Climate responsive Holtenbroek in Zwolle

2017, partly funded by municipality of Zwolle, project leader: Sanda Lenzholzer, in cooperation with Sven Stremke and Gert-Jan Steeneveld and students of the course 'Climate-responsive planning and design'

Man- made urban environments and their morphology change natural energy fluxes. Urban stony surfaces absorb radiation and release the energy in form of heat- this leads to the occurrence of urban heat islands. Wind in the city often generates problems around buildings. Many of these energy and wind fluxes in the environment can be used, e.g. as renewable energies to mitigate global warming. We are using these thermodynamic and micrometeorological laws to radically redesign urban environments; in this case the 1960s neighbourhood Holtenbroek IV in Zwolle. Students suggest to implement large structures in the existing urban fabric that face southwest and guide the wind to wind turbines. At the same time, these structures carry photovoltaic cells and collect solar energy. Underneath the structures, thermally comfortable, spaces occur that allow new uses and meeting places for the neighbourhood.