The Spring 2011 Landscape Urbanism Studio works within the frame of the European Master of Urbanism’s (EMU) collective agenda concerning urban deltas. The main objective of the Hanoi-based design research is to develop an innovative approach to urban design, engineering and management that will function at an intersection of two major contemporary problematics: (1) climate change and (2) accelerated urban growth and urban mutation. Design research will focus on the development of innovative, contextually embedded approaches to urban waste/storm water and urban flood mitigation that can be incorporated into the existing framework of master-planning in Vietnam. It aims to integrate the approaches of design, engineering and management that currently operate as separate jurisdictions within a standard master-planning framework.
Historically, Vietnam’s water paradigm was one of (1) integration of different actors, forces, aspects of life and (2) adaptation and a certain degree of accommodation of the forces of nature. Today – in a period of economic liberalization and transition from tradition to modernity – water is often regarded from a singular and dominating perspective (be it political, technical or commercial). As both urbanization and climate change challenges increase, water issues are on the rise while the plural and adaptive manner to deal with them is side-lined in the name single actors or single sector dominance. Business-as-usual will only spell disaster. Today, Vietnamese cities are facing incredible challenges. Existing urban cores are far beyond their carrying-capacity and infrastructure provision can simply not keep apace with urban transformations. At the same time, the consequences of increased flooding are severely felt.
Historically, Vietnam’s water paradigm was one of (1) integration of different actors, forces, aspects of life and (2) adaptation and a certain degree of accommodation of the forces of nature. Today – in a period of economic liberalization and transition from tradition to modernity – water is often regarded from a singular and dominating perspective (be it political, technical or commercial). As both urbanization and climate change challenges increase, water issues are on the rise while the plural and adaptive manner to deal with them is side-lined in the name single actors or single sector dominance. Business-as-usual will only spell disaster. Today, Vietnamese cities are facing incredible challenges. Existing urban cores are far beyond their carrying-capacity and infrastructure provision can simply not keep apace with urban transformations. At the same time, the consequences of increased flooding are severely felt.
