Jakob Pesendorfer | Urban Design – Research – Strategy

Supernova

52°04'30.5"N 5°05'41.2"E
Climate Adaption | Urban Design | Public Space Design | Strategy

Academic Supervisor
Marjolein van Esch
Chris Smith

Location
Utrecht | The Netherlands

Institution
Environmental Technology & Design - Department of Urbanism | TU Delft

About the Project

A supernova is the colossal explosion of a star. Scientists have identified several types of supernova. One type, called a “core-collapse” supernova, occurs in the last stage in the life of massive stars that are at least eight times larger than our Sun. As these stars burn the fuel in their cores, they produce heat. This heat produces pressure that pushes outward against the forces of gravity that pull inward on the star (energy.gov, 2023).

What does all this have to do with Utrecht and this proposal? Supernova is intended to serve as a playful derivation, assigning a certain expiration date to an outdated giant within the urban framework. Through the metaphor of a particular explosion, the modernist shopping center from the 1960s is dismantled, propelling uses of the center into the neighbourhood. Conversely, public uses and non-consumptive areas also find a place within the now open structure. To connect the adjacent neighbourhoods, the Milky Way, initially functioning as a temporary pedestrian bridge, can introduce a new dimension in the public space.
Supernovas goal is to create a new era to confront the challenges of the climate crisis and thereby generate a high-quality and livable neighborhood. These objectives are extensively discussed in Chapter 3 and permeate throughout the entire project.

Climatological Situation

Results

After conducting a simulation using the ENVI met program, dedicated to urban climatic challenges, it is evident that an area south of the shopping center’s parking lot exhibits a high Physiologically experienced temperature (PET). This result aligns with findings from the SUET analysis, indicating challenges in this area during intense rainfall events. The high degree of surface sealing and an elevated groundwater level contribute to these issues. Consequently, this area has been selected as a focal point to address and develop solutions for these challenges.

Urban Design

The urban design aligns closely with the outcomes of the analysis. Furthermore, at the urban design level, the public space layer is derived, thereby functioning as an integral component of the overall concept. Particularly emphasizing people as a crucial indicator, a software program is developed at the outset. This software identifies all stakeholders with potential influence on the project and connects them with the guiding themes devel- oped in the SUET course. To transition from the general perspective back to the project, six sustainability criteria have been formulated, threading through detailed subtopics across the entire project and supporting the hardware.

Software

Hardware

Public Space Design

The public space design aims to create a new recreational area for the entire neighbourhood through a large park. This park is intended to extend throughout the entire district and into the Nova shopping centre itself. Thus, a new landscape can emerge on different levels. The Milkyway, a temporary wooden bridge structure, is designed to facilitate accessibility across various levels. Initially temporary and accessible only via stairs, a permanent solution will be developed later in the planning process, making it wheelchair accessible through elevators. The boundaries between private and public spaces are softened in certain areas, allowing for an exciting spatial sequence.