Company profile DeltaSync Author: K.M. Czapiewska Date: 9-8-2011 Contact: DeltaSync BV Molengraaffsingel 12 Delft, the Netherlands T: +31 (0)15-2561872 E: karina@deltasync.nl www.deltasync.nl Company profile DeltaSync DeltaSync is a multidisciplinary research, design and consultancy firm. We are specialized in sustainable flood proof urban development in delta areas. Our main focus is floating urbanization. DeltaSync s services include the design, consulting and technology development for water based urban development. We work on challenges varying from building scale up to complete city scale. Our team has worked for a wide range of clients including government agencies, research institutes and building industry. Vision Currently, for the first time in human history the amount of people that live in urban areas is larger than the amount that live in rural areas. The degree of urbanization is expected to rise further towards 70% in the 21st century. This growth will for a considerable part take place in low-lying deltas that are vulnerable for flooding and climate change. Already there is a shortage of space and cities rely completely on external sources for water, energy and food. With the increasing scarcity of resources there is a growing need for cities to be more selfsufficient. Therefore there is a great need for new sustainable flood-proof concepts for urbanization of delta areas. Constructing floating buildings is a promising solution. It enables multi-functional use of space in densely populated areas, without further increasing flood risk. A good example of such a concept is the floating city. This concept should be developed in conjunction at different levels, ranging from home-level, neighbourhood level to city level. To ensure that it is actually implemented, it is important that the feasibility, spatial integration and social aspects are fully included in the analysis and design. Mission DeltaSync s mission is to design and develop the first self sufficient floating city in the world. The realization of the Floating Pavilion in Rotterdam, the largest public floating building in the Netherlands, is the first milestone towards this mission. Much research is still needed before a complete sustainable floating city can be developed. DeltaSync is developing key aspects, such as utilities, floating structures and concepts for mobility, in order to take the next step in floating urbanisation. 1
Core Values Sustainability DeltaSync understands its responsibility towards our planet. DeltaSync acknowledges that preservation of the world s resources and ecosystems for present and future generations is highly needed. Sustainability is therefore an integral part of all its projects. DeltaSync strives to create a balance between the needs of the users and the environment. The company also develops innovative techniques and concepts to provide buildings with local water and energy resources. Innovation and Creativity Creativity and innovation play an important role within the company. Innovation and the search for new unexpected solutions are important drivers in DeltaSync s work. Problems are analyzed from different viewpoints and the solutions integrate water management, sustainable development, architecture and spatial planning into multidisciplinary proposals. Collaboration DeltaSync believes in collaboration between researchers, designers, entrepreneurs and government agencies to obtain new insights and solutions in order to contribute to the challenges cities in delta areas are facing. In an early stage partners are involved and consortiums are formed. Within these partnerships, integrated and multidisciplinary knowledge is developed. Unique Selling Points The unique selling points of DeltaSync are self initiated projects, specialized knowledge and an integrated approach for analysis, design and stakeholder processes. This leads us to innovative and surprising solutions that can effectively be implemented. The best example is the Floating Pavilion in Rotterdam, an icon project on climate change adaptation currently in use as the National Water Centre. Awards Dutch Golden Green Award, Floating Pavilion, June 2010 Icon of Delft Nomination, Municipality of Delft, March 2010 TU Delft Highlight, December 2009 Second Prize Innovations of Tomorrow, Innovation Contest Ministry of Water management, Infrastructure and Transportation, November 2009 Dutch Master nomination, Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, January 2008 NCRV Climate Show, winning concept, December 2007 International Royal Haskoning Delta Competition, winning team, October 2006 2
Project: Floating City Floating City is a concept for sustainable, innovative urbanization in densely occupied coastal areas. It is a climate robust solution for urban development. In contrast to conventional urbanization, the Floating City can cope with water level fluctuations. Thus, it is a city without flood risk. DeltaSync made this design in 2006. It was the first prize-winner in the International Royal Haskoning Delta Competition. DeltaSync is continuously researching the concept of floating urbanisation and the applicability of it. 3
Project: Floating pavilion Rotterdam, the Netherlands The Floating Pavilion is the first step towards the Floating City. The building was opened in June 2010 in conjunction with the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. The pavilion is an icon for building on water in Rotterdam and intended as the accelerator for large scale urban floating development. It is located in the Rijnhaven until 2015 and afterwards will be floated towards another location in the City Ports. The predicted sea level rise and increase of river and storm water runoff will increase the risk of floods. The pavilion is highly self supporting with regard to water supply and energy supply. DeltaSync was the initiator and designer of the pavilion. 4
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Project: Floating Houses Harnaschpolder, Delft, the Netherlands Municipality of Delft cooperates with DeltaSync and future residents in the design and realisation of six floating houses in the Harnaschpolder Delft. DeltaSync has been hired in this project to assist the future residents in the design, and to advice on sustainability and technical floating construction issues. 6
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Project: Floating Utility Unit The floating utility unit provides a flexible framework for delivering utility services and at same time provides floating infrastructure. The Floating Utility Unit is a toolbox that can be utilized at different locations with specific demands. The consideration of sustainable technology and feasibility is used as a basic principle. A business enterprise or foundation exploits the Utility Units, so that from a user perspective there is hardly any difference with regular public utilities. Waterhomes can be manufactured at a distant location, transported over water, reorganized or be re-used at a different location. Living on water offers great opportunities for flexible and sustainable housing. 8
Project: ModulAIR This building concept is optimized to use wind energy. The backbone is the core of the house; all fixed functions and installations are located here. The shape of the backbone is optimalised for wind and solar energy production. The windmill for example produces twice as much energy as in a normal situation. The house can be turned so the orientation will always be optimal for energy production. 9
Project: Rijnhavenpark In collaboration with Hogeschool INHolland, DeltaSync developed a future vision for the Rijnhavenpark. This floating park will transform the old harbours into a pleasant environment, where people can relax. By building the park out of standard elements, the park can be constructed in an economic way. It will be really flexible because of the standardized elements and the floating nature. The ambition is to create a future proof concept for floating recreation. 10
Research: Floodprobe Floodprobe is research and technology development for flood protection of the built environment. The research is done in collaboration with thirteen European companies. DeltaSync applies these state of the art solutions to provide cost-effective means of flood risk reduction and damage mitigation in urban areas. This results in new urban concepts where wetproof, dryproof, amphibian, elevated and floating urbanisation are integrated in a flood proof environment. Applying these methods, river banks, flood meadows, deep polders and other high flood risk locations are now suitable for urbanisation. 11
DeltaSync services Services References and clients Example Feasibility study floating urbanization 1. Technical possibilities and systems. Aspects include: stability, depth, transportation, accessibility, safety etc. - Municipality of Delft - Delft University of Technology - Various project developers Planning 1. Urban planning water homes 2. Accessibility and utilities - Municipality of Delft, Floating Houses Harnaschpolder - Municipality of Rotterdam Cost-Benefit analysis 1. Cost assessment building on water 2. Value analysis of water plots Legislation and permits 1. Incorporation in zoning plans 2. Juridical status: movable vs immovable assets 3. Construction legislation Utilities and Parking 1. Floating utility unit - Water board Stichtse Rijnlanden - Municipality of Rotterdam, Floating pavilion - Municipality of Delft - Membership Dutch Standardization Institute Committee (NEN) on Floating Urbanization - Ministry of Housing, Development Floating Utility Unit 2. Floating car park Design of floating buildings 1. Concept development - Design of floating pavilion, Municipality of Rotterdam 2. Architectural design Design of floating parks and public space 1. Concept development - Design of Rijnhavenpark, Rotterdam, InHolland college 2. Architectural design Design urban design and planning 1. Allocation structures suitable for floating functions 2. Benefits and disadvantages - Research floating urbanisation Rotterdam Maas port 12
Urban water management 1. Sustainable water management 2. Water for transportation 3. Water as energy source 4. Integrated urban and domestic water system Design of flood proof urban district 1. Design 2. Cost benefit analysis - PHD R. de Graaf: innovations in urban water management to reduce vulnerability of cities - Science Port Holland - Design for Rijnenburg, Waterboard De Stichtse Rijnlanden 13
Recent Clients 14