Urban Compositions

Han Meyer, Prof. dr. ir. V.J.

The Chair focuses on formulating a theory and the methodical development of urban designs. The point of departure is our opinion that the spatial structure of the city is composed of a fabric, with which an area of land is made suitable for human use (programme) and imparting significance. This urban fabric is composed of various layers: the system of parcels, the network of public space, and the nature of the structures, while the area of land that has been changed can be seen as a fourth layer. Finally, the programme, the use of the buildings and open space form the fifth layer. The Chair mainly focuses on the followingassignments:

• the relation between urban design, meaning, technology and decision making;
• designing ‘strong’ urban groundplan, which, on the one hand lay down a robust and significant urban form, and, on the other hand, permit a large degree of flexibility in the programme and use;
• interconnecting various types of networks at different scale levels;
• designing systems of water management as the core of the urban groundplan of the Dutch city;
• designing densities, building typologies and rules for building, as part of a ‘strong’ urban groundplan.

Staff