BUILDING

WITH
NATURE
J.N. SALVADOR DE PAIVA
… A PHILOSOPHY …

use the
natural dynamics of the ecosystem
to create
flexible and sustainable
infrastructure
while enhancing nature values
GLOBAL NEED FOR COASTAL PROTECTION

40 million people and US$3,000 billion of assets are located in

flood-prone coastal cities today, and these are expected to
increase to 150 million people and $35,000 billion by 2070
NOWADAYS
In delta areas, coastal zones or near water ways:

•Almost all land and water is in use or is exploited

•Population is growing (around 80% lives in coastal areas)

•Climate change and sea level rise are causing impacts

•Resources are increasingly scarce

NOWADAYS
In delta areas, coastal zones or near water ways:

•Almost all land and water is in use or is exploited

•Population is growing (around 80% lives in coastal areas)

•Climate change and sea level rise are causing impacts

•Resources are increasingly scarce

Need for multifunctional solutions that combine safety,

economy and ecology
 FLOODING

Coastal flood risks are likely to increase due to:

• increasing storm intensity
• accelerating sea-level rise
• subsidence
BEFORE 1995, DUTCH REACTION
BUILT INFRASTRUCTURE
 CHALLENGES TO CONVENTIONAL
COASTAL ENGINEERING
During centuries, wetlands in river deltas and estuaries were reclaimed
leading to:

loss of storage area for flood waters and therefore storm surges
rise higher and propagate faster and further inland
CHALLENGES OF CONVENTIONAL
COASTAL ENGINEERING

• rising maintenance costs

• land subsidence (due to compaction, soil drainage,

extraction of water, gas or oil)

• unwanted ecological side effects (e.g. less space for nature)

• reduced storage capacity

• increased flood water surface elevation

• more frequent emergency operations

 NEW SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT
FLOODS
New standards 
fail proof, multifunctional
Deltadikes?

Building with nature, sand

engine, oyster reefs
(eco engineering)
ECOSYSTEM BASED FLOOD
DEFENCES
• creation or restoration of large coastal ecosystems

• provides a new alternative or add-on to conventional coastal

defences,

• as coastal ecosystems attenuate storm waves and surges,

and accumulate sediments with sea-level rise
ECOSYSTEM BASED FLOOD
DEFENCES

Temmerman et al. 2013

 Why should we do ecosystem-
based flood defenses?

12/03/2022 13
ECOSYSTEM-BASED FLOOD DEFENCES

More sustainable

More cost-effective than conventional coastal engineering

Reduces risk of failure

Adaptable

This ecosystem-based approach is not suitable for all coastal

areas
• locations must have sufficient space between
urbanized areas and the coastline
• These defences tend to require more space than
conventional structures
PROVISIONING SERVICES
MATERIAL OR ENERGY OUTPUTS

Food

Raw materials

Fresh water

Medicinal resources

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REGULATING SERVICES
Local
Erosion prevention and
climate and
maintenance of soil fertility
air quality

Carbon
sequestration and
storage

Moderation of
extreme events

Pollination
Waste-water
treatment

Biological control

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HABITAT OR SUPPORTING SERVICES

Habitats for species

Maintenance of genetic diversity

3-12-22 17
CULTURAL SERVICES

Recreation and mental and physical health

Tourism

Aesthetic appreciation and inspiration for culture,

art and design

Spiritual experience and sense of place

3-12-22 18
WAVE ATTENUATION
Wave attenuation is the reduction in wave energy or wave
height that occurs when a wave passes through (marsh)
vegetation.

The energy of waves, tides, and currents is attenuated via

frictional drag introduced by vegetation and by bottom friction
in shallow water areas maintained by marshes.

3-12-22 19
SHORELINE STABILIZATION
Shoreline stabilization describes the processes by which (salt
marsh) vegetation promotes sediment deposition, increases
marsh elevations through below ground production, and
stabilizes marsh sediments. The seaward salt marsh edge is
linked to marsh elevation as a minimum elevation must be
maintained to prevent marsh plant drowning and subsequent
marsh edge loss. As a result, processes that maintain marsh
elevation can also help maintain marsh shorelines and reduce
erosion. Sediment deposition within marshes accounts for a
large portion of elevation gains on the marsh surface along
with small contributions from below ground processes such as
root production. Subsidence and compaction can also affect
the elevation of the marsh surface, particularly in rapidly
subsiding marshes.

3-12-22 20
FLOODWATER ATTENUATION
Floodwater attenuation describes the capacity of (salt) marshes
to reduce flood peaks or durations through storage and
drainage of floodwaters.

It is well known that marshes have a significant influence on

the hydrological cycle both in terms of water quality and water
quantity. However, the majority of this understanding lies in
riparian or inland systems.

3-12-22 21
Dutch historical 1000yr large scale land reclamation = stabilize

Marshland kwelders
mud coast by growing saltmarshes

Frisian Wadden Sea coast

Effective low cost BWN stands on long term

low tech method
produces safety practical understanding
& productive habitats
& more space of natural processes
 Dutch sandy coast protected long term
with dunes stabilized by vegetation
• Effective low cost
low tech method
• produces safety
• & valuable habitats
• & drinking water
• & more space
• & lots of other stuff

12/03/2022 23
 System specific approach

12/03/2022 24
 Soft solution, coast: Sand-Engine,
upscale proven technology…
• and apply it for multiple benefits…

Large sand
nourishment=>
+Nature
+Tourism
+Safety
12/03/2022 25
 Hybrid solutions in estuary: foreshore
protection with oyster reef

Reduce erosion,
maintain habitats and
protect the dike

12/03/2022 26
 Hybrid: Safety Buffer Oesterdam (2013),
Dike, sand nourishment and oyster reefs

• Oyster reefs will Oyster reef

• Reduce erosion
• Create habitat
diversity Sand nourishment

Existing dike

12/03/2022 27
 Oesterdam case was implemented
in December 2013

12/03/2022 28
 Hybrid solution in lake system

Houtribdijk, Markermeer side

Present situation…

12/03/2022 29
 Sand nourishment, provide natural
foreshore with wave attenuation
Sand nourishment

Morph. equilibrium
slope

Expected vegetated
natural foreshore
12/03/2022 30
 Work in progress..(August 2014)

Willow mats will

prevent beach erosion
until vegetation
appears
12/03/2022 31
 Hybrid Solution, river system:
Wavereducing forest- dike combination
Clay dike
will be lower than
traditional design

Wave reducing
willow-tree plantations
Low cost low tech

•>70% reduction of wave height in healthy willow forest

•Deltares/RWS design achieves required 1/2000 safety standards
•now under construction.
12/03/2022 32
12/03/2022
Two year old willow
33
forest
12/03/2022 34
 Wadden Sea Soft Safe Dike: saltmarsh/dune/clay dike
hybrid
Existing dike
Debate:
Wave reducing •Technical feasibility
saltmarsh •Cost-benefit
•Conflict with Natura
2000
Super storm stable
vegetated dune
Scale 500m wide
??km long
Lake
Saltmarsh grows with sea level and maintains stability and safety IJsselmeer
Flexible, low tech, low maintenance cost, longshore connectivity
Wadden Sea

Afsluitdijk
 GREEN port Rotterdam
Recovery / enrichments intertidal areas
Allowing Tides
Space for

Gives space for:

Nature
Production
Leisure

12/03/2022 37
 Rich Levees or Rich Dikes

12/03/2022 38
 Dike rich applications, Eemshaven -
Delfzijl
Spijk Star Polder and gaslocatieNature friendly banks + fish passage
- Passage with relief,
- Adaptation zone outside
- Start asphalt cover;

Lang krib (dotted, approx 250m) ??

-High Water refuge Arctic terns
- Hatchery, search place

Strandje van Bierum • Leisure

- Recreation / education?
- Beautiful slopes?

Salicornia Habitat

• Open stone structure

• pools
• rubble, boulder clay

Delfzijl; Live Culture, accessibility

• opportunity for recreation
Optimization cribs,
tide pools (crabs)
variation in size and? materials
12/03/2022 39
 2006 Rich Dikes concept
•NL national government aims to translate
these concepts in new designs of coastal
defenses. Keep the water!
Play with
material and
sorting

Variation in x
and y directions!
 Multi-dimensionaal
• Think in 3D
Hula’s in the harbour of Rotterdam
(Deltares, HbR, EcoConsult)

Monitoring shows that biomass en

biodiversity is enhanced a lot when
compared to smooth structures.
Wave action in a harbour can be a problem
that is reduced by using the hanging hula
structures.
Applications: underwater forests
harbors
Artist Impression ‘Palenbos’ (RWS-DZH)
 Application: Floating wavereducing marsh, Houtrib
sinking marsh for Zeeburg, EVZ (NMIJ, gem Amsterdam)

We need an improved floating design!

 Other Examples
from Europe and
the rest of the
world

12/03/2022 46
 From one levee to multifunctional water defense landscapes

Tidal Economy Coastal Laboratory

Landscape Landscape
Combining safety, ecology and economy
18 November 2010 47
 From line defence to coastal
zone

Salt marshes as climate buffers

silting up with sea-level rise

Combined Functions in Coastal Defence Zones

18 November 2010 48
 ComCoast Pilot Perkpolder
ComCoast (2009-2017)
Pilot Perkpolder
• • AsAs
it it
will
is be
now… ….

High mound (12 ha) with

Naturally silting up small village
saltmarsh (75 ha) as Wave overtopping resistant
climate buffer area (100 ha) with housing on
mounds

Abandoned ferry harbour

Combining safety, ecology and economy
18 November 2010 49
 From traditional design to ecodesign
in partnership with the contractor for Maasvlakte 2
MANGROVE RESTAURATION
FOR COASTAL PROTECTION
3-12-22 53
SALT MARSH RESTAURATION IN
EUROPE FOR COASTAL
PROTECTION AND
RECRATIONAL PURPOSES
SALT MARSH RESTAURATION IN
EUROPE
ARTIFICIAL REEFS AS WAVE
BREAKERS AND MORE
OYSTER REEF STABILIZING SEDIMENT
ARTIFICIAL REEFS AS WAVE
BREAKERS AND MORE
ARTIFICIAL REEFS AS WAVE
BREAKERS AND MORE
A winning proposal in the Post Sandy Rebuild by Design competition
Northern Pilot was funded with 150 m$ in RBD competition
Meadowlands area was hit hard by Sandy
Sandy exposed many
vulnerabilities
In the Meadowlands
Complex planning issues
Complex governance issues
In co-creation with stakeholders
Toward an integrated regional plan
New Meadowlands consists of

The Meadowband
+
The Meadowpark
Regional scale of plan delivers optimal result:
the whole is more than the sum of the parts
Nature: Restore, connect, enhance…
Solving the pluvial problems with storm water storage
Our concept of the Meadowband, promote redevelopment of
urban functions

Mixed use
Berm provides
residential,
safety and
logistics
accessibility
developments
Wetland will be a working part of flood safe design = Dutch
Nature Based Flood Defense concepts

Elevate with SLR

by sediment accretion

Wave reduction by
shallows and vegetation
Local environment leads to adapted designs
Tidal, saline, brackish, fresh Meadowpark protects
Meadowband:
Building safety with nature
Enhanced nature values in attractive landscapes..
that attract people…
that want to live there…
Connected to Hoboken & Manhattan
Positioned near millions of citizens
accessible as REGIONAL PARK

Manhattan
Hoboken
The New Meadowlands, forward to implementation!
3-12-22
3-12-22
 • Increasing Space
leads to
Adaptation of
safe BWN
solution
Hard> Hybrid> soft

3-12-22
 IMPACTS OF DREDGING
1.Degradation of the life in the sediment
Dredging results in the short term degradation of animals, vegetation and microbial communities that live in
the dredged sediment. This reduces the estuary's capacity for nutrient cycling, primary production and
habitat provision and can have flow on effects up the food web. Though these effects tend to be short lived,
in some cases they may trigger long-term changes. (Larkum and West, 1990; Lewis et al, 2001; Thrush
and Dayton, 2002; Lohrer and Wertz, 2003; da Silva et al, 2004; Waycott et al, 2004; Ohimain et al; 2005)

2.Erosion, turbidity, suffocation

Changes in channel profile caused by dredging can increase tidal area, wave height and water velocity,
resulting in bank erosion. Eroding banks threaten mangroves and other mudbank communitites and can
lead to increased turbidity. Suspended sediment in the water column blocks light, reducing benthic primary
productivity and inhibits the ability of benthic plants to recover from impacts of dredging. (Pringle, 1989;
Larkum and West, 1990; Lewis et al, 2001; Rasheed and Balchand; 2001; Lohrer and Wertz, 2003;
Sampson et al, 2005)

3.Release of contaminants by resuspension

Dredging exposes anaerobic layers of sediment, potentially disturbing and remobilising toxic sediments,
releasing contaminants. This has implications for water quality. (Linkov et al, 2001; Thibodeaux and
Duckworth, 2001; Van Den Berg, 2001; Nayar et al, 2004)

4.Dredge spoil deposits

Dredge spoil needs to be deposited somewhere, though this could be deemed habitat creation, it can
smother existing habitats and frequently contains contaminants which often move and bioaccumulate
through the food web. The impacts of dredge spoil disposal can range from short term to long term (Linkov
et al, 2001; Smith and Rule, 2001; National Ocean Disposal Guidelines for Dredged Material, 2002;
Fredette and French, 2004)
5.Changes to tidal range and wave action can result in mangrove encroachment into saltmarsh areas
(Saintilin and Williams, 1999)

3-12-22 86
LIVING MACHINE
• The principles used in a Living Machine are the same as
those of helophyte filters.
• In a Living Machine, part of the biological treatment
takes place in a greenhouse. The greenhouse serves to
protect the subtropical plants that make up part of the
treatment process from the cold and so to increase
their effectiveness.
• The protective atmosphere in the greenhouse means
that other plants and animals can also be incorporated
into the treatment process, such as tropical plants,
zooplankton, fish, vegetables, etcetera.

(Pötz et al., 1998)

87
The first LIVING MACHINE was realised in the Findhorn Foundation, a
Scottish living and working community, in 1955. Today, this wastewater treatment
system, which is based on natural principles, treats the wastewater produced by
the community’s approximately 250 residents. Canadian biologist John Todd
developed this patented treatment method, which is currently in use in many
different places around the world. 88
The Ark, The New Alchemy Institute, Cape Cod, US,
late 1970s 89
LIVING MACHINE
• The principles used in a Living Machine are the same as
those of helophyte filters.
• In a Living Machine, part of the biological treatment
takes place in a greenhouse. The greenhouse serves to
protect the subtropical plants that make up part of the
treatment process from the cold and so to increase
their effectiveness.
• The protective atmosphere in the greenhouse means
that other plants and animals can also be incorporated
into the treatment process, such as tropical plants,
zooplankton, fish, vegetables, etcetera.

(Pötz et al., 1998)

90
The first LIVING MACHINE was realised in the Findhorn Foundation, a
Scottish living and working community, in 1955. Today, this wastewater treatment
system, which is based on natural principles, treats the wastewater produced by
the community’s approximately 250 residents. Canadian biologist John Todd
developed this patented treatment method, which is currently in use in many
different places around the world. 91
The Ark, The New Alchemy Institute, Cape Cod, US,
late 1970s 92
The Ark, The New Alchemy Institute, Cape Cod, US,
late 1970s 93
94
95
 www.livingmachines.com

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http://www.organicawater.com
97
3-12-22 98
3-12-22 99
PHYTOREMEDIATION
“The efficient use of plants to remove, detoxify or
immobilise environmental contaminants in a growth
matrix (soil, water or sediments) through the natural
biological, chemical or physical activities and processes of
the plants”.

The plants can be subsequently harvested, processed and

disposed.
http://
www.unep.or.jp/Ietc/Publications/Freshwater/FMS2/1.as
p

100
ALGAE POWERED HOUSE by ARUP

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