Strange Architecture: Bridge Design in the Netherlands
The Dutch have a tendency to do things differently. Take their levees, which are giant storm-surge barriers specially made with synthetic textiles to keep the earth from eroding. Their bike paths are placed on equal footing as automotive roads. And their town planning, which merges private and public life by combining terraced houses with amenities like shops and sports facilities, is a far cry from the way American suburbs are planned. Then there are Netherlands' bridges. Because of prevalent rivers throughout the country and boat traffic as high as the volume of vehicles on the road, a bridge in the Netherlands needs to be able to quickly raise and lower over relatively small waterways. Your average hinged drawbridge would be too big for most Dutch waterways, and a long, steep bridge would eat up precious resources. Dutch architects answer this conundrum with the tail bridge. A tail bridge can quickly and efficiently be raised and lowered from one pylon (instead of hinges). This quickly allows water traffic to pass while only briefly stalling road traffic.
Germany - Radical PragmatistsOne hundred projects to make the world a better place - Matthias Böttger and Friedrich von Borries from raumtaktik in Berlin are presenting their ideas at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
The Architecture Biennale is taking place from 14th September to 23rd November 2008. Within the framework of the Architecture and Building Culture Initiative, the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs is sponsoring the German contribution with a donation of 500,000 euros.
The wave, modern energy efficient buildings in Almere, the Netherlands
For the complete report from the International Herald Tribune click on this link
Europe leads in designing buildings that save energy-by Nicolai Ouroussoff
After more than a decade of tightening guidelines, Europe has made "green" architecture an everyday reality. In Germany and the Netherlands especially, a new generation of architects has expanded the definition of sustainable design beyond solar panels and sod roofs. As Matthias Sauerbruch put it: "The eco-friendly projects you saw in the 1970s, with solar panels and recycled materials, they were so self-conscious. We call this Birkenstock architecture. Now we don't need to do this anymore. The basic technology is all pretty accepted." In the United States, architects cannot make the same claim with equal confidence. Despite the media attention showered on environmental issues, the government has yet to establish universal efficiency standards for buildings. According to some estimates, buildings consume nearly as much energy as industry and transportation combined. And the average building in the United States uses about a third more energy than its counterpart in Germany.
Almere - The Netherlands: a new suburbia-by Becky Russell
Almere was built on reclaimed land to the northeast of Amsterdam during the early seventies. Its ambitious planners envisioned a suburban living environment for commuters to the nearby capital Amsterdam, Schiphol and Het Gooi.
Currently, over 165,000 people live in Almere — one of the fastest growing cities in the Netherlands. The Dutch government recently announced plans for it to become the fourth largest Dutch city, housing up to 400,000 inhabitants. Although roughly a quarter of Almere’s citizens originate from outside the Netherlands, only 5 percent are from a Western European or American background. Many expats come to the Netherlands to experience the stereotypical aspects of Dutch life found in a city like Amsterdam – the canals, the museums, the nightlife – and these elements are decidedly not what can be found in Almere. In fact, many residents liken its atmosphere to that of suburban America.
"Those unfamiliar with Almere are of the impression that it is a boring town with no atmosphere. Empty polder land filled with ugly new buildings,” says Melissa Bredow from Stichting Stadspromotie Almere (Foundation for the Promotion of Almere). "But everyone who comes is surprised by what they find — its central location with lots of space and nature. People are proud to live here, something you can tell by the amount of people moving to Almere. It's a great place to live!" The suburban quality of life is Almere’s greatest strength. According to the local government, on average there are 420 dwellings per square kilometre in Almere, compared with 1,930 dwellings per square kilometre in the four biggest cities in the Netherlands (Amsterdam, population 734,000; Rotterdam, 592,000; The Hague, 442,000 and Utrecht, 256,000).
Almere is viewed throughout Europe as a leading example of a successful "new" city, but expats should not expect to find a cosy old-style atmosphere or "traditional" Dutch environment there. Almere offers an alternative and more modern experience, and has a great deal to offer expats seeking a suburban lifestyle in a central location.
