February 27, 2025 News
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News · February 27, 2025
From data to design: climate adaptation in Antwerp
Our plan to guide the climate adaptation of Merksem-West is on its way!
With data-driven insights on climate adaptation, we translate the municipality’s 2050 vision into tailored actionable measures for flooding, heat and green within a clear landscape framework. This was made possible by combining our experience in creating cities as natural habitats and integrating solutions for living with water. Here we partnered Nelen & Schuurmans, a watermanagement and IT consultancy, leading in 3D modelling of environmental challenges. Our joint approach follows the process of “rekenen en tekenen” (lit. Dutch “calculating and designing”), uniquely combining quantitative, data-driven insights on climate adaption with spatial design, reinforcing the robustness and spatial identity of Merksem.
Illustration of application and operation of green, blue and Heat Island Effect measures within a (generic) street profile.
“I’m very proud of how we were able to merge design and data right from the beginning into a clear and effective green blue typology, not just tackling flooding, heat, and greenery—but also enhancing the district’s spatial identity and making it an even better place to live.”
Janneke van Bergen, senior project leader
The outcome of this process is a clear analysis and guidebook with tailored measures for climate adaptation of Merksem-west in time. This integrated approach tackles water management, heat stress, and public urban greenery within a unified green–blue landscape framework, ensuring those measures complement each other and enhance the neighborhood’s overall spatial structure.
We aim to reinforce the districts’ unique character – defined by parks, historic roads, former streams, and tree-lined residential streets – while enhancing their resilience.
Overview of the six green-blue main typologies for the water and Green Merksem-West district approach
Two weeks ago, together with our consortium partner Nelen and Schuurmans, and a usergroup from the district of Merksem, we held a final workshop to test various design solutions across landscape typologies and evaluate their effectiveness in both spatial and temporal contexts.
After integrating the final improvements to the report, we are looking forward to sharing it with the public and accelerating the climate-adaptive future of Antwerp!
