Coastal Workshop: Alternative Histories
The morphology of coasts around the world are shaped and structured as a result of coastal systems or subsystem like the morphology of a delta, the morphology of an estuary, the morphology of a beach, the morphology of a bedform. The coastal morphology is fundamental to the relation between land and water, and the global challenges that we are facing like seal level rise and the environmental crisis. This theme focusses on coastal port cities in deltas as the intersection of the axes delta system and human transport system. The delta system is the (defense) line along the coast and the section over the delta: the deltaic system of rivers and regional water system. The axis of the human transport city is about the regional relations between the port city and the hinterland.
In port cities these two regimes are under great tension of the global challenges and research by design is necessary how to transform this relation into a sustainable future. At a time of climate change, water conditions change: more rain, less rain, flooding, drought, sinking and rising groundwater levels. As water systems change, the coastal morphological system changes and in ports we need to adapt buildings, waterfronts and find new ways of living with and/or on water and providing transshipment opportunities while rethinking our coastlines.
In this theme a dedicated research effort on the determinants of coastal port cities persistence in the history of taming the delta is proposed, with the potential to significantly advance the scientific understanding of economic sustainability of coastal port cities today. Coastal port settlements (cities, towns, villages) are locations with two key attributes: 1) they frame human economical interactions and activities in space, and they are where people dwell or live 2) they respond to the coastal morphology. Sustainability, in this case, focuses on the capacity of structures and functions of a settlement system (geography, demography, institutions) to provide for continuity of safe and economical healthy habitation. The field of economical sustainability lacks a firm scientific foundation for understanding the longue durée, relying instead on narratives. We argue for the development of a new interdisciplinary research effort to establish scientific understanding, a scientific foundation will generate novel insights to advance the field of economical sustainability in coastal port cities.
The research will focus on the longue durée of the two-axis deltaic system and transport. Developing the repertoire in the spatial, morphological reciprocity between the two axes in order to – with research by design – project economical sustainable futures. The research thus couples the other themes in the PCF research in this specific approach.
The longue duree of the coastal morphology in Rotterdam has been brought under control by human infrastructures: Nieuwe Waterweg, Van Dixhoorndriehoek, Maeslandkering, Eerste en Tweede Maasvlakte. We would like to discuss these interventions and how they shaped the socio-ecological relations in coastal and port region of Rotterdam. A central question is how minority socio-ecological perspectives—human and non-human—can be made visible in debates on port transitions by revisiting alternatives histories. Considering overlooked ecological actors in port landscapes, for example soil, ecosystems, or protected species. How can future port infrastructures affect ecologies in a sustainable way, how can for example soil as a marginalised actor, be transformed through port logistics into a healthy entity. For this approach we rely on the discourse of feminist, anti-colonial, and queer methodologies to understanding infrastructures, environments, and governance in port regions. We move from only infrastructure of protection by the threshold capacity into coping, recovery and adaptation role of infrastructure by introducing new futures for the post of Rotterdam and discuss these with researchers, practitioners, designers and artists to explore socio-ecological perspectives on port and coastal infrastructures, with particular attention to actors, practices, and entities that are often marginalised in dominant transition narratives.
We invite three speakers with a plan for the port and on the basis of their input we organise a design workshop.
The workshop is part of the thematic research group: Coastal Cities - Learn more here
Convenors:
- Fransje Hooimeijer
- Annabelle Duval
Discussant:
- Eveline Visser - Stadsnatuur
Date & Time:
September 3rd 2026, 9:30 - 17:00.
Location:
Delft University of Technology - Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment - Berlage Rooms 1 & 2
(Ask reception at the main entrance for directions to Berlage Rooms 1 & 2)