Design scenarios
To explore future scenarios for public space in Lombok two design scenarios were constructed to form the basis for zoom-in designs. The intention for multiple design scenarios is to convey that although public space in Lombok is limited, there are multiple ways of achieving nature inclusivity. The two scenarios are based on concentrating urban green space and distributing urban green space.
Schematic view of the two design scenarios for Lombok
For the first design scenario, big infrastructure networks like access roads and waterways obtain a function as natural arteries of the neighborhood (Figure 45). Because of the high building density of Lombok, these bigger roads and waterways are among the most open public spaces in the area and therefore have the most potency to be transformed into resilient ecological hotspots.
Design scenario 1: one continuous park following the bigger infrastructure around Lombok.
The second design scenario revolves around distributing nature within the street network of Lombok (Figure 46). This can be done through the creation of car loops that begin and end at the Vleutenseweg. In between these loops, residential streets get the opportunity to replace streets and parking lots with other functions like community gardens, front gardens, playgrounds and many others.
Design scenario 2: seperated car free green spaces, maintained by inhabitants.
Design location 1: Vleutenseweg
The Vleutenseweg is an access road that forms the North-Eastern border of Lombok (Figure 47). The wide and complex street profile was built on top of the former Vleutensevaart that dates back to 1122. Currently, the road has a complex layout with a 50 kilometers per hour road and is regarded as quite unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians.
Current situation at the Vleutenseweg
The dimentions of the Lombok-side of the Vleutenseweg
As expressed before, starting with small interventions can be a useful way to instill a sense of ownership over public space under residents and although this is just the start of a bigger transition towards nature inclusivity, these interventions can already have a great impact on the habitat of certain target species.
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The small interventions that would greatly benefit the local ecology and living experience of inhabitants.
Vleutenseweg - Design scenario 1
To explore the possibilities for nature inclusivity within the forty meter wide street profile of the Vleutenseweg, the previously mentioned design principles and design scenarios were used to visualize what the future Vleutenseweg could look like.
The first scenario focuses on bringing back the Vleutensevaart to create a public space that provides a resilient circular park for all inhabitants of Lombok. In this part of the Vleutenseweg, the connection of the Vleutensevaart and Oude Rijn can be seen which does not only improve the green but also the blue network of Lombok.
A part of the continuous park around Lombok.
Ecologically, this layout of urban space is incredibly valuable because of its ecological gradient from wet soil to dry soil. Consequentially, this design provides a habitat for all the target species. Because of this ecological completeness, this public space will create many ecosystem services that will drastically improve the overall liveability of Lombok and other neighborhoods that border this park.
By reimagining the fourty meter wide Vleutenseweg, this street can offer many different functions.
Vleutenseweg - Design scenario 2
The second zoom-in design of the Vleutenseweg revolves around the preservation of the infrastructure function, but reducing the number of car lanes and removing on-street parking. Because of this, space is created for two community gardens and front gardens for residents living along the Vleutenseweg. These gardens greatly improve liveliness on the street, create ecological value and make it approachable for residents to improve their living environment.
Community gardens and front gardens for residents along the Vleutenseweg.
The community gardens are wide enough to create a pleasant enclosed environment that can house many different functions like vegetable gardens, local gatherings and a pleasant walking path along the Vleutenseweg. Even though ecologically, the community gardens are more fragmented than the restoration of the Vleutensevaart, they still provide much ecological value through the great plant diversity that community gardens generally have.
Even though the street is still accessible for cars, this street profile offers many benefits for residents.
Design location 2: 1e Delistraat
The second design location is the 1e Delistraat, which is a typical residential street in Lombok with a width of only nine meters and the opportunity to park cars on both sides of the street. The houses are relatively small which makes the population density in this narrow street quite high. Because of this, many bikes are parked on the narrow sidewalks which are only one meter wide.
The current situation at the 1e Delistraat
The cars parked on both sides of the street leave little room for anything else.
The small interventions that can be implemented in this street mostly make use of the space currently reserved for parking spots. For instance, a pocket park that uses one or multiple spots could create some space for recreation and gatherings, something that currently would not be possible in a street like this. Furthermore, parking spots can be used to plant trees with tree mirrors and bike parking.
By utilizing some of the parking spots, many other functions can be added that benefit ecology and residents.
1e Delistraat - Design scenario 1
For a more comprehensive, long term strategy to improve the situation at the 1e Delistraat, the design scenarios were once again utilized as a basis. In the first design scenario, this street remains accessible by cars, but it still needs to meet de basic requirements regarding ecology.
By restricting car parking to only one side of the road, space becomes available to provide inhabitants with wall gardens of half a meter wide which is enough space to plant among other plants, some climbing plants or shrubs. Furthermore, the sidewalk can be widened to one and a half meters, making the street more accessible to people with mobility challenges. If needed, parking spots can be replaced by other functions as well, these include shared cars or bike parking.
Reducing car parking to one side of the road creates opportunity for many different functions.
The side of the road that provides car parking can also be used to plant a row of trees that can break the wind, reduce the urban heat island effect, and greatly improve the image of the street. The tree mirrors underneath can be filled in by inhabitants according to their liking. The parking spots themselves have permeable pavement to ensure water drainage and further mitigate the heat island effect.
This multifunctional street profile creates a much more pleasant living environment.
1e Delistraat - Design scenario 2
In the second design scenario, the proposed car loops make it possible to make the 1e Delistraat car free. The sides of the street, bordering the car loops can function as parking spaces for shared cars, bikes, and delivery vehicles.
The rest of the street can be completely redesigned according to the needs of the inhabitants of this area. In this design, a communal vegetable garden is created that provides opportunities for inhabitants to cooperate and experience working with nature. On the other side, more wild nature can be created with some recreational value. Especially for kids, this little spot of vegetation could be a great way for them to play and experience the value of nature first hand.
Removing private car parking enables residents to completely rethink the desired purpose of streets.
In the center of the street, space is reserved for a gathering spot with opportunities for residents to sit and get to know each other. Because both sides of this area are planted with dense vegetation, this gathering place has a nice enclosed atmosphere that offers the opportunity for small, locally organized activities.
This semi-enclosed, locally maintained 'street' offers opportunities to adjust public space to residents liking.
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