The city of Zwolle has numerous challenges. Think of the new parking policy, which has been the subject of a lot of discussion recently. How do you create urban areas that are future-proof and can also count on support? Second-year civil engineering students from the University of Twente (UT) are thinking along with the municipality of Zwolle about this.
The students will work for ten weeks on a strategic document for Zwolle and study two areas in the city that will be further developed in the coming years. This is part of the educational module Area Development within Civil Engineering. This year, the focus is on the Noorderkwartier and Willemsknoop regions in Zwolle. The approximately 50 students make a design for both areas. They will have the opportunity to present a policy advice on the design together with experts from the Municipality of Zwolle and under the guidance of UT teachers.
Area development with today's knowledge
Saline Verhoeven, landscape architect of the Municipality of Zwolle, took the students through the work area during the kick-off. The history and current situation of the inner-city areas are valuable input for the students.
'What do you notice in the aerial photo of 1939?' she asks the students, after which she tells them that there are no cars to be seen in the photo. As a Hanseatic city, Zwolle was very water-oriented. 'Today's history and developments, such as climate change and greening of the living environment and how women can feel safe in the city, should be included in the advice.'
Beau Warbroek, lecturer at the University of Twente, adds: 'Students are looking forward to this module. They can get out of the books, out of the abstract. It is enormously valuable to be concerned with the social impact.'
Everything comes together in area development: water management, mobility, energy, and urban development. According to Beau, this module exposes the complexity. 'The students look at spatial laws and regulations, costs and benefits and how they involve stakeholders in the whole. Because how do you determine what goes where with a mobility analysis?'
Presentation of results during symposium
The project will conclude on 16 April with a symposium at the University of Twente, which will also be attended by a delegation from Zwolle.
This is valuable input for the Zwolle region. 'The Zwolle region, with its water and spatial dynamics, is pre-eminently an area to work on innovative solutions. By showing a piece of practice, I hope to enthuse young professionals about this region,' says Andreas van Rooijen, spatial adaptation advisor of the Municipality of Zwolle.
The University of Twente and Zwolle
The University of Twente and the Zwolle Region are joining forces to tackle societal challenges and seize opportunities together. Zwolle is growing and needs academic knowledge and technical talent, while the UT wants to maintain its student influx. The proximity of Windesheim University of Applied Sciences and strong collaborations offer a solution.
The focus within this collaboration is on the smart manufacturing industry, with expansions to health, climate and energy transition. Together with companies and organisations, we develop targeted learning pathways, link research to practical questions and incorporate insights directly into education. We are also working on a better flow of talent, especially in technical sectors.
Through initiatives such as Academy Perron038, we are further expanding collaborations.
