1. tidal water resort
self-sufficient island with ecolodges
25 1 2 5 km
50
10
0
grevelingen
FROM LAKE TO DELTA
After the devastating floods of 1953, the Dutch Delta
had been turned into separate lakes. The delta is
safe, but the lakes have poor ecological quality and
low economical value. LOLA landscape architects
was asked to envision the possibilities for landscape,
nature and tourism of the Grevelingen lake. The vision
is explained in a ‘travel guide’ that shows how the
Grevelingen can be made part of the dynamics of the
delta again.
The key is to allow the tide back again into the lakes by
opening several dams that now separate the lakes from
the sea. The tide will dramatically improve the water
quality and again allow land forming processes, resulting
in dynamical natural landscapes, instead of static land
and water. This new landscape will have a serious effect
on the use and economy of the region. New harbors allow
sailors to experience the nature, boardwalk islands and
eco lodges give visitors a chance to stay overnight and
2. village with taste boulevard and local market 3.
4
3
4. Grevelingendam
c
experience the salty nature up close. The transformation
of the Grevelingen lake can be a start for a large scaled
improvement of the complete delta.
Part of the regional transformation program, to turn
a. economy b. landscape c. brigde
the Grevelingen from a dead lake into a vivid and
sustainable part of the Dutch delta, is the renewal of the
Grevelingendam. What started out as a prime project
to bring new prosper to the delta provinces of the
Netherlands decades ago has slowly decayed into a derelict
recreational landscape. A new future for this dam is
needed, to prevent further decay.
By means of three different design models, a new future
for the dam was studied. The fourth, ultimate design
model boasts both overwhelming nature and spectacular
recreational facilities. The design is based on the
principles: a large-scaled landscape, free wetland nature,
maximum accessibility and the production of sustainable
energy, to make the dam and autarkic system.