When a heavy storm hits Dordrecht, a small city in the Netherlands, the entire city is threatened by potentential flooding. The IABR and the city of Dordrecht have organized the “IABR-Atelier the Ark of Dordrecht” to examine methods to optimize the city’s multi-layered water safety strategy. The IABR-Atelier will be led by Adriaan Geuze of West 8, who curated the second IABR, The Flood, in 2005. Geuze was born in Dordrecht.
Because Dordrecht sits on an island, the possibility of evacuating the city in the case of a breach in the dike is extremely difficult. The IABR–Atelier the Ark of Dordrecht will investigate how to set up a safe, self-sufficient shelter on higher ground to be used in the event of imminent flooding. The shelter, called De Staart, will be located outside of the dike and in a district east of Dordrecht’s historical city center.
This atelier will also investigate how to turn De Staart into a location in which both a part of the city’s housing challenge is met and truly sustainable urban development will be realized in the best possible manner. The new approach shall also serve as leverage for the initiation of truly sustainable urban development, ensuring good accessibility, reconnecting the city of Dordrecht with water and nature.
Full details will be announced on the IABR official website.
