Lifeline “A growing structure with an inspiring symbiosis between plant, animal and human”

In this project a new green-blue structure has been designed for the city of Utrecht, where the banks of the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal and the Merwede Canal will be transformed into a growing structure as a new round of Kanaleneiland. The housing expansion planned by the city at this location near the center will put public space under pressure because of the high density. Partly because of these developments, it is now a good time to create a strong natural (and recreational) round of canals that is of great significance for the city. This lifeline keeps this part of the city vital and climate adaptive with healthy urbanization for plants, animals and humans.

The lifeline is made up of three carriers: the fully regulated and adaptive water system is based on an expansion of the current Wetering and ensures that a robust water system is created on the entire Kanaleneiland. The gradients in the green structure create good conditions for plant growth that create a robust green structure. The hardening and a toolbox of architectural elements are not only functional, but in a poetic way create a wonderful interplay between the dynamic green and static gray in the environment.

The various design applications of this toolbox ensure a rich ecological environment at different scale levels with a symbiosis between plant, animal and human. In scale models 1:1, this interplay between green and gray has been worked out into beautiful elements in which the desired symbiosis is visible. By offering space and time, the lifeline is a growing green-blue structure in which development and change are essential. This way, the urban space can be functional and inspiring at any moment in its development.