for rainwater during heavy showers.

Main Axis Hunnan

About the office and the speaker

Niek Roozen BV Landscape architects is an all-round design company of landscaping and urban planning. With their skills and experiences, the team is able to handle mono- and multi-disciplinary assignments from main concept to detail. They can rely on more than 30 years of national and international project experience. Their projects include master plans, urban plans, city parks, horticulture- and garden exhibitions, theme parks and architectural projects like pavilions, facility buildings and bridges. In many assignments they cooperate with external advisers.

The worldwide growth of the population forces us to think different about energy, food production, and the environmental qualities. We have to take care of good environmental conditions and be wise in use of energy and materials. In our scope of work there are a lot of possibilities to take care on several layers, from area development to designing objects. It is our goal to implement this way of thinking in our projects. With the combined skills of landscape design, urban planning and architecture we are able to develop integrated high quality sustainable designs.

Together with their international connections with universities and research institutes, the team practices sustainable planning and sustainable design. Water-, soil- and air quality are essential for a high standard environment of life for citizens and food production. An important assignment has been the design of the master plan for Floriade 2002 Amsterdam. Niek Roozen was the chief architect for this World Horticultural Exhibition. At this exhibition Niek Roozen ltd. introduced the Green City philosophy, a green strategy for city development.

In all their designs the plant schemes play an important role and are based on the Green City Philosophy, showing the positive influence certain plants can have on the improvement of a the living and working environment.

Floriade 2002

Since 1998, the members of the office have been working on the development of many landscape projects in China. In 2002, they cooperatively made a design for the 3 km border of the Yangtze River in Wuhu and a design for the 45 ha Baitang Park in Suzhou.

Niek Roozen BV designed the Central Green Park 40 ha of the World EXPO 2010 in Shanghai after winning the first prize in an international design competition.

In 2005 Niek Roozen was appointed the General Advisor of the Shenyang International Horticultural Exhibition 2006. After realising this successfully Niek Roozen BV made the designs of the urban green structure of new residential areas like: Changbai, Manrong and Hunnan in cooperation with Shenyang Landscape Institute and Arktree Shenyang.

Landscape designs were made for the Hunnan Baita Park, Mozi Mountain Park and the design for Hun River North and South. For new residential area Hunnan (500.000 inhabitants) the design was made for the main axis with a length of 4,5 km

At the moment the designs are being made for 10 km² The Xiu lake Wetland park and the Shenyang National Forest Park.

Changbai River Park

Awards of the office

• First Prize Design competition QinHuai River Project Nanjing (in cooperation with Nita Nanjing) – 2016
• First prize for Main Axis Hunnan in Shenyang for excellent engineering survey and design of municipal engineering in Liaoning province – 2014
• Second prize for Mozi Mountain Park for excellent engineering survey and design of municipal engineering in Liaoning province – 2014
• First prize design competition EXPO Park at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai (in cooperation) – 2006

Awards of the speaker

Certificate: Excellent foreign expert Ningbo Peoples Government