Gert-Jan WisseCommon Ground BelfastDreaming of a no man’s land

Amsterdam Academy of ArchitectureGraduation Projects 2014-2015Landscape Architecture

Sara Burgerhartstraat 42-11055 LA Amsterdam06-53971505g.a.wisse@hotmail.com

Landscape Architecture

Belfast bears the psychological and physical scars of recent history, particularly in the industrial city. The conflict that had a hold on the city during the last three decades of the 20th century has left behind a severely divided city, with metres-high walls as a testament.

Sixteen years after the Good Friday Agreement, tentative signs of rapprochement are slowly becoming visible. Based on the suggestion of the Northern Ireland government that the ‘Peace Lines’ should be gone by the year 2020, this project explores the possible meaning and value of these vacant spaces, within the context of a city that would slowly move towards an integrated society.

In today’s Belfast, it’s not only the so called ‘Peace Walls’, but also the vast emptyness that dominate the area. An emptyness created largely in recent history but that, when you look deeper, tells the story of the origin of Belfast.

During the start of the industrial haydays of Belfast it was the flow of a particular river that provided the waterpower for the Linnen mill industry. After the introduction of the Steam Engine, the river lost it’s industrial function and was hidden away in tunnels. The start of ‘the troubles’ meant the start of the social and spatial segregation of the city. The walls that physically divide the city where built along existing barriers in the city: the factories. Due to this chain of events, the current ‘Peace Wall’ follows the exact same trajectory as the hidden river.

The story of a river that became a wall.

Understanding the ‘interface zones’ as former river valleys, rather than as dividing lines, brings the possibility of an urban landscape framework. On the scale of the city, park structures and a new network of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructures make connections between existing parks and infrastructure, and links the city centre with the surrounding landscape.

Additionally, the former rear side of the formerly divided neighborhoods, become new front sides in the form of an urban river park.

Transforming a dividing structure of this size will take time. A three-phase strategy will enable the transformation of the heavily-charged area immediately.

By removing the unused infrastructure, and defining the interface zone as a park, an intermediary zone is created. Designating this park as a water management area, decreases the risk of flooding caused by the covered river and changes the atmosphere of the area drastically.

Eventually the park will act as a catalyst for urban development. And when the area has grown into a true neutral zone, cuts in the wall will allow the park to become a future meeting zone for both communities: a Common Ground.

Graduation date16 12 2014

Commission membersBerno Strootman (mentor) Lada HršakPatrick McCabe

Additional members for the examinationBruno DoedensRoel van Gerwen

Gert-Jan WisseCommon Ground BelfastDreaming of a no man’s land

Gert-Jan Wisse

Landscape Architecture

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the Troubles - 1968 - 1998

industrialisation - 1900occupation of Belfastbased on two rivers - 1500

the urban history of a conflict ; social and spatial segregation, drastic decrease of residents in the city centre, dramatic damage on buildings and herritage

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Urban segregation ; conflict frontlines have become dividing lines

the story of a river that became a wall

Rivers were hidden away in tunnels

2014 - ?Belfast Blitz - 1942

Watermill industry - 1800

Gert-Jan Wisse

Intervention on the scale of the city; understanding the interface zones as forgotten river valleys creates possible meeting and developing zones

by defining the interface zone as an intermediary zone, carving breakthroughs in the wall and designating the zone as a water management park, the possibility of mutual use draws one step closer

Landscape Architecture

Status quo transformed into new public space ; Common Ground Periphery condition, park structure as the catalyst for urban development

#1 Making space by removing unused infrastructure #3 developing new urban river park#2 defining Intermediary zonechange in water management

Spatial interventions for transforming Interface zones: Peace Wall ; new edge ; new water course ; found objects ; peripheral conditions

current condition defining intermediary zone, chance for cross connections

new urban river valley

Gert-Jan Wisse

Former river tunnels become new public spaces New edge marking Common Ground

toolbox spatial interventions

void - existing situation edge

‘Peace Wall’ - existing situation wall walk

wall coupuretunnel- existing situation

river quaywall

tunnel new public space

tunnel bridge river course

river overflow area

tunnel path

river course flood

river overflow area flood

tunnel becomes overflow during flood

Amsterdam Academy of Architecture

Architects, urbanists and landscape architects learn the profession at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture through an intensive combination of work and study. They work in small, partly interdisciplinary groups and are supervised by a select group of practising fellow professionals. There is a wide range of options within the programme so that students can put together their own trajectory and specialisation.With the inclusion of the course in Urbanism in 1957 and Landscape Architecture in 1972, the Academy is the only architecture school in the Netherlands to bring together the three spatial design disciplines under one roof. Some 350 guest tutors are involved in teaching every year. Each of them is a practising designer or a specific expert in his or her particular subject. The three heads of department also have design practices of their own in addition to their work for the Academy. This structure yields an enormous dynamism and energy and ensures that the courses remain closely linked to the current state of the discipline. The courses consist of projects, exercises and lectures. First-year and second-year students also engage in morphological studies. Students work on their own or in small groups. The design

projects form the backbone of the syllabus. On the basis of a specific design assignment, students develop knowledge, insight and skills. The exercises are focused on training in those skills that are essential for recognising and solving design problems, such as analytical techniques, knowledge of the repertoire, the use of materials, text analysis, and writing. Many of the exercises are linked to the design projects. The morphological studies concentrate on the making of spatial objects, with the emphasis on creative process and implementation. Students experiment with materials and media forms and gain experience in converting an idea into a creation. During the periods between the terms there are workshops, study trips in the Netherlands and abroad, and other activities. This is also the preferred moment for international exchange projects. The Academy regularly invites foreign students for the workshops and recruits wellknown designers from the Netherlands and further afield as tutors. Graduates from the Academy of Architecture are entitled to the following titles: Architect, Master of Science; Urbanist, Master of Science and Landscape Architect, Master of Science.