Hans Venhuizen
Claim Krabbeplas Vlaardingen

Midden-Delfland is an agricultural region that has been maintained in an open and rural state by farmers. Recreational areas, such as de Krabbeplas, were laid out on the borders of this area, thus putting pressure on the balance between the rural and the urban landscape from a variety of perspectives. For example, the agricultural industry with its ‘natural’ open land is being threatened with extinction. In contrast, there is an increasing urge for a separation of functions: we want to live in a rural environment - preferably near to work - that also offers recreational options. Judging from these new behavioral developments, de Krabbeplas and, indeed, the entire Midden-Delfland seem outdated as concepts.

The question is how these developments will influence the future of this landscape. What implications can new land uses have on the design of de Krabbeplas? Can an open landscape be reused? What implications will a functional change have on the landscape’s design? Which problems and developments are currently at play in the area and how can these be used to improve the area? Together with residents and designers, Bureau Venhuizen’s Claim set out to search for answers to these questions.

Claim
The Claim project was both temporary and investigative in nature and examples of new land use were presented in a laboratory-style setting to encourage critical thinking about new and conscious uses of recreational areas and, indeed, the environment.

The design projects play into themes such as organic processes, including both growth and decay. Jan Jongert of 2012 architecten is specialized in (re)using existing environments, energy sources and various waste materials. For Claim he erected Recycloop, a pavilion made of kitchen work tops that he arranged like roof tiles. The structure allows rainwater to drip from one tank to another in a process of purification.
Jacques Abelman’s designs for landscapes and appliances concentrate on durability and ecology. The Eels: Ecologically Emergent Leisure Landscape System are ecological sausage-shaped straw mattresses that are scattered around the landscape and function as a type of ‘green lounge’. In his Mushroom Cleaning Fields, Abelman attempts to combat soil contamination by means of mushroom cultivation.
Similarly Willemijn Lofvers designed the Vlaardinger Zouttuinen, an experimental garden where visitors can experience, taste and hear how salinization influences the landscape. Rianne Makkink of Sloom.org created Vuile Velden (dirty fields) and Pig Field. For the former project, residents of Vlaardingen were asked to hand in their organic waste so that it could be scattered onto the contaminated fields. After all organic waste isn’t merely ‘waste’ but, rather, a source of soil enrichment. The latter project, Pig Field, represents the temporary home of a pig.

The two Claims that were made by residents share a common feature in that they both, in one way or another, aim for encounters with the unexpected. For example, Peter de Jong constructed a unique tea pavilion, Waroeng Minoem Thé. The pavilion isn’t a large-scale ceremonial Japanese tea house but, instead, a more intimate Indonesian version where thirsty passers-by can take the time to sip a freshly brewed cup of tea. Similarly Tim de Ridder, an archeologist based in Vlaardingen, created the Archeovelden that adds an element of fun to learning more about the archeology of the region. It mainly focuses on the Bronze Age and includes a centuries-old skeleton that was excavated during the construction of de Krabbeplas.

Debate
During the Claim event two debates took place on the plots of land. These aimed to discuss the spatial options and required surface area needed for the new recreational forms from a large-scale perspective. Bureau Venhuizen aims to place the issue of reusing space in a broader perspective and, to this end, developed a ‘Neufert for New Recreation’ (Neufert is a standard application used by architects and designers and provides information about buildings, space and layout by means of illustrations, measurements and text.)

Claim was the first of two public events that used de Krabbeplas as a location. In September a follow-up to Claim will focus on the ‘design issue’ of reusing landscapes. Claim is organized by Bureau Venhuizen and makes up part of the ‘Case study Krabbeplas’, a long-term project commissioned by the City of Vlaardingen in collaboration with Recreatieschap Midden-Delfland and SKOR (Stichting Kunst en Openbare Ruimte) with the cooperation of Bert van Meggelen and Esther Didden.
CLAIM was made possible through the financial support of the Province of South Holland.

Location
Krabbeplas, Vlaardingen. The plots are located opposite 100 Van Boendaleweg.