A WORK IN PROGRESS
INTRODUCTION
This book tells the story about climate adaptation
in the ZOHO-district in Rotterdam. This exciting
part of the city is bustling with activity and has
a great urban mix of populations. A myriad of
initiatives becomes more and more visible in the
public realm of ZOHO. Meanwhile the city council
of Rotterdam has established its climate change
adaptation strategy. The goal is to integrate
climate proofing into the physical structures of
the city. Where else to do this but in ZOHO? This
area in transition needs a drastic improvement
of its public space; people in ZOHO are involved
and open to change; existing sewerage is being
renewed and the first real showcase of climate
adaptation, conceived with public involvement,
has already been realized here: the water square
Benthemplein.
This book is the result of almost four years of
progress in climate proofing the city districts of
‘Zomerhofkwartier’ and ‘Agniesebuurt’, together
called ZOHO. The story of ZOHO moves from policy
making via ideas and plans to physical realizations
in collaboration with many stakeholders. More
and more it is becoming clear that climate
adaptation is team work and the result is a more
healthy, pleasant and beautiful city. We start
with the Rotterdam climate adaptation strategy
and show why ZOHO is such a suitable quarter
as a pilot area for climateproofing the city. Next
we will dive deeper into the process and show the
events and actions that have been determinative
for the success of ZOHO so far. Finally we will
explain and illustrate the works and projects that
are in progress and those that already have been
realized. There is already much to be seen, but
even more to accomplish in ZOHO.
 WHAT IS
CLIMATE ADAPTATION?
Biological adaptation
In the field of biology, adaptations are those changes to the
structure or behaviour of an organism that improve its chances for
survival or for successfully raising offspring. Hence the survival of
the fittest is not about being the strongest, but about being able to
fit in with the circumstances that affect you. The ability to adapt
is a vital aspect of the evolution of species.

Climate adaptation is the process whereby society reduces its

vulnerability to climate change by taking precautionary measures
to change or alter its behaviour and/or its physical structures to
be able to deal with the effects of climate change. Moreover this
society seeks for ways to profit from the opportunities provided
by a changing climate, for the benefit of all living things.
Rotterdam Adaptation
CLIMATE ADAPTATION IS AN
Strategy
Rotterdam Climate Initiative

In 2008, the City of Rotterdam ratified the

The Rotterdam Climate Initiative (RCI) aims to have
reduced CO2 emissions by 50% and to have made
the region 100% climate-proof by 2025. The RCI is an
initiative set up by the Rotterdam City Council, the
Rotterdam
Climate Change Adaptation Strategy
OFFICIAL ROTTERDAM POLICY
Port of Rotterdam NV, DCMR Rijnmond environmental

Rotterdam Climate Proof (RCP) programme.

department and Deltalinqs, the umbrella organisation
for Rotterdam industry. As a decisive and innovative
international port, Rotterdam, together with its

Rotterdam Climate Change Adaptation Strategy

inhabitants, businesses and institutions is assuming
responsibility for ensuring a sustainable future. By

The aim of this programme - which is part of

tackling both the causes and the consequences of
climate change, improving the air quality and limiting
noise pollution, Rotterdam is continually improving
its sustainability. This unique approach is making
Rotterdam an inspirational example to other cities.

the Rotterdam Climate Initiative - is to start

The aims and results in the field of the environment,
climate, energy and water contribute to the creation
of a greener, cleaner, healthier and economically
stronger city and will make Rotterdam the most
sustainable international port in the world.

working towards a climate proof city and to

Rotterdam adaption strategy
The Rotterdam adaptation strategy will set the
course to enable Rotterdam to adapt to the changing

create the maximum possible economic spin-

climate. The target is to create a climate-proof
city for the people of Rotterdam, both now and for
future generations. A climate-proof city that is also
attractive and economically prosperous.

off in the process of trying to achieve this. One

More information

T
www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl

EN SO
of the results of this is the Rotterdam Climate NM I N K
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IN

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Change Adaptation Strategy (RAS in short). IN
Edition

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City of Rotterdam, October 2013

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This adaptation strategy provides the ROBUST ROBUST + ROBUST
+ + ROBUST
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SYSTEM SYSTEM

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framework and starting point for a future SYSTEM SYSTEM

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RAS EN cover def.indd 1 11-12-2013 14:02:46

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climateproof development of Rotterdam. The K

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RAS ensures that in the future, topics such as K

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water safety and heat stress are included in the GY

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basis of (spatial) developments right from the
start. This policy document has been officially
approved and established in October 2013.

We bring the basic principles of the Rotterdam Climate Adaptation Strategy into practice
 Flood Rain Drought Heat

The effects of climate change that are currently causing stress... ...in the city of Rotterdam and will be of further threat in the near future.
 Inner-dike
Inner-dike Outer-dike
Outer-dike
ADA PTAT

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Rotterdam robust system
ROBUST Polders and
Polders
green
and
buffers
green buffers Urban districts
Urban districts CompactCompact
city centre
city centre Urban districts
Urban districts Port andPort
harbour
and harbour
areas areas

N
SYSTEM

The city of Rotterdam has a sophisticated and refined system

of water management and flood protection. This dates from
centuries ago and has been improved ever since. It forms the
cities robust base on which the inhabitants can rely, now and
in the future.

Groundwater
Groundwater
Polder ditches
Polder ditches Pump Pump
Polder Polder Pump Pump Open water
Open water Pumping Pumping
Dike Dike High flood
High
plain
flood plain river Meuse
river Meuse HarbourHarbour
area area Dike Dike
outlet outlet ’Singel’ ’Singel’ station station

Scheme showing the robust system of water management and flood protection in Rotterdam
ADA PTAT

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ROBUST
Rotterdam adaptive measures
N
SYSTEM

Flood Rain Drought Heat

MULTIFUNCTIONAL DIKE WATERSQUARE EXTRA SURFACE WATER GREENING THE CITY

In addition to the robust system, adaptive measures are being They form showcases of how a climate resilient city can be of
implemented all over the city. benefit for all inhabitants to enjoy.
CLIMATE-PROOF
ZOHO AGNIESEBUURT

ZOMERHOFDISTRICT

T ZOHO is the perfect pilot location for the

EN SO
NM I N K
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has the typical climate problems of a 19th WATER SQUARE

ENV

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century neighbourhood combined with that
ADA

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ROBUST of modernist structures of the city centre.

+ +
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SYSTEM Second, because the watersquare is already

there; a showcase for climate adaptation
WO

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which can be elaborated upon. And finally

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CENTRAL STATION
 The challenges the ZOHO
district is facing are threefold:
increasing excessive rain
events, longer periods of
drought and more intense
periods of heat stress. Each
of them bearing their own
characteristics.
Increase buffer capacity Rotterdam storm water flood risk map
Surfaces
green space
3%
built space 13% b
Heavy rain events are a serious problem in the city paved surfaces little
of Rotterdam and especially in the city centre and open water permeable
h
in prewar districts. This applies to the entire ZOHO surfaces in
district. With the realization of the water square, a ZOHO
w
substantial part of the overall temporary peak storage 37% 47%
has been taken care of. On a more local scale though,
many places in this district have very little infiltration
capacity and open water is situated too far away to
be of immediate relief for buffering peak rain events.
The existing mixed sewerage system also has limited
capacity. This system currently is being replaced
in large parts of the district by an improved split
sewerage system. This will create the opportunity to
combine precise adjustments in public space with new Water issues
underground works. Decreasing the large amount of current water storage deficit areas (NBW)

impervious surfaces is a generic ambition that can be subsidence (cm/year)

elaborated further in ZOHO. Overall we aim for a more
complete water management system that stimulates a
rich diversity in public, semi-public and private spaces
at the same time.
-0.1 - 0.5
0.5 - 0.1 Water management system
>1 current water catchment surface (water square)
possible future water catchment bound
Bottlenecks and vulnerable areas water square bassins
bottleneck sewers
water square infiltration space
bottleneck flooding due to groundwater
near future sewerage renewal plan
city centre with considerable pressure on the open spaces
urban areas with little open space

urban area with much open space

Present situation of permeability and rain proofing ZOHO
low-lying vital infrastructures
 DROUGHT
monitoring point of
of groundwater
monitoring
monitoring
monitoring
monitoring point
point
point
point of
of of groundwater
groundwater
groundwater
groundwater

Decrease effects of drought

vulnerable
monitoring
vulnerable green
point
green structure
of groundwater
structure
vulnerable
vulnerable green
green structure
structure
vulnerable green structure
vulnerable green structure

vulnerable
wooden
wooden pile wooden foundation
pile foundation
foundation
wooden
wooden pile
concrete
wooden pile
pilefoundation
foundation
foundation
concretepile
pilefoundation
foundation
concrete
concrete
concrete foundation
pile
pile foundation
foundation
In between the extreme rain events, longer concrete
2nd
2nd out
out of
pile
of 4
foundation
4 priority
priority sewerage
sewerage renewal
renewal plan
plan
priority
2nd
2nd out of area
out of 4 in sewerage
44 priority
priority sewerage renewal
sewerage renewal plan
renewal plan
plan
periods of drought occur. This happens in
2nd out of priority sewerage renewal plan

summer and in winter time and causes a serious

threat to the wooden foundations of 19th
century buildings along Noordsingel and in the
Agniese district. These wooden poles have to be
permanently under water. When exposed to air
for long periods of time, they will start to rot and
lose their constructive function causing serious
threats for the future safety of the inhabitants
of the buildings that rely on these foundations.
Also many species of trees and plants will suffer
from longer periods of drought and lower ground
water levels. Keeping rain water that falls within
the area and preventing it to be pumped out or
drained away is one immediate measure that can
be taken to keep ground water levels at pace and
decrease the immediate effects of longer periods
of drought.

highest
highest position
position
highest
highest position
highest position
position
lowest
lowest position
position
lowest
lowest position
lowest position
position

Ground water levels; average high Ground water levels; average low
0 1.0 1.2 1.5 2.0 2.2 2.5 3.0
0 1.0 1.2 1.5 2.0 2.2 2.5 3.0
00 1.0
1.0 1.2
1.2 1.5
1.5 2.0
2.0 2.2
2.2 2.5
2.5 3.0
3.0
0 1.0 1.2 1.5 2.0 2.2 2.5 3.0
 RESEARCH MONTH
March7:00
March am 07:00 am - 05:00 pm
- 5:00 pm mixed green in private domain

Fighting heat stress

July
July7:00
am - 6:00 pm am - 06:00 pm
07:00 mixed green in public domain
September 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
September 07:00 am - 05:00 pm ‘Singel’ open water and green
December 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
December 09:00 am - 03:00 pm
Most cities have a lot of hard surfaces in between HOT COOLER

buildings that have the tendency to heat up HOT COOLER

fast when the sun shines and temperatures rise.
Because the heat is captured in these spaces, a
cumulative effect occurs, causing health problems
for vulnerable groups like elderly and sick people
and productivity loss in the working population.
The presence of shady places, sheltered water,
soft surfaces and trees have proven to be effective
remedies. Furthermore it is important to prevent shadow map
the use of air conditioning in buildings, because
these tend to heat up public spaces substantially - RESEARCH MONTH - SHADOW INDEX
during hot days, causing even more heat stress March 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
July 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
LIGHTEST DARKEST

to the city. September 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

December 9:00 am - 3:00 pm possible removable boundary
for depaving

RESEARCH MONTH
March 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
July 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
September 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
December 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

HOT COOLER

Cooling effect due to shadow of buildings Cooling effect of trees and green structures
 51% 51%
07-08 PM 07-08 PM
Total usage of parking lots
456PP 456PP

Softening the surface, Average overall occupation of

parking spaces total balance parking lots - 864PP(20
decreasing car dominance A A B B
A A 11.11 11.05 11.20 11.24
One immediate measure that can be taken in order 61.8% 11.11 11.05 11.20 61.8%
11.24 47.8% 11.05 11.1111.20 11.0511.24 11.20
11.11 47.8%
11.24 11.11 11.05 11.20 11.24 48.4% 11.19
to effectively decreaseD D 11.19 11.19 11.19 11.19
the negative effects of all
101PP Monday 101PP
Tuesday Wednesday Sunday 245PPTuesday
Monday Monday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Sunday 245PP
Wednesday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Sunday
three previously mentioned climate challenges, Monday Tuesday Wednesday Sunday
is to replace hard impervious spaces for more 420PP
11-12 AM 78% 11-12 AM 11-12 AM78% 50% 11-12 AM 50%
C and green spaces. WeCcall this ‘depaving’.
soft
142PP 142PP 265PP 265PP

This will increase the infiltration capacity and 79% 64% 28% 79%
03-05 PM 64%49% 50%28% 38% 49% 50% 38%
03-05 PM
110PP 92PP
03-05 PM
51PP 110PP 92PP 250PP 252PP 51PP
03-05 PM
200PP 250PP 252PP 200PP
11-12 AM 52%
make a positive contribution to keeping ground
water levels at pace, cooling public space and 07-08 PM 60% 07-08 PM 07-08 PM 60% 52% 07-08 PM 52%
489PP
increasing storm water buffering capacity. The
110PP 110PP 260PP 260PP
B
possibility to depave the area is an important key
to success. Especially in the southern part of the C C D D 54% 49% 36%
03-05 PM
ZOHO-district an abundance of underused hard
surfaces can be found. Space for parking cars 466PP 355PP 336PP
dominates the public realm while repeated counts
9.6% 11.11 11.05
11.19
11.20 9.6%
11.24 62.5% 11.05 11.1111.20 11.0511.24 11.20
11.11
11.19 11.19
62.5%
11.24 11.11 11.05
11.19
11.20 11.24
A
show that less than 50% of the parking places on 9PP Monday
B 9PP
Tuesday Wednesday Sunday 81PP Tuesday
Monday Monday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Sunday 81PP
Wednesday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Sunday

D 51%
average is being occupied. Changing car parking 07-08 PM
11-12 AM 16% 11-12 AM 11-12 AM16% 49% 11-12 AM 49%
into pedestrian parks will be a leading principle 15PP 15PP 65PP 65PP

456PP
for climate proofing the district. 03-05 PM 8%
8PP
15%
14PP
7%
03-05 PM
7PP
8%
03-05 PM 15%74%
8PP 14PP 98PP
7%
7PP
60%
03-05 PM
78PP
74%
98PP
60%
78PP C
07-08 PM 2%
2PP
07-08 PM 07-08 PM 2%
2PP
67%
84PP
07-08 PM 67%
84PP
A B
A
Overview of all parking spaces and their occupation rates
61.8% 47.8%
11.11 11.05 11.20 11.24 11.11 11.05 11.20

D 11.19 11.19
With the water square we
already have a showcase
The water square offers a substantial amount of
temporary storm water buffer to ZOHO and by
keeping local water on the site simultaneously
fights drought as well. This truly innovative
climate concept is the first large scale built
showcase of its kind and attracts attention from
all over the world. Rotterdam is not just a front
runner in climate policies, it is also the place where
the built proof is realized. By becoming partner in
the prestigious 100 Resilient Cities network the
city of Rotterdam sets the goal to continue this
ambition.

ARNOUD MOLENAAR
CITY OF ROTTERDAM; CHIEF RESILIENCY
OFFICER, 100 RC NETWORK BY
ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION
photo: Ossip van Duivenbode
A great place to experiment
with slow urbanism
One of the main drivers for the changing use of
public space is the slow urbanism movement in
ZOHO. A new way of city making takes place
here, with a focus on re-programming the
existing urban fabric and a bottom up approach
to planning. Instead of workers coming by car
disappearing into anonymous office buildings,
the place is being populated by a diverse group of
urban users that mainly come by bike and inhabit
the urban space as lingering pedestrians. There
is a lot of creative energy in the area with great
potential to experiment on all different levels.
Currently, almost every week there is something
to do in or around the Yellow building.

JEROEN LAVEN
STIPO; ZOHO PROGRAMMER APPOINTED BY
HAVENSTEDER HOUSING CORPORATION, OPERATING
FROM THE SO CALLED ‘YELLOW BUILDING’
Engaged entrepreneurs can
realize their ideas here
An initiative like the vegan restaurant Gare
du Nord with its own little urban farm in front,
forming the back drop of the pleasant outdoor
terrace, has become one of the main public
spaces of the area. A few blocks up in the Agniese
district there is a communal garden where some
of the Gare du Nord crops are being grown. The
harvesting and cooking is done in the educational
setting of an anonymous school building next
to the emblematic train wagon. Showcase and
social return are being combined here into one
overall concept. Less visible, but as emblematic
are ‘De Viltmannen’ (the Feltmen) who employ
women from the neighbourhood in their small
scale factory hall. Wool from regional sheep herds
is being processed here into wearable gear where
ancient crafts of North African women is being
merged with fresh design ideas of students from
the Rotterdam arts academy.

HANS KERVEZEE FRANK HILBRANDS

GARE DU NORD & KOOK MET MIJ MEE; SOCIALLY ‘DE VILTMANNEN’; SOCIALLY
ENGAGED ENTREPENEUR ENGAGED ENTREPENEUR
A neglected and
monotonous public space
Ambition should not stop with current success,
because if you walk around the neighbourhood
one has to admit that there is still a lot that
can be improved. The overall impression of the
real estate and especially public space is one of
neglect and monotony. A stony grey pavement
dominates the scene, the environment is hard
and empty. While at the same time inside the
buildings more and more life and diversity
emerges. This internal quality that consists of the
people of the district, should be invited to come
outside into a welcoming public space. The many
existing fully grown trees in the area are already a
great quality and a good starting point for further
improvement of its public space.

NILS BERNDSEN
POLITICIAN FOR D66; FORMER ELDERMAN
BOROUGH ‘NOORD’, NOW ROTTERDAM CITY
COUNCIL MEMBER
Let’s work together to
realize an attractive and
climate proof ZOHO
Climate proofing the ZOHO district can be a
catalyst for realizing attractive public space.
With the ratification of the Rotterdam Adaptation
Strategy we agreed to appoint ZOHO as the
district to experiment with many different
ways of climate proofing an urban area. This
experiment is about physical interventions that
deal with excessive storm water, heat stress and
periods of drought on one hand and improve the
quality of public space on the other hand. In this
process we deliberately are seeking collaboration
with stakeholders from the neighbourhood:
entrepreneurs, inhabitants, activists and
institutional parties all work together to
realize an attractive and climate proof
ZOHO district.

DIRK VAN PEIJPE

DE URBANISTEN; INITIATOR OF
CLIMATE PROOF ZOMERHOF DISTRICT
 i see a lot of
opportunities in
this area

Innovations hardly ever appear

out of nothing. They mostly cover

PROCESS
the narrative on the process of
climateproofing ZOHO acts as a shining
long processes of hard labour
and require collaboration between
many creative spirits. Climate proof
ZOHO is such a process. It already
started in the year 2005 with the
first idea of the water square. This
process will continue for years
to come as many new ideas will be
tested in the district. More and more
enthusiastic people are joining in
this transformation process to bring

example of the Rotterdam approach to in their ideas, skills and expertise.

create a climate resilient city. In this chapter we will reveal the

crucial steps that have been taken
over time and introduce you to some
characters that play an important
role in climate proofing the ZOHO
district.
 The water square brought these policy ambitions
into practice and delivered its built proof. On the
Rotterdamse Benthemplein De Urbanisten took their conceptual
adaptatiestrategie idea (2005) from a typological research (2007) to
an educational comic book (2010) into a realized
showcase for the world to see (2013).

2005 - rotterdam 2007 - rotterdam 2014 - rotterdam

watercity 2035 waterplan 2 adaptation strategy

Climate proofing already started in 2005 with the contribution of

“rotterdam Water City 2035” to the International Architectural Biennial
rotterdam. This groundbreaking research by design explored the extremes
of climate change by speculating on opportunities it could bring to the
city of Rotterdam. Many of the fine ideas already landed in 2007 in the
cities official policy document the “Waterplan 2”. This visionary document
established the quantitative water tasks as an important issue of quality
of life in the city and secured budget to execute innovations like the water
square. In the following years the policy goals expanded from the sole
water task into climate adaptation, which were established in the “Rotterdam
Adaptation Strategy” in 2014. florian boer
De Urbanisten; Initiator and
designer of the water square
 alexandra
Green aquapuncture van huffelen,
nils berndsen,
paula verhoeven, responsible city
responsible
responsible alderman until
Watersquare Benthemplein arnoud molenaar, director Rotterdam
politician Borough
2014
responsible for of Noord until
Climate Office
2014 jacco bakker,
“Rotterdam Adaptation
Green Hofbogen john jacobs, coordinating
Strategy”
Rooftop park: responsible district manager,
Dakakkers
for “rotterdam Borough of Noord
ZoHo Rainbarrel Waterplan 2”

Pieter de Greef,
Rooftop park:
Hofbogen / Luchtsingel responsible for
“rotterdam Water
City 2035”

on the road
again ...

Permeable paving street

Waterrobust street design de urbanisten took their idea to

the Rotterdam Climate office,
the cities alderman and the
And this turned out to be the beginning
politicians of Borough Noord.
of the climate proof transformation of
All agreed: ZOHO district has to
the ZOHO district. The realisation of the
Robust open water become the shining Rotterdam
water square set a series of related
Rain Garden example of an integral climate
interventions into motion that would
proof urban district.
Green aquapuncture

Waterrobust street design affect the entire district. De Urbanisten

Pompenburg park Polderroof realized that this would be the best
Dirk and Florian makE their tour along the responsible
time to upscale the water square from
civil servants and officials from the city of Rotterdam
a singular project into a larger scale
climate adaptation transformation.
But let’s first go back to where it all started: water square Benthemplein.
In 2011 De Urbanisten took their idea to the neighbourhood and formed
a diverse group of participants that wanted to invest time to think about I keep the final
the design of the square. In total some 30 people from the adjacent render of the water square
schools, church, theatre, gym and Agniese district took part in three on my phone, so I can show that
workshops that went from generating a desired program, to choosing I took part in the design

design options, to refining the integral design of the water square. As process of the place.

a result the design very well meets the needs of mostly young people
hanging and playing around the square.

daveson ignatia
enthusiastic participant
from Zadkine college
 The impact of the water square on its surroundings:
There is an interesting unseen side to the water square as well.
This concerns the underground infrastructure that makes sure
the rain water reaches the square quickly and also gets out of
The open water of there after a while as well; partly into the open water of the
Possible extension Noordsingel
‘Noordsingel’ and partly infiltrating back into the ground water.
of catchment area
Two underground
Infiltration devices

i’m going
Rain water catchment
area of the water square deeper
underground
ongoing sewage renewal
(splitting the system)

Three water catchment basins

 ...sharing knowledge on

pats! climate adaptation

i see another
opportunity to
depave! ...SKETCHing on an INTEGRATED
CLIMATE PROOF STRUCTURE FOR ZOHO

yes,
he likes it!
With the water square exercising
a direct physical influence on its
surroundings, it was time to start
anticipating.... With the help of the
Rotterdam municipality and STIPO,
De Urbanisten started a series of
workshops to determine possible
climate adaptation projects for
i like the idea to depave this
the ZoHo district. In the Yellow site and turn it into a green
building creative entrepreneurs welcoming garden
gathered to share their ideas and
bring them to the map....
...who’s involved and what
...presenting stories, reflect and discuss
kind of values are added?
 POLDERDAK
TOGETHER WE CAME UP WITH SOME bright IDEAS DEPAVING
POLDERDAK-RAINWATER STORAGE AND RETENTION

we could use the

facade of the hofbogen
as a continuous green
structure
we could use
rooftops to store rain
CRITERIA possible removable area for depaving
water and make them
truly green
3m 6m
sidewalk
17%
road
9%
imagine to catch
building
green 48%
and store rainwater in depaving underused
11%

15%
rainbarrels and reuse it places creates the
open water
to water plants or flush possibility to increase
toilets INFILTRATion capacity
sidewalk depaving road depaving sidewalk
area area

facade delayed
garden infiltration

water planting de dakdijk

retention

sidewalk possible road parking sidewalk

removable area of
depaving
3 5 6 1.8 3

water green water delayed less paving

recycling roofs collection infiltration delayed infiltration
 LET’S just
OK, GREAT IDEAS ... do it !
... NOW WHAT?
 rain pipe
disconnection
and detour

filtering
bed
urban

i n g gardening
emergency

e en en, overflow

gr og he
f b
ho ing t ps rainwater

e
tak t st
storage

s
fir
natural
infiltration

PANOS SAKKAS AND ALBERT TAKASHI RICHTERS ARE PART OF the
TEAM that MANAGES AN OPEN STUDIO LOCATED AT THE HOFBOGEN:
POST OFFICE. after the zoho climate proof workshop they got
so enthusiastic THEy TOOK THE LEAD OF THE green hofbogen
INITIATIVE, OFFERING THEIR frontyard as a testing ground.
+
place making
post office coordinated the process
with THE SUPPORT OF the friends of the
‘hofplein’ line. THEY invested their own
resources, time, friends and money to
make this possible.
CLIMATE PROOFING
de urbanisten added the climate proof
touch by offering their knowledge and
designing the water system. they also
paid for the extra expenses to buy the
required components to build it.
 then building and adding the garden finally, cutting AT THE OPENING PARTY guests brought
the framework plants and the seats to the rain pipe more plants. in return ‘fietzeria’ -a
of the bench the bench. the guys of ‘7 coming down from local entrepeneur- offered self
seasons’ helped to make the hofbogen made pizzas on site.
the right plant selection and connecting it
according to the present to the watertank.
shadow conditions. ready for use!

did somebody say

bottom up? excuse me, you’re sitting
on the plant i brought

First depaving
e!!!
the sidewalk eat m
in front of next installing
post office the rainwater
to create storage tank.
space for a the water will
garden and be used for
infiltration watering the
planters, garden plants.
 1
prototype

Om het concept van de regenton en het sys-

teem in dit stadium verder te ontwikkelen wor-
den twee prototypes geproduceerd. Een proto-
type gericht op individuele gebruikers. En een
tweede groter prototype voor toepassing in de 46.000
publieke ruimte. euro

,
r el Hufterproof
ar n
the idea was supported by Netherlands

b Afleesscherm + Enterprise Agency (RVO) with a subsidy to

in o
ra ll ic Regenton App
further research the feasibility and to locatie
develop a prototype by Bas Sala and Rien
o
oH sma mate
Hilhorst from Spin Developers.

Z
2 the cli g
r in
fo oof
pr 3 app 2
braindrain
Both ideas combined form an innovation
that offers the possibility to store rain
Bas Sala is a product designer and developer whose company is located in the Yellow
water, reuse it and release it when the
building. In the workshop he came up with the idea to catch, store and reuse rainwater at the same time the technical university of weather forecast predicts that storage
in a custom made ZoHo rainbarrel. This rainbarrel should not just be functional, but delft developed ‘braindrain’: a smart app that capacity is needed. When the braindrain
also emblematic for the climate ambitions of ZoHo making it applicable on the smallest can predict the water storage capacity that is app manages the storage regime of
possible scale. Bas proposes to develop a prototype and to built and test it on site. needed in relation to weather forecasts. the rainbarrel, then water management
becomes smart on the smallest scale.
 Contractor Van Dijk a lovely planting
contributed the plan was provided
initiative with free soil by de urbanisten
This is FUN! and free labour for free
a good reason to
GET away from my
office desK.

dirk disconnected
the rainpipe
from the sewerage

ing
TOGETHER WITH

av
People from

p
the community

de ho
HERE YOU GO, MATE!
WE plantED the
garden...

zo

my little girl has

green fingers

reducing the excessive amount of paved surface in ZoHo was immediately put to practice at the
Vijverhofstraat. first By taking out two parking places and a chunk of pavement. then by replacing The municipal nursery
this with a small raingarden, the promise for a greener future has been made tangible for everybody. delivered plants...
Jacco Bakker, district manager of the borough of ‘Noord’ enthusiastically took out the first tiles. for free as well
RESULT: a pop-up, zero budget garden ! the People of NAS,
a social work organization
in the ZoHo district,
maintain the garden

this is eduardo marin salinas,

landscape architect at De Urbanisten.
eduardo made the planting scheme
for the garden and he made a
maintenance instruction folder THAT
explains how to take care of the
garden. he even gives instruction
classes to nas.
We transformed the place from this ...

... to this in only 2 days!

And this is the promise provided…
To upscale the place into a
large welcoming rain garden. A
place to linger and enjoy the
scenery. And when it rains, water
is being collected and slowly
infiltrates back into the ground.
The impression was provided by
De Urbanisten and the printing
was sponsored by Komplot,
finishing off this initiative without
involving any money.
 +
. 0 00
100 o
eur

YES, OUT OF THE

TOWERS AND INTO
THE field!

At the same time the story of

Rotterdam
the pop-up rain garden is being
C O N N E C T I N G W AT E R W I T H O P P O R T U N I T I E S

embedded into the Rotterdam

From this point on everything becomes a bit more official... The municipality decides to
“Deltas in times of climate
dedicate some money they reserved for greening the city, to the future realisation of
change” 2014 Conference,
the rain garden. The pop-up garden has convinced them of the potential of radically Benthemplein
The world’s first water square together with the water square
greening the area. Furthermore an official municipal project leader is installed to Rotterdam’s tools for

it represents a successful
Climate Change
Adaptation Strategy

coordinate all ZoHo initiatives: this is Bart Peters. Aqua Dock’s water lots

Connecting Delta Cities

shares knowledge and exchanges
agent for climate proofing city
experience

Even with safe dikes,

you need to stay alert districts.
 The parking roof
provides an ideal setting for
mixing green urban functions
because of its accessibility,
flexibility and good structural
conditions.

,
o of ion
r t
d er e ra
l n s
po t ge o of
n ex en r
e e
th f gr
o
another happy
customer
One of the initiatives that is getting the more ‘official municipal treat’
is the polderroof. To examine if the top floor of the parking garage
next to the Katshoek office building is suitable for substantial
water storage, a feasibility study has been started. The concept
of a polderroof seems promising: combining water storage, urban
agriculture and a more public cultural use on one space meets the
main principles of the Adaptation Strategy. Climate proofing is all
about adding values to the social and physical environment, but is it
also economically feasible? To examine this experts and stakeholders jesus martin hurtado
joined forces and shared their expertise to dive into the matter. Architect at De Urbanisten
 If we now look again at the rooftop of the Katshoek parking garage,
the concept of the polderroof
it appears pretty underused. This huge space harbours more potential
than the limited amount of cars that are scattered around here now.

I am friso from dakdokters

(roofdokters). you might think
this is just a regular green
roof ... but it’s not! let’s explain
the concept ...

the rooftop can hold a

substantial amount of rainwater,
due to the use of water storage
crates and a little ‘dike’ that
creates a bassin. Already now the roof is occasionally being occupied by
crowds. Especially in summertime the rooftop programmers
we built a polderroof of ‘DAK’ bring urban life here with cinema, parties and
on top of an old school dinners. Turning the parking into a temporary public space.
building at the amsterdam
zuidas district
 The difficulty lies in the fact that this existing roof belongs to a
WATER STORAGE GREENING + URBAN FARMING EVENT SPACE
private investor, represented by Basement development. The investor
is willing to allow temporal public use, but wants to be able to
take the space back into the office portfolio as parking at any
desired time. This requires a flexibility that should be combined with
a long term commitment to guarantee substantial water storage, if
one wants the Waterboard to co-invest in a polderroof here....

... AND THE

PRIVATE
PUBLIC

+ +
...the team discovered though, that the
groundfloor of the parking belongs to the
municipality. This public gloomy back alley space
currently causes problems of social safety.
If we manage to take the Katshoek building and
its parking out of the sewage system by taking
care of its own water storage, then a storm
LET’S MAKE water sewage will not be needed any more here
THE PUBLIC and also public access could be terminated. At
From a structural point of view it turns out that the roof can handle substantial PRIVATE ... such a moment a public-private swap could be
water storage, offer event space and can be green at the same time. When the place is arranged: Ground level will be privatised and
smartly zoned, it can harbour all these programs. A team of Rotterdam Engineering the roof will become publicly owned. Currently
bureau, Valorisation program, De Urbanisten, Basement development and Waterboard of bart is working out his fairly brilliant idea into
Schieland en Krimpenerwaard share this conclusion. an agreement.
 +
o ek
s h a y
t w
ka (a)
a in den
r r
ga dirk reads an article about fiens rain(a)
way tile and he likes her idea. he SEES an
OPPORTUNITY TO TEST OUT the rain(a)way TILE
in front of the ‘katshoek’ building where
de urbanisten proposed to depave the site
and create a front garden. dirk contacts
this is FIEN DEKKER, public space DESIGNER AND product DEVELOPER. fien and brings her into the zoho-area. he
FIEN HAS invented THE RAIN(a)WAY TILE. a tile that collects water and also brings her into contact with Basement
makes the water slowly drain into the ground. the tile also looks development, the municipality and vp delta
good. she is looking for a place to test it in real life. who feel like sponsoring this innovation.
this opportunity is created by the implementation of next De Urbanisten make a design proposal
a split sewage system which creates the chance to for the front garden of katshoek, in which
reconsider the organisation of public space here... the rain(a)way is integrated in its composition.

as construction
works are in
progress ...

vp delta decides to
support the idea and will
i Am HAPPY WITH THIS
finance production of the
BEAUTIFUL RAINGARDEN IN
rain(a)way tiles.
FRONT OF the KATSHOEK
BUILDING

michon van der salm,

... fien develops her rain(a)way tile in cooperation with the company thyssen-den brok.
basement development
they test different colours and material compositions
meanwhile in bruSSELS....
ALL our years’ WORK OF CLIMATE
PROOFING ZOHO has been REWARDED!

the municipality of rotterdam

reCEIVEs a life+ subsidy for
let’s support them with
realisation AND FURTHER DEvelopment
a generous subsidy of THE ZOHO-DISTRICT....

we’ve got a
request from the city of
rotterdam for a subsidy for
climate proofing a city
district called zoho

hmmm... this is pretty

interesting, these guys
are DOING A decent job
WORKS
Work in progress
1
Climateproofing ZOHO is not only a process,
1 BENTHEMPLEIN WATER SQUARE
it’s also a work in progress. it’s time to show the
results that have been accomplished so far. We 2 POLDER ROOF 5
distinguish six projects in the area. They vary 3 KATSHOEK RAIN(A)WAY GARDEN
largely in size, impact and spatial appearance.
But all of them effectively aim at climate proofing 4 ZOHO-RAINBARREL
the district by offering a certain amount of storm 5 GREENING HOFBOGEN

6
water storage, reducing heat stress and fighting
6 ZOHO-RAINGARDEN
4
drought by restoring ground water balance. All of
the projects also include stakeholder involvement,
for example by user participation; by multiple
initiators; by using multiple financial sources;
by sharing responsibilities in maintenance or a
combination of the previous. Some of the works

2
can already be visited and enjoyed or will be
realized very soon. Other works still need some
extra time and effort to be developed and realized. 3
Climate proofing ZOHO is a work in progress.
BENTHEMPLEIN
WATERSQUARE
The water square combines temporal water storage
with the improvement of the quality of urban
public space. The water square can be understood
as a twofold strategy. It makes money invested in
water storage facilities visible and enjoyable. It also Composition of financial contributions to the water square

generates opportunities to create environmental

quality and identity to central spaces in 40% 25% SPECIAL EUROPEAN AND
DUTCH FUNDING
SPATIAL QUALITY
neighbourhoods. Most of the time the water square

€
50% MUNICIPALITY OF ROTTERDAM
(WATERPLAN 2)
will be dry and in use as a recreational space. 60%
WATER TASK

Year 2011-2014 25% WATERBOARD

Client City of Rotterdam: Rotterdam Climate Initiative

Waterboard Schieland & Krimpenerwaard
Design De Urbanisten
Status Realized
Collaborators Rotterdam Engineering Bureau
Project management Rotterdam Project Management Bureau
Construction supervision Rotterdam Engineering Bureau
Construction works Wallaard
Costs 4 million euros
Surface area 9.500 m2 (incl. street and parking)
square: 5.500 m2
Storage capacity 1.800 m3

View on the central basin of the watersquare

DE URBANISTEN Initiative, concept, design, workshops,
photo pallesh + azarfane
supervision
 The functional set up of the water square in three storm water catchment basins

Catchment area of basin 1 Catchment area of basin 2 Catchment area of basin 3

Overview of the complete watersquare and its three temporal storage basins
photo pallesh + azarfane
 Functional storm water inlets are designed as special features

The “rain well” releases the water from the adjacent roof into a wide stainless steel gutter

The “water wall” releases the water from further surroundings into the central basin The central basin after a serious cloudburst in August 2014
photo Jeroen Musch
early spring late spring summer autumn
 POLDERDAK POLDERDAK-RAINWATER STORAGE AND RETENTION

POLDER ROOF POLDERDAK-RAINWATER STORAGE AND RETENTION

The Polderroof project proposes the transformation

of the roof of the ‘Katshoek’ parking garage into
an attractive green roof that stores and reuses
rainwater from the nearby buildings in a controlled
way. The Polderroof takes the rainwater out of the
sewage system and into the ZOHO-raingarden
to infiltrate. It also is a collective place for urban
agriculture, everyday recreation and small outdoor
events. By doing this, the Polderroof adds new social,
economic, environmental and ecological values to
the ZOHO district.

Year 2014-ongoing
Client City of Rotterdam
Status Feasibility study water planting de dakdijk
retention
Collaborators Basement bv
water planting de dakdijk
Valorisation program Deltatechnology & Water retention
Dakdokters
Costs 412.000 euros (estimated)
Catchment area 5.570 m2
Storage capacity 365 m3

DE URBANISTEN Initiative, research & design

Polderroof Plan; the roof is both an attractive community space for ZOHO and an innovative storm water storage facility.
EVERYDAY SITUATION CLOUDBURST < 21mm CLOUDBURST 21 - 70 mm
Cars move out / Gates close

Raingarden

max 10cm max 10cm

max 35cm

max 35cm

max 10cm max 10cm

AFTER A BLOUDBURST

DRAIN WATER

The polder roof water management sequence. It can handle stormwater storage and reuse in a controlled way by using smart applications The polder roof is linked to the ZOHO-raingarden and the district water management system
 Gebruiksbelasting in kg / m²
Boom Aquaponics Kassen Feest Openlucht- Dakakker Terras Parkeren Intensief Water Extensief
bioscoop groen groen

IE
A first polder roof has been realized in Amsterdam (designed by Dakdokters)

The range of activities

that can be hosted on a roof
related to the necessary
construction conditions 1100 kg/m² 600 kg/m² 500 kg/m² 500 kg/m² 400 kg/m² 330 kg/m² 300 kg/m² 250 kg/m² 140 kg/m² 100 kg/m² 90 kg/m²

BOEKHORSTSTRAAT HOFBOGEN green wall raingarden POLDERDAK

POLDER DAK SECTION 2
roofgarden parking parking roofgarden

WEIGHT LOAD THE

ROOFTOP CAN SUPPORT
350 kg/m2

WATERLEVEL TO STORE A
CLOUDBURST OF 55mm
15 cm

BENTHEMPLEIN

Section of the polder roof and raingarden

POLDER DAK SECTION 1

35cm

Plant layer

Soil ~35cm
45cm

Filter
RAIN CRATE 10cm/Storage capacity 7cm
Protective course + root destroyer.

impervious layer + concrete

Stored rainwater can be used to water the roof gardens

Plant layer

Soil ~35cm

Filter

Protective course + root destroyer. The polder roof is part of

the larger district water
impervious layer + concrete
management system.
In front the smart app to
control the waterlevels on
With a smart-app, the water capacity in the system can be controlled to create storage space when extreme weather events are expected
the polderroof.
 9%
building
green 48%
11%

KATSHOEK
15%

RAIN(A)WAY
sidewalk depaving road depaving sidewalk
area area

GARDEN
Depaving and greening the ZOHO district takes
shape in front of the ‘Katshoek’ building, where the
Rain(a)way Garden is part of a new streetprofile
in which the abundance of hard surface is being
decreased. In the context of a colourful linear garden,
innovative Rain(a)way tiles by designer Fien Dekker
will be integrated and tested. Together they form a
luxuriant frontgarden for the Katshoek building. sidewalk possible road parking sidewalk
removable area of
depaving
3 5 6 1.8 3

Year 2014-ongoing
Client City of Rotterdam delayed less paving
Basement BV infiltration delayed infiltration
Valorisation Program Delta Technology & Water
Waterboard Schieland & Krimpenerwaard
Status Final design (approved)
Collaborators Fien Dekker (Rain(a)way tile)
Binder groenprojecten
Thijssen - den Brok beton
Rotterdan Engineering Bureau
Surface area 400 m2
Costs 15.000 euro (excluding street reprofiling) The linear setup of the Katshoek Rain(a)way Garden

DE URBANISTEN Supervision, landscape design

How to solve step 1
excess of water no flowers below
dripping? the water dripping
50% Ornamental grasses

24% Flowers

50 cm

cover + flower body of grass cover + flower

step 2 step 3 26% Groundcover plants

thin layer of smooth slope to
mulching to reduce maximize water
water impact, keep distribution
moisture and avoid
weeds

Overall planting scheme of the Rain(a)way Garden

 Composition of the Rain(a)way Garden:
emergent seasonal flowers a subtle relation between seasonal
flowers, ornamental grasses and the
Rain(a)way tiles
cover plants

upright seasonal flowers Carex muskingumensis Sesleria autumnalis Deschampsia cespitosa Hakonechloa macra

Artemisia ludoviciana Euphorbia griffithii Calamintha nepeta nepeta Persicaria amplexicaulis alba

body of ornamental grasses

stemp mound seasonal flowers

Cephalaria gigantea Rudbeckia fulgida Goldstrum Echinacea flame Echinacea alba Echinacea sunrise
 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Carex muskingumensis
Artemisia ludoviciana
x 24
Sesleria autumnalis Echinacea flame
x 9
Deschampsia cespitosa Echinacea sunrise
x 6
Deschampsia ce
Hakonechloa macra Carex muskingumensis x 8
x 12

Euphorbia griffithii
Sesleria autumnalis Hakonechloa macra
x 18 x 9
Artemisia ludoviciana silver queen

Anaphalis margaritacea Carex muskingumensis

x 18

Cephalaria gigantea

Sesleria autumnalis
Eryngium yuccifolium x 18
Deschampsia cespitosa Deschampsia
x 8 x 6
Echinacea sunrise
Echinacea flame
x 6
Persicaria amplexicaulis alba Euphorbia griffithii
x 9
Echinacea purpurea alba Anaphalis margaritacea
x 28
Echinacea flame thrower

Calendar of flowering and seasonal coloring of the garden Detail of the planting scheme
 concept

ZOHO- ZoHo
In het kader van de verduurzaming van ZoHo Regenton
hebben Studio Bas Sala en SPIN ge- The ZOHO rainbarrel can stand alone or be linked

RAINBARREL
biedsontwikkelaars de ZoHo regenton ontwikkeld. to a larger cluster of storm water management

De ZoHo regenton is een systeem van wateropslag dat op meerdere manieren bij-
concept
draagt aan die verduurzaming door: open water

- vertraging van de afgifte van overvloedigInregenwater

het kader van de
aanverduurzaming van ZoHo hebben Studio Bas Sala en SPIN ge-
het rioleringssysteem;
biedsontwikkelaars de ZoHo regenton ontwikkeld.
- besparing
The ZOHO-rainbarrel van schoon
is a participative drinkwater
water storage door gebruik
De ZoHovoor bevloeiing
regenton vanvan
is een systeem (dak)tuinen;
wateropslag dat op meerdere manieren bij-
- besparing van schoon drinkwater
system. It is designed to be an icon for ZOHO and a door gebruik
draagt als
aan spoelwater
die verduurzaming in toiletten.
door:
smart solution for rain water reuse and storage at the - vertraging van de afgifte van overvloedig regenwater aan het rioleringssysteem;
- besparing van schoon drinkwater door gebruik voor bevloeiing van (dak)tuinen;
same time. TheDe ZOHO
ZoHorainbarrel
regenton willkan
be produced in
op verschillende niveaus worden ingezet:
- besparing van schoon drinkwater door gebruik als spoelwater in toiletten.
the district by local businesses. It creates awareness
- individueel bij bewoners in de tuin;
and a shared community feeling with the users. The De ZoHo regenton kan op verschillende niveaus worden ingezet:
- op gebouwniveau;
system also will be used in educational programs - individueel bij bewoners in de tuin;
- op gebieds/wijkniveau.
on climate adaptation at schools. A smart control - op gebouwniveau;
- op gebieds/wijkniveau.
device - (B)Rainbarrel - makes it possible to control
storage capacity within the system.

productie en participatie productie en participatie

Year 2014-ongoing
Client RVO De ZoHo regenton draagt ook bij aan sociaaleconomische duurzaamheid van ZoHo 10m
+10 m
Initiative
De ZoHo regenton draagt ook bij aan sociaaleconomische
Rien Hilhorst, Studio Bas Sala
duurzaamheid
Rotterdam en de Agniesebuurt, doordat wevan ZoHo laten fabriceren in de wijk
het systeem +10 m
water green water
Status Rotterdam en de Agniesebuurt, doordat wedoor
Feasibility study hetwijkgebonden
systeem laten fabriceren in de wijk
ondernemers.
recycling roofs collection
Design Studio Bas Sala
door wijkgebonden ondernemers. Door de exposure en mond-tot-mondreclame wordt de ZoHo regenton een gewild
TU Delft / PJ van Overloop
hebbeding. Bewoners gaan er met elkaar over praten. Ze worden gemotiveerd hun
Door de exposure en mond-tot-mondreclame wordt
systemen aande ZoHo
elkaar regenton
te koppelen, eendegewild
hetgeen sociale structuur versterkt. Daarnaast
DE URBANISTEN Start-up support
hebbeding. Bewoners gaan er met elkaar over
is met praten.
de slimmeZe worden
regelklep gemotiveerd
ontwikkeld door de TU hun
Delft ook op producttechnologisch
gebied een toegevoegde waarde ten opzichte van bestaande systemen. De daarbij 0m
0m bouwlagen
systemen aan elkaar te koppelen, hetgeen de sociale structuur versterkt. Daarnaast
ontwikkelde app sluit goed aan bij de reeds bestaande ideëen over het toepassen van locatie regenton
location
is met de slimme regelklep ontwikkeld doorinnovatieve
de TU Delft ook opterproducttechnologisch
technologieën versterking van de ZoHo maakindustrie. rainbarrel

gebied een toegevoegde waarde ten opzichte van bestaande systemen. De daarbij 0m bo
 A 38 m2

B 457 m2
STORAGE CAPACITY WITH A CLOUDBURST
1102 m OF 55 mm 2

C 370 m2
A 38 m 2
1102 m2 x 55mm ------------------------- D60610
237 mlitres
2

B 457 m 2
x 1 = 250 litres ------------------------- 60610 litres / 250 litres = 242 rainwater barrels
How many toilets can I flush with How many rainwater barrels do I need to
1102 m 2

C 370 m 2 harvested rainwater? catch

HOW MANY RAINWATER BUTTS DO as much
I NEED rainwater
TO HARVEST AS as possible?
MUCH RAINWATER AS PO
x 1 = 0,25 m2 ------------------------- 242 rainwater barrels X 0,25 m2 = 60,5 m 2 occupied surface

D 237 m 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL IN ROTTERDAM : 800 mm STORAGE CAPACITY WITH A CLOUDBURST OF 55 mm

38m2 x 55mm
1102 m2 x 800mm ------------- 881600 litres / year
----------------------- 2090 litres A 38 m 2
1102 m2 x 55mm ------------------------- 60610 litres
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A 2090 litres / 250 litres ------------ 8 rainwater barrels

8 rainwater barrels x 0,25 m2 ---- 2(881600
x 1 = 6 litres ---------------
m 2 occupied
B 457 m 2
surface on rooftop B 1102 m 2
litres / year) / 6 litres = 146900 toilets / year x 1 = 250 litres ------------------------- 60610 litres / 250 litres = 242 rainwater barrels

1 year = 250 working days ---- (146900 toilets / year) / 250 working370
days C
m =2 587 toilets / day
x 1 = 0,25 m2 ------------------------- 242 rainwater barrels X 0,25 m2 = 60,5 m 2 occupied surface
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

457m2 x 55mm --------------------- 25135 litres

D 237 m 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
x 1 = 5 flushes / day ----- (587 toilets / day) / 5 = 117 workers
38m2 x 55mm ----------------------- 2090 litres

2m 2
B 25135 litres / 250 litres ----------- 100 rainwater barrels
100 rainwater117barrels
people can workm
x 0,25 - 25
in2the m 2 occupied
building surface on
using only harvested rooftop
rainwater to C
flush their toilets
A 2090 litres / 250 litres ------------ 8 rainwater barrels
8 rainwater barrels x 0,25 m2 ---- 2 m 2 occupied surface on rooftop B

457m2 x 55mm --------------------- 25135 litres

370m2 x 55mm --------------------- 20350 litres 2m 2

B 25135 litres / 250 litres ----------- 100 rainwater barrels
100 rainwater barrels x 0,25 m2 - 25 m 2 occupied surface on rooftop C
25m 2
C 20350 litres / 250 litres ----------- 81 rainwater barrels
81 rainwater barrels x 0,25 m2 -- 20,25 m 2 occupied surface on rooftop D
A 25m 2
C
370m2 x 55mm --------------------- 20350 litres
20350 litres / 250 litres ----------- 81 rainwater barrels
81 rainwater barrels x 0,25 m2 -- 20,25 m 2 occupied surface on rooftop D
20,25m 2 A
B 237m2 x 55mm --------------------- 13035 litres 20,25m 2

13m 2 13035 litres / 250 litres ----------- 53 rainwater butts B

237m2 x 55mm --------------------- 13035 litres

D
13m 2
D 13035 litres / 250 litres ----------- 53 rainwater butts
53 rainwater barrels x 0,25 m2 -- 13 m 2 occupied surface on street
53 rainwater barrels x 0,25 m2 -- 13 m 2 occupied surface on street
C
x8 C x8
2m 2

2m 2 x 100 D
25m 2
x 100 D x 81
20,25m 2
25m 2
x 53
13m 2
Calculation exercise on clustering the ZOHO-Rainbarrel on and around the Yellow Building/ het Gele Gebouw (by De Urbanisten)
x 81
20,25m 2

x 53
 THE APP
The App provides the user with real-time
information about the reservoir. As soon as Studio Bas Sala developed 3 different
the user approaches a BrainDrain, the
Without BrainDrain App will inform about the current water prototypes to fit the requirements
level and target level. Also it is possible
RS communication. This equipment sends the to see what the BrainDrain will do in the
nes through optimization the optimal water level . upcoming hours and what the status of
ate this water level. The next time step the other reservoirs a BrainDrain is.
t always the newest advice is given

s much as needed to prevent inundation.

THE APP
With BrainDrain The App provides the user with real-time
information about the reservoir. As soon as
the user approaches a BrainDrain, the
App will inform about the current water
level and target level. Also it is possible
he to see what the BrainDrain will do in the
evel . upcoming hours and what the status of
other reservoirs a BrainDrain is.

A scale model of greenhouse and The BrainDrain on a water

a scale model of greenhouse
waterreservoir
The BrainDrain on
barrel
a
and waterreservoir rainbutt

M.M. Vierstra Msc., Dr. ir. P.J.A.T.M van Overloop, ir. A. M. van Leeuwen, B. Alewijnse
Department of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Section watermanagement, Delft University of Technology

Brain Drain is a smart app to predict the water storage capacity needs
GREENING
HOFBOGEN
Greening Hofbogen aims at climate proofing the
monumental structure of the ‘Hofpleinlijn’. While
waiting for a long term vision, the Hofbogen are
approached from a bottom up perspective, starting
at street level. Analyses show, that there is a
potential for a substantial greening of the facades
and sidewalks. Rain water from the roof is used for
irrigation purposes and local infiltration. Moreover,
Greening the Hofbogen is about placemaking.
Illustrative in this is the Post-Office (SCHOP) project.
The intervention on their ‘Hofboog’ facade addresses
issues like restoring urban ecosystems, edible growth,
rainwater reuse and public urban furniture.

Year 2014-ongoing
Client City of Rotterdam facade delayed
garden infiltration
Design DE URBANISTEN
Post-Office (SCHOP)
Status Study and test-site
Collaborators Post-Office
7 seasons
Hofbogen BV
Costs test site 700 euro (material costs)

DE URBANISTEN Research by design, support of test-site 7SEASONS Current situation of the ‘Hofbogen’
 NORTH PART

E 1381.53 m
2
F 967.28 m
2
G 562.48 m
2
H 1342.36 m
2
I 1251.26 m
2
J 1368.21 m
2

325.52m
2
67.72m
2
126.76 m
2
43.68 m
2
97.76 m
2
77.05 m
2
48.88 m 71.65 m
2
464.72 m
2
72.82 m
2
277.38 m
2

FACADE SURFACE

+ POSSIBILITY
FOR FACADE GREEN
+ + + +
DEPAVING

SUN

POSSIBLE ECOLOGY

HWA
PUBLICNESS

POLICITES
BOTTOM UP
BUURTSUPER
POST OFFICE
7 SEASONS

Analysis of present conditions and future potential of the Hofbogen north facade
 DOES THE SYSTEM
HAVE TO DEAL WITH?
m 2

hOW MUCH RAINWATER

TOTAL ROOF SURFACE

DOES THE6833.36SYSTEM
2
46 m
aa TYPE 1
====
4.
72 TYPE
TYPE111
TYPE TYPE 2 =
t m
TYPE222 ==
TYPE
TYPE =
HAVE TO DEAL WITH?
2

NO
hOW MUCH RAINWATER
27
7.
38 average annual rainfall in Rotterdam : 800mm
RT m
7 H
DOES THE SYSTEM
2

FS 1.
65 FA 6833 m x 800mm
2
------- 5466400 liters / year
m TR CA
HAVE TOROOF
DEALSURFACE
WITH?
2 m 2

AA 48 DE
T .8 TOTAL
xxxx
8m -V 72
.8
2
ijv 2m
2
46 er 6833.36 m
2

AT TOTAL ROOF SURFACE

a at
4.
72
m 37
ho
fs 2
9.
78 tra
46
6833.36 m
2
4.
72
VI m 2
at m 2
average annual rainfall in Rotterdam : 800mm
JV
ER average annual rainfall in Rotterdam : 800mm
71 HO 6833 m x 800mm ------- 5466400 liters / year
2

FS .6
5m 2
BO
EK FS 77 71
.6 6833 m x 800mm ------- 5466400 liters / year
2

TR TR .0 5m 2
HO 5m 2
AA 48 RS AA
T
48
.8
T .8 TR 8m
8m AA
2

2
T 97

hOW MUCH FACADE SURFACE

AT .7 37
6m 2 9.
78
37 m 2

9.

IS AVAILABLE FOR GREENING?

78 43
m .6 77
2 8m 2 .0
5m 2

77 12 97
6.
hOW MUCH FACADE SURFACE
.0 76 .7
6m 2
5m 2
m 2 TOTAL FACADE SURFACE
IS AVAILABLE FOR GREENING?
43
67 .6
8m 2
.7 2
97 2m 2 3880.61 m
hOWTOTAL MUCH FACADE SURFACE
.7 12
6m 2 6.
SO 32
76
m 2 FACADE SURFACE
UT 5.

ISFACADE
AVAILABLE FOR GREENING?
43 52 67
DE 77
.0
4m
H
FA
.6
8m 2 m 2
.7
2m 2 3880.61 m
2

-B CA TYPOLOGY TYPE 3
====
TYPE 4
====
2
32
48
.8
8m
DE 12
5.
52 TYPE
TYPE333
TYPE TYPE
TYPE444
TYPE
oe 2

-B
6.
76
m 2

FACADE TYPOLOGY
31 kh 51 oe m 2 TOTAL
1 FACADE
2 SURFACE
3 4
m 2
or 7.
31 kh 67 1 2 3 4
st m 2
or .7
2m 2 3880.61 m
2
77 ra 77
st
ra
.0
5m 2 at .0
5m 2 at 32
AD 38
5.
52
m
E 38 8. 2
8m 2

-B
8.
8m 2 43
NORTH
FACADE
325.52
TYPOLOGY
357.36 795.06 729.13
.6
oe 43
8m
2

SOUTH 325.52
NORTH 1195.33 357.36216.73
289.93 795.06
385.37 729.13
31 kh .6
8m 41
7. 1 2 3 4
m
or 89
2 2
m
SOUTH 1195.33 289.93 216.73 385.37
st
2

41 67
77 ra 7.
89
.7
2m 2
.0
5m 2 at m 2 25
6.
70
67 m 2

38 .7
8. 2m 2
8m 2
25
43 6. 325.52 357.36 795.06 729.13
.6 70 NORTH
8m m 2
2

SOUTH 1195.33 289.93 216.73 385.37

41
7.
89 19
2.
m 2
29
m 2

67
.7
Hofbogen facts and most2msuitable sections to apply facade greening 2 Facade greening typologies including options for storm water reuse
25
6.
70
m 2
19
2
 Detailed storm water reuse plan and construction scheme by De Urbanisten

The Post-Office ‘SCHOP’-inititative

results in a built prototype
ZOHO-
RAINGARDEN
(1ST PHASE)
The small pop-up ZOHO raingarden illustrates the
potential of climate proofing ZOHO. Two parking lots
and a large part of the wide sidewalk are turned into
a small but sumptuous garden in only two days. The
garden is planted with a rich variety of plants that
can handle the condition of dry and wet. The facade
of Hofbogen is planted with creepers. Left over tiles
are reused to make clear edges around the garden
and for a storm water gully that meanders through
the garden. The raingarden is maintained by the NAS.

Year 2014
Client Initiative by De Urbanisten
Design De Urbanisten
Status Realized
Collaborators Van Dijk Maasland
GreenSand
Municipal Nursery of Rotterdam
Maintenance NAS (Nico Adriaans Stichting)
Surface area 100 m2
Costs 0 euro

DE URBANISTEN Initiative, landscape design, planting,

construction supervision The pop-up ZOHO raingarden in summer 2014
Raingarden overall plan Raingarden construction drawings
P Pennisetum alopecuroides
Sd Sedum matrona
Cx Carex buchananii
Cs Cosmos sp
Eu Eupatorium cannabinum
Vb Verbena bonaerensis
Pi Pieris
Sl Salvia farinacea
4 P Sd
L Lythrum 5
s
P
H Hypericum 6 Sd 7 C Sd
As Aster 3 3
5 P Cx P
7 Vb
s
7 C Sd Salvia farinacea Sedum herbstfreude Cosmos bipinnatus
Sk Skimmia s 4
Vi 4 C Sd P L 2 Pi l 3 50 cm 60 cm 75 cm
Vinca major
2 Cx 3
4 S Vb
2
3S L 4L
Hedera 3 P 2 Cs 4
Parthenocissus 7 P Cx 4 Cs 3 L
2 b 4 1 Pi 3
4 P Sd 2 V Sd 4L
5 5 Pi
x s 2
4 L SL 5L
6C P 6 C Vb 4L
3 u
E 3 4 L s 3 2 Sp
2 P
4 Cx 2HL 5 C SL
3 7
4
P 6 L SL
8 Sl
2 Eu 4L b 6
2 x
V
3 PI
C 1 Verbena bonariensis Vinca major Skimmia japonica
10 SL x
5 C Cs 150 cm 30 cm 100 cm
6 L
6 5
6L s
x 3 ASL
3C 6 H
P
3 SL 3
s
4 CP
x 4 H 6 ASL
4 L 2 LP 2 4 Eu
i 4 Cs s 3 u
7 C Eu
2 VP 3 1E
3 P i
3 Cs
3 L 5 Pi 2 2 P H 3 SL
4 1 Eu i 2 s s
P
10 Cs 4 LP
1 Cs 2 PH 2A 2 A Vi
2 2 As 6
2 3 Cx
4 Sl
i
5 VP 4 L
4L
2 5 P SL 2 Pi Vi
4 Sl 2E
u
4 P Cx 4 2 Sl 5 3P i
i
5 VP 4 L 3 Vi 4 Cs i 6V
3 L 4 Vb
2 Eu 3 4 P As 3 2P i Eupatorium cannabinum Hedera helix Pieris japonicum
4 3 Sl
4
l
4 S Vi
2 Sl
4 P 6V 100 cm 80 cm
L
4 Vb 2 P 3 Eu
3 Sl l
3 S Vi 4 4 P EU 4
4 L Sk
2
i
2
4P
1 Pi P Pennisetum alopecuroides
4 V Eu 2
3
k
2 P Sd Sedum matrona
4
3 SH
3 8 SH
k Cx Carex buchananii
2 Eu
4 SL Cs Cosmos sp
4 i
4 VH Eu Eupatorium cannabinum
5 Eu
4 Pi
2
Vb Verbena bonaerensis
6 V Pi
i Pi Pieris
4 Eu
6 Sl Salvia farinacea
3 HPi L alopecuroides
Pennisetum Lythrum Lythrum salicaria Hypericum hidcote
6 Eu 50 cm H
4 k Hypericum 100 cm jn-ag 90 cm
4 S Pi
3 H As Aster
5m
3
Sk Skimmia Applied raingarden plant-species, adapted to their
0.3

0.4

Vi
5m

Raingarden planting scheme Vinca major cost-free availabilty at the Municipal Nursery
Hedera
Parthenocissus
ZOHO- Impression of the ZOHO Raingarden during a cloudburst

RAINGARDEN
(2ND PHASE)
The ZOHO-Raingarden turns an abundance of hard
surface and underused parking spaces at the entry of
the ZOHO district into a attractive welcome garden. A
smart reorganisation of flows takes the cars out of the
area and gives full access to cyclists and pedestrians.
Moreover, the raingarden also provides ZOHO with an
attractive small park to lunch, linger and enjoy. The
raingarden collects rainwater from nearby buildings
and public spaces (Katshoek/Hofbogen). The micro
topografy of the park guides rain water to the deepest
places to slowly infiltrate. A rich variety of plants is
tuned into the specific dry-wet conditions.

Year 2014-ongoing
Client City of Rotterdam
Design De Urbanisten
Status Approved plan
Maintenance NAS
Surface area 2.590 m2
Costs 200.000 - 250.000 euro (estimated)

DE URBANISTEN Initiative, urban and landscape design,

supervision
 BOEKHORSTSTRAAT HOFBOGEN regenton regentuin

BENTHEMPLEIN

Raingarden flooding sequence

BOEKHORSTSTRAAT HOFBOGEN green wall regentuin polderdak

Raingarden watermanagement scheme

concerning temporary water storage,
BENTHEMPLEIN
infiltration spaces and water flows Section of the Raingarden adjacent to the polderroof
 Research date Average occupancy
not used
2013. 11. 05 tuesday 3 ~ 5 pm

2013. 11. 11 monday 3 ~ 5 pm

2013. 11. 19 tuesday 11 ~ 12 am 41%

2013. 11. 20 wednesday 7 ~ 8 pm

2013. 11. 24 sunday 3 ~ 4 pm

Research date Average occupancy

not used intensively used
2013. 11. 05 tuesday 3 ~ 5 pm

2013. 11. 11 monday 3 ~ 5 pm

2013. 11. 19 tuesday 11 ~ 12 am 41%

2013. 11. 20 wednesday 7 ~ 8 pm

2013. 11. 24 sunday 3 ~ 4 pm

PP
Proposal for reorganisation of traffic circulation to take car movement The proposal for the Raingarden integrates the Main routes for pedestrians and bycycle traffic. Analysing the intensity of use of parking places. The parking lots where we project the
out of the Raingarden possibility for trucks to load and unload at the Coming from the ‘Luchtsingel’ the Raingarden can Research date are hardly being used. InAverage
Raingarden, occupancy
front of the Katshoek building enough overflow
Katshoek building become a welcoming touch down into the ZOHO district. car
2013.parking
11. 05 space can
tuesday 3 ~be found to relocate the few more intensively
5 pm used places.
not used intensively used

2013. 11. 11 monday 3 ~ 5 pm

2013. 11. 19 tuesday 11 ~ 12 am 41%

The Raingarden in springtime, plan and impression
The Raingarden in a cloudburst situation, plan and impression
Differences in sun exposure and water influence generate flora and fauna biodiversity in the Raingarden

wet plants grass welcome flower garden shadow-climber garden

brown frog dragonfly wild bee butterfly bumblebee swift mavis pipistrelle
 450 m2

200 m2

312 m2

1150 m2

Detail of schematic plan on garden

proportions and technical elements
 Connections

FRAMEWORK
Connections Blocks
Water storage
water Storage Facilities
facilities

Blocks
envelope Main Public Spaces Paved Infiltration with bioswale
paved infiltration with bioswale

Climate proof ZOHO is about shaping a resilient Main Public Spaces

Green Infiltration Area
green infiltration area

structure for the future of the district and not just a Dettached Area
detached area (buildings & pavement)
(buildings & pavements)
random set of projects. The reason that the current
green
Greenroof
Roof
emphasis lies on the southern half of ZOHO has to
do with pragmatic as well as conceptual reasons. It underground
Underground water flow
Water Flow

is here where a sewerage renewal takes place and water

Water flow
Flow
where creative energy emerges. We deliberately
area
Area for furtherOptimization
for further optimization&&Research
research
amplify this positive energy to make sure that a
Urban envelope map:
vast basis is laid down in the district. From a spatial Definition of urban block entities,
open spaces and vital connections
point of view the southern half is where climate
proofing will have most effect, since there is a lot to
improve. To create a new structure of public places Hierachy of Public Spaces
Main Public Spaces

can reposition ZOHO in the fabric of the city. New structural

Hierachy of Public Spaces

Main Public Spaces

pedestrian routes can be made and connected to the

‘Luchtsingel’ that is taking shape. Car dominance local

can be limited and clarified in ZOHO. Currently there

is an abundance of hard surface fit for cars with little
hierarchy. By a selective greening of hard spaces,
the main car structures will be more distinct and
readable. We propose to emphasize the functional
structure of ZOHO, more than its formal structure.
This can also be expressed in defining block
Public space map:
envelopes, that provide a framework for possible Hierarchy of linear structuring spaces
future transformation. in relation to open spaces for lingering ZOHO Climate map 2020
 ZOHO-POCKET PARK
a meeting place for the neighbourhood
ZOHO-PARK
AMMERSOOISEPLEIN

RAINGARDEN
RAINGARDEN a welcome garden for the ZOHO-district

HOFPLEIN STATION & MINI MALL

a vibrant place full of ‘city life’

STATION HOFPLEIN
& MINI MALL

A diverse sequence of future public places for ZOHO form a logical structure
ZOHO Climate perspective 2020
ROTTERDAM CLIMATE PROOF Reclaiming and activating

A wide range of easy-to-apply climate adaptive measures ... Green aquapuncture

... create an attractive future perspective
Benthemplein & Zohokwartier & Hofbogen
Multilevel green structure
Economic stimulus

Creating added value Mixed use urbanity

Watersquare Benthemplein Urban delta work Green structure
Active space for youth Community building
Innovative public space
Green Hofbogen
Rooftop park: Creative incubator
Dakakkers Economic stimulus
ZoHo Rainbarrel Stakeholders HUB

Rooftop park: Social placemaking

Hofbogen / Luchtsingel Mixed use urbanity
Cultural life

Permeable paving street

Waterrobust street design

Neighborhood facilities
Community building
Social gathering
Robust open water

Enhancing historical structure

Rain Garden Green placemaking Green axis on city scale
Increasing biodiversity Increasing biodiversity
Green aquapuncture
Community building
Waterrobust street design
Safe space for children
Informal meeting place
Green structure Friendly and green residential environment
Pompenburg park Polderroof Mixed used urbanity
Softening car traffic Enhancing social interaction
Space for healthy relaxation
Enhancing social interaction
Innovative permaculture
New public private partnerships
Community building
Colofon
De Urbanisten
Jufferstraat 21
3001 XL Rotterdam
The Netherlands
tel: +31 6 50 20 10 80
info@urbanisten.nl
www.urbanisten.nl
Contact:
dirkvanpeijpe@urbanisten.nl
Team De Urbanisten:
Dirk van Peijpe
Florian Boer
Duong Bui
Eduardo Marin Salinas
Jesus Martin Hurtado
Jinyeong Seo
Auke Wissing
Making ZOHO into an attractive and climateproof district is only
possible with the help of dedicated people and organisations. We
especially like to thank:
ACO / AIR / Basement bv / Binder Groenprojecten / Buurtsuper
/ Codum / Doepel Strijkers Architects / De Dakdokters / Erasmus
University, IHS / Fien Dekker Ontwerp / Foodcurators / Gare du Nord,
Hans Kervezee / Greensand / Havensteder / Het Een en Ander (Yasemin
Sengil) / Hofbogen bv / Waterboard of Schieland and Krimpenerwaard
/ Ik Ben ZoHo / Komplot / Nico Adriaans Stichting (NAS) / Participants
Workshops Watersquare Benthemplein / Post-Office / Roodkapje /
Rooftop Solutions Amsterdam / Rotterdam Municipality: Borough
of Noord, Planning Department, Engineering Bureau, Maintenance
Department, Rotterdam Climate Initiative / Seven Seasons / Stipo
/ Spin developers / Studio Bas Sala / Superuse Studio / Technical
University Delft / Valorisation program Delta technology & Water /
Van Dijk Maasland / Van Schagen Architects / Viltmannen / Wallaard
/ Willem de Kooning Academy / ZOHO-reset / ZUS
For more information:

Jufferstraat 21
3011 XL Rotterdam
Netherlands
E: info@urbanisten.nl
T: +31650201080
W: www.urbanisten.nl