Our aim is to blend industrial and natural areas seamlessly
As one of the world’s largest and busiest ports, the Port of Rotterdam significantly affects noise levels, air quality, safety and odor in the surrounding areas. Balancing these effects with new urban development plans is a crucial and complex task. The projected development of the port highlights the balance between economic growth and environmental responsibility. In a recent interview, Olv Klijn, Founding Partner at FABRICations, and Mark Slierings, Urban Designer & Researcher, discussed the innovative approaches and challenges involved in navigating these transitions. Their insights offer a compelling look into the future of this pivotal port.
Aligning an industrial powerhouse with sustainable practices
The economic impact of the port is profound. It serves as a vital logistics and transshipment hub, supporting numerous jobs and industries. Unfortunately, the oil sector, in particular, has an enormous economic footprint. all parties involved in the port’s development are convinced of the need to transition this sector towards sustainability. However, replacing oil (a stable substance that is relatively easy to store and transport) with more sustainable alternatives presents significant challenges. These alternatives often require much cooler storage and transport conditions. For instance, transporting substances like ammonia, a hydrogen carrier, entails greater safety risks.
Mark Slierings highlights the real challenge: aligning this industrial powerhouse with sustainable practices. “It’s a major challenge to balance industrial redevelopment with creating a healthy environment,” he states. “For the NOVEX area, including the Port of Rotterdam, the critical question is: how can we manage these transitions effectively while maintaining harmony with the surrounding environment?”
The interconnectedness of the city and port
The quest for a balanced integration of city and port is not a new concept for FABRICations. Olv Klijn recalls their involvement in similar projects in Rotterdam began a decade ago, emphasizing the importance of examining not just the physical space but also the dynamic flows of resources and infrastructure.
“Back then, we were already investigating the interconnectedness of the city and port,” Olv explains. “We looked beyond traditional urban development perspectives and systematically explored essential flows such as water and logistics. For instance, we proposed in 2013 to make harbor basins shallower using dredged sludge to increase biodiversity – an idea now being implemented!”
In recent years, innovative solutions such as thermal pipelines between the port and surrounding cities have been introduced to better utilize industrial heat. This initiative, according to Mark, is a cornerstone for future sustainability efforts: “The goal is to harness the heat from industrial processes and use it efficiently in neighboring urban areas. In 2013, it was still a relatively new concept. Now, various projects like WarmtelinQ connect cities within the MRDH region to the port's excess heat.”
“The reciprocity of city and harbor brings both challenges and opportunities”, summarized Mark. “To find mutual benefits in the redevelopment towards a sustainable harbor, it is crucial to understand the underlying systems. Over the years, FABRICations has specialized in analyzing, synthesizing, and redeveloping these systems in a healthy and sustainable manner.”
“We must consider how our decisions affect regions outside our own. If we avoid certain impacts at home but shift them elsewhere, we’re not truly addressing the problem.”
– Olv Klijn
Navigating complex interests through collaboration
The Port of Rotterdam juggles diverse interests: economic, ecological and social. Through various sessions with stakeholders, Olv and Mark have witnessed the complexities of aligning these differing priorities.
“Everyone wants their interests to be represented,” Mark observes. “Our role in these sessions is to process these interests effectively and find smart solutions. We developed five distinct development directions, from focusing on nature and metropolitan regions to expanding container harbors and transitioning to biochemistry. Although these interests can’t all be pursued simultaneously, we discovered synergies that allowed us to advance a comprehensive vision.”
Olv stresses the importance of integrating fairness into the planning of these transitions. The goal is to connect the dots between various transitions, ensuring a fair distribution of costs and benefits while prioritizing actions. “We aim to link all these transitions with fairness principles,” Olv explains. “This approach helps prioritize and sequence actions efficiently, ensuring that industrial production can coexist with natural areas without adverse effects.”
The question of fairness extends beyond national borders, adds Olv: “We must consider how our decisions affect regions outside our own. If we avoid certain impacts at home but shift them elsewhere, we’re not truly addressing the problem. Our aim is to create a working machine that doesn’t harm its surroundings, blending industrial and natural areas seamlessly.”