Amsterdam Academy of ArchitectureGraduation Projects 2013-2014UrbanismVeronika KovácováUrban PermeabilityOn Plants and Plinths

Veronika Kovácováveronika@paradocks.atwww.paradocks.atat.linkedin.com/in/veronikakovacsovaurban designer / urban entrepreneur

Urbanism

The human civilisation is becoming ever more urban. With the growing densification in our cities, green and open (public) spaces are put under pressure. As the number of built, non-permeable surfaces increase, stormwater absorption, biodiversity and a pleasant microclimate in our cities is threatened. All non-permeable materials contribute to extreme water conditions in the city (low ground water level or floodings) and to the so called ‘urban heat island’ effect. Alongside with this development, the number and quality of public spaces is put under pressure. How do we provide the necessary built urban environment (housing, infrastructure) of a growing city, and at the same time enhance and offer lively, inclusive public spaces with a comfortable microclimate? Urban permeability is hereby introduced as an influencer of human comfort in urban spaces. On one hand open, breathing, absorbing and cooling green spaces in cities, on the other hand accessible, inclusive and lively ground floors of buildings, both types acting as catalysts of social interaction. Two totally different areas in Bratislava are compared: a dense historical centre (Old Town) with scarce porous spaces and a vibrant social citylife and a 1970s prefab mass-housing neighbourhood (Petrzalka) with an excess of unused greenery, and a limited offer of vibrant public spaces. The aim of this project is to show how these two neighbourhoods can reinforce themselves and to investigate and identify measurements that can be taken to fix the missing social and microclimatological links in their urban fabric. Both neighbourhoods have a similar density of inhabitants, but their urban fabric is totally different. Only 6% of the total surface of Old Town is open and green, and the dominant non-permeable surface area is supporting the development of the urban heat island effect. Petrzalka, on contrary, has a high amount of ground vegetation (about 66%), open corridors for fresh air to enter, but a deteriorating public life due to large distances between buildings, disorientated planning and marginal social functions on ground level for people to pass by and meet. Urban permeability is hereby introduced as an influencer of human comfort in urban spaces. On one hand open, breathing, absorbing and cooling green spaces in cities, on the other hand accessible, inclusive and lively ground floors of buildings, both types acting as catalysts of social interaction. Two totally different areas in Bratislava are compared: a dense historical centre (Old Town) with scarce porous spaces and a vibrant social citylife and a 1970s prefab mass-housing neighbourhood (Petrzalka) with an excess of unused greenery, and a limited offer of vibrant public spaces. The aim of this project is to show how these two neighbourhoods can reinforce themselves and to investigate and identify measurements that can be taken to fix the missing social and microclimatological links in their urban fabric.

Graduation date19 12 2013

Commission membersDonald van Dansik (mentor)Lisette KlokSanda Lenzholzer

Additional members for the examinationErik Meinharter Zuzana Hudeková

Veronika KovácsováUrban PermeabilityOn Plants and Plinths

Veronika Kovácsová

Urbanism

Effects of materialisation

% 65+ (2025) Population density 2012 (people per km2)

Open/ porous surface Old Town Built/ sealed surface Old TownOpen/ porous surface Petrzalka Built/ sealed surface Petrzalka

70%

60%

50%

40%

30% 26.7°C

29.4°C

32.2°C

35°C

37.8°C

Relative huminity Temperature

less hazardous, adaptive body temperature

caution

danger

heat stress

When it‘s over 35°C outside, I rather do not leave my apart-ment.

nausea, vomiting, headaches, and low blood pressure and the latter can lead to fainting or dizziness

heat stress / Hyper-thermia - occurs when a body produces or absorbs more heat than it dissipates

33.5°C

31.5°C

31°C32°C33°C34°C35°C36°C

36.7°C

urban heat island effect

Temperature in densely built centres from 1-10 °C higher, 10% less humidity and 30% weaker wind than in surrounding countryside

36.7°C (afternoon)city centre

15km

Old Town Petržalka

Measurements: 19.08.2013 | 12:00 -14:00 | Sunny

all temperatures self-measured with an infrared thermometer

22°C

25°C

46°C

56°C

30°C

tar, bitumen

soil

greenwet/in shadow

greenin sun26°C

asphalt/concrete in the sun

asphalt/concrete in the shadow29°C

air temperature

<15

20.1 - 2515.1 - 20

15.1 - 20 >3500

1500 - 3500

500 - 1500

<500

V (Petrzalka)

I (Old Town)

dense built mass = lively street life, but insufficient green space for a healthy microclimate and uninviting environment for fauna & flora

socially deteriorating area, where anonimity rules. There's lots of green, open spaces - lots of potential for a inviting microclimate and potential for a development of a better social life on a community level.

Old Town

Petržalka

6% 51% 94% 49%

Bratislava citizens

How can the vast green carpets, avoided overheated squares and street be utilized while preserving and improving the ecological structure and characteristics of the area?

By letting the people adopt and re-create the green spaces between their buildings. They will feel more responsible and connected to their living environment.

Veronika Kovácsová

urbanfruit forest

collective food production gardens

outdoor market

multi-functional playfield area

outdoor cinema

urban meadows

Petržalka 2020+activating the public space and grass fields

Urbanism

Visualisation Petržalka 2020 Urban food production in collective gardens

Raised beds (for elderly and disabled) to join the collective food production

Veronika Kovácsová

Citizens picking up fruit from food forest to make their own jams, pies, sirup or schnaps

Fruits from the food forest directy to the kitchens of locals!

Newly opened café in the plinth buys many of the local produces for their cakes and home-made fruitshakes

The local supermarket buys produce from the local market

The local vegetables get directly into the homes of the people

Local farmers harvest and take theirproduce home

200m

Local Food proximity

Architects, urban designers 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 fel low 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.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 cur riculum.

Master of Architecture / Urbanism / Landscape Architecture Amsterdam Academy of Architecture

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 well-known designers from the Netherlands and further afield as tutors.Graduates from the Academy of Architecture are entitled to the following titles: Master of Architecture (MArch), Master of Urbanism (MUrb), or Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA). The Master’s