the perfect fire: pyrotechnic deadly failure

8/3/2019 The Perfect Fire: pyrotechnic deadly failure

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BACKGROUND

Location:Roombeek area, Enschede City

Size: 43 hectares

Architect, Urban Planner:Pi de Bruijn

Client:Projectbureau Wederopbouw

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Year:2004 - 2008

Land use type:housing, office, public space

Key participants: Municipality and the community

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HistoryOn May 13, 2000, a fireworks warehouse exploded in Roombeek area of Enschede affecting 43

hectares of living area. The effects of the explosion were catastrophic for the city of Enschede: The

municipality had to start a proprietary program to reconstruct the area in order to support the living

needs of the inhabitants without a home. The challenge of the program was the urban and

architectural development with new image but with big closure to the inhabitants.3

1Mi Modern Architecture; Roombeck Urban Plan;

http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Netherlands/Enschede/Roombeek%20Urban%20Plan; Oct 22, 2011, 10:302

Paul A.G. Lohmann; Enschede: is there a life after disaster?; New Technology for a New Century International

Conference, 2001; http://www.fig.net/pub/proceedings/korea/full-papers/session20/lohmann.htm; Oct 22,2011, 11:273

Project: Roombeek Informatie http://www.enschede-stad.nl/projecten.php?project=Roombeek
http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Netherlands/Enschede/Roombeek%20Urban%20Planhttp://www.fig.net/pub/proceedings/korea/full-papers/session20/lohmann.htmhttp://www.fig.net/pub/proceedings/korea/full-papers/session20/lohmann.htmhttp://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Netherlands/Enschede/Roombeek%20Urban%20Plan


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The roles of the landscape architect and other professionals

The key participants were the Municipality who took the engagement of rebuilding the area and the

community who was open to collaboration for reconstructing their own neighbourhood. A bi

importance had the architect Pi de Bruijn, born in Losser, not far from Enschede. The origins of the

leading architect were important for the special approach of the new urban development: working

with community. Knowing the people and how to communicate with them is very important increating space for their own living at quality standards. Pi de Bruijn had the sufficient closure with

the people and sufficient skills of organizing an accurate new image of the neighbourhood, creating a

home for the community. The architects have built new architecture valuing authentic architecture

reminiscence of the space.

The nature of the team and the nature of the land

The program was started by organising a team for planning the reconstruction of the neighbourhood.

The selected members are part in program of the Architecture Centre Twente. The team is form by

architects, urbanits, artist and assistants, coordinated by Peter van Roosmaleninator.4

The project was executed by professional practitioners in the construction domain from different

construction and architecture companies. The plan was managed by the Reconstruction ProjectOffice settled next to Roombeek area. The owner of the land was in majority the municipality;

moreover the municipality buy several plots left without houses. For the half of the houses and lands

owners the project was developed through private commissioning.

Site of Enschede Fireworks Disaster, www.wikimapia.com,

Oct 22, 2011

4Architects Harry Abels, Joost Cannegieter , Paul of Youth, urbanist Ypkje Grimm, artist Paul Hajenius and

assistant Studium Peter Carpenter ; Source: Wederopbouw Roombeek, Verslag van de activiteiten die het

Architectuurcentrum Twente in de periode van april 2001 tot en met februari 2004 organiseerde over deWederopbouw van Roombeek te Enschede, Architectuurcentrum Twente;

http://www.architectuurcentrumtwente.nl/pdf/eindverslagWederopbouwRoombeek.pdf, Oct 22, 2011, 23:14
http://www.wikimapia.com/http://www.architectuurcentrumtwente.nl/pdf/eindverslagWederopbouwRoombeek.pdfhttp://www.architectuurcentrumtwente.nl/pdf/eindverslagWederopbouwRoombeek.pdfhttp://www.wikimapia.com/


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DEVELOPMENT

Urban environment

Todays` continuous urban expansion and density define urban environmentthrough the connection

of three different elements of urban evolution: accessibility, mobility and comfort. All urban

environment aspects are related to the usage of people, either if they are inhabitants or passengers.

The urban accessibility refers to external connections with the surroundings thorough infrastructureand visibility but it also refers to internal conditions of affordability and usage. Mobility refers to the

networks within the city that reflects society. Particularly, people daily migration and ways of

transport determine mobility of the users. A certain importance within the mobility has also the

efficiency and connection between different types of public spaces and types of usage. Urban

comfort integrates built environment, green infrastructure and the efficiency of living facilities. Both

indoor and outdoor space define consumable spaces, within all there the safety is probably the most

important aspect of urban environment related to its usage.

Embedding in context

Enschede is one of the biggest cities in the East of the Netherlands.5

Since the events in 2000 the

safety has increase its importance in urban environment. However, the events were localised in aliving area. Therefore the neighbourhood needed to be reconstructed offering living facilities but also

a meaningful landscape for the inhabitants. The impact of the events leaded to a well controlled new

development in which the key participants were the citizens.

Purpose of urban regeneration

The necessity of regeneration was obvious in order to restore the neighbourhood with catastrophic

landscape. The concept or regeneration aims to rebuild the area focusing on the convergence of

social, economic and environmental issues. Firstly, social settings needed to serve to the emotional

comfort of the people. By involving them in the development of the project the new developed

landscape had to have a meaning for the users of the space. Secondly, the economical approach of

regeneration aimed to create an affordable space integrating strategies for local business

development. Thirdly, environmental cause was served by bringing quality of the new created spaces

and vitality in the new landscape through urban planning and architecture. Roombeek`s urban plan

of reconstruction was realised through the closure between people and space, being a good example

of community involvement in the urban regeneration project.

Political process

The Enschede Firework disaster had an enormous physic impact over the city with and a big

awareness in the whole country. The first critics were related about the lack of safety in positioning

a fireworks warehouse in the middle on a living area. The disaster affected directly more than one

thousand people and indirectly the whole country. Politically, the blame has to be thrown on

someone. However responsible were both the Firework Company for insufficient safety and the local

government for inadequate policies permitting the location of functions as dangerous materials

storage inside a living area. The central point of the investigations and site visit were related to the

government but not only regarding the responsibility of producing such a disaster but also to learn a

lesson that should never have to be experienced again. The actors of this disaster were public and

private, therefore more important than accusing the responsible was to help the society to move on.

The prior concerns were to rebuild the area and to make the people trust again in a safe living inside

the neighbourhood. The challenge of political process was to make the people trust in government

and also to trust the safety of the new development.

5Gireon Consult, http://www.gideonconsult.nl/68%20Roombeek%20wint%20EURPA.pdf, Oct 22, 2011, 01:25
http://www.gideonconsult.nl/68%20Roombeek%20wint%20EURPA.pdfhttp://www.gideonconsult.nl/68%20Roombeek%20wint%20EURPA.pdf


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Decision making process and budget for implementation

The Echsnede new development was an important problem not only as local issue but national image

problem. Therefore the decisions within the project had to establish the best team, the most viable

rebuilding solution and the most economically feasible implementation. The municipality was the

principal actor in decision making project; therefore the importance of the new development was

directly connected with the city management. The case importance was perfected on European level.

Therefore the impact was analysed by professional practitioner from different domains in order to

establish a strong base of new development. The decisions were influenced by important people that

were interested by the case, as the president on European Commission in 2000 that showed deep

empathy with the people of Enschede. Decision making process has to have two major objectives:

social and economic restructuring. European Commission was directly involved in consultancy of

rebuilding the infrastructure and to re-launch the economic activities in the affected area. The

founding for the development project was guaranteed by Dutch urban initiative for urban renewal

and through National Urban Policy of channelling the urban flows.6

Moreover, a founding for the new

development was acquiescent by the founding programme of transnational cooperation Interreg.

Thus, the inhabitants were completely compensated for their lost, but also they rebuilt the

neighbourhood.7

Design process and method

The Roombeek project aimed to give the possibility to return to all the inhabitants that used to live in

the area, therefore an overall plan was made for rebuilding an accessible area for inhabitants and

future inhabitants. The overall plan was made in collaboration with the inhabitants of the affected

area, therefore their involvement lead to a special appreciation and meaning of the space. The

design of the new houses and public spaces had to suit the general plan agreed with the community.

Therefore, land-owners had to build new houses with an architecture integrated in the overall plan.

However they received all needed help for rebuilding from consultancy to finance. Communityinvolvement did not stopped to door to door debates, but it also was involved in building new

houses. Involving the community was a successful method of increasing the trust of the inhabitants

in the rebuilt area but also in the government.

Key Goals Achievement

The aim of the project was to rebuild the neighbourhood on a superior level of comfort and

durability. Therefore the three pillars of sustainability were the base of setting the key goals of the

project. The social goal was to bring the people back to the area witch succeeded completely through

locating a big number of housing. The goal was achieved, and the success was given also through

increasing the number of the inhabitants more than initial. The living facilities goal and safety were

also achieved contributing to living comfort of the people. The ecological goal was achieved throughthe development of quality public spaces, circulation infrastructure and green infrastructure. Oh

aesthetical level, developing different areas within the city, the project succeeded to create new

landscapes valuing history of the place. The completed assignment of the project aim to create not

only housing facilities, but also places for working, cultural and commercial activities; therefore

through urban regeneration the project nor only rebuilt the neighbourhood but it offers vitality to

the space. Moreover, the industrial heritage is preserved and the place has strong connection with

the surroundings both on network and aesthetical and level.

6Leo van den Berg, Erik Braun, J. van der Meer, National policy responses to urban challenges in Europe,

Ashgate Publishing, 2007 ,p 287

Paul A.G. Lohmann; Enschede: is there a life after disaster?; New Technology for a New Century InternationalConference, 2001; http://www.fig.net/pub/proceedings/korea/full-papers/session20/lohmann.htm; Oct 22,

2011, 19:48
http://books.google.nl/url?client=ca-print-ashgate&format=googleprint&num=0&channel=BTB-ca-print-ashgate+BTB-ISBN:075464846X&q=http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754648468&usg=AFQjCNFwgwmV_gX_LuejGYucwaonSm6c4Q&source=gbs_buy_s&cad=0http://www.fig.net/pub/proceedings/korea/full-papers/session20/lohmann.htmhttp://www.fig.net/pub/proceedings/korea/full-papers/session20/lohmann.htmhttp://books.google.nl/url?client=ca-print-ashgate&format=googleprint&num=0&channel=BTB-ca-print-ashgate+BTB-ISBN:075464846X&q=http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754648468&usg=AFQjCNFwgwmV_gX_LuejGYucwaonSm6c4Q&source=gbs_buy_s&cad=0


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AESTHETIC AND FUNCTIONAL ASPECT

Aesthetic Aspect

The design solutions applied were related not only particularly to the site, but on the context of the

city. The aesthetics of the sire after rebuilding the neighbourhood is attractive for the old residents of

the area but it also attracts new inhabitants. Before the disaster the area had a mix of industrial and

traditional architecture. After the reconstruction, the industrial elements were kept; moreover theyadd value to the space. The cultural historical elements and various design of new architecture are

highlighting different types of atmosphere. Orientation and aesthetical characteristics of the

neighbourhood raise a high level of positive perception of the space both as inhabitant and as a

passenger. The goals of serving the community through residential areas, setting up opportunities for

businesses, creating educational and cultural centres have been translated into form increasing the

making the site attractive not only through function but also through aspect.

Functional Aspect

Roombeek offers educational and cultural facilities, converting the reminiscence of industrial

buildings to new attraction points within the neighbourhood. Different social classes live now in the

area and the comfort of the space does not differentiate them. The communication with thesurroundings is well served through circulations and also on visual level. On functional level, the area

became a central point offering all needed features for living, working and spending free time.

Therefore, the project achieved the functional purpose of creating a vivid space. The networks of

public spaces serve all ages and offers different opportunities of spending time. The connections

between open space and the buildings make the area accessible physic and visual.

RESULTING LANDSCAPES

How the project looks like and how it works

The project is now integrated into the city. The memory of the place is kept through the industrial

buildings as land-marks. The space has its own identity within the context of attracting city for its

inhabitants, for developers but also for tourists. The quality of public space serves well for the

working purposes of networks, mobility and accessibility to and within the site. The aesthetic

features are a mix between old and new and follow the history of the place in its development

periods, but integrated into a readable landscape. Large open spaces extend their atmosphere

between the buildings, and the architecture follows the variety of elements as open faades or

planted front yards.


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How is the space used

The place is mainly used as living area. However is also has attraction for economic development as

local business area commercial activities. Educational and cultural activities attract not only the

inhabitants form the neighbourhood but also from the surroundings. Public spaces are used for

social activities, for mobility and access into the site. The project reached its goal to support the

society; therefore the place is used by all social layers, indifferent of incomes age and sex. The only

missing feature of public activities is sports. Those who are willing to practice sport have done it in

other areas of the city. However, an integrated space does not have to offer all the possibilities of

spending spare time within it, in order to encourage the mobility between different areas of the city.

The community is well served by the project and people that use the space are attached to it though

its history and through their involvement in project development. The project had a big social impact

building not only a new neighbourhood, but also strengthening the community. Therefore, within

the project, the architects build homes for the community, not only houses.

How the project feels

Enschede area is far from the atmosphere of a catastrophic event. The space is welcoming and

invites the passenger to explore. Large open space gives the feeling of safety. The industrial buildings

integrated through new houses bring the memory of the past, but the fireworks disaster is reminded

only on the memorial. People and space seem to be completely recovered in the new

neighbourhood. Different atmospheres within the neighbourhood make the people explore the new,

more than the old, and the high level of maintenance increase the comfort and the pleasure of

exploring the place. Enschede is not anymore defined by the fireworks disaster; it feels like a living

painting of a modern city. The close connection between the neighbourhood areas unify the placeand create a story. It is a modern story with old characters that ask to be discovered.


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EVALUATION

Differentiation between the design and the execution

As an urban area the impact over the city is for long term. The purpose of the project was to bring life

and meaning to the space. The area was born again through urban development project, with the

risk of forgetting history and creating a mix of communities unrelated to the area on emotional level.

For the new inhabitants of the space though, the completely new landscape reminds less about thedisaster that caused this major change of the neighbourhood. On functional level, the concern over

housing increased the importance of living and recreational activities but decreased the importance

of working places. Therefore people might be forced to travel for working.

Neighbourhood as image of the city

The area is integrated into the character of the city though its variety of spaces and architectural

elements. It is a modern complete landscape through its social and environmental layers,

contributing in the movement of population regarding working places and sport activities. The

networks at the city level are well connected with the area, being accessible and affordable for all

social categories. Public life integrates also the cultural and leisure opportunities, serving not only the

inhabitants within the neighbourhood but also the inhabitants from the surroundings, contributingon general mobility and encouraging the people to use public space for spare time. As integrated

part of the image of the city, Roombeek area represents a land mark district, but having its own

paths and nodes, integrated though in the urban network. However the authenticity of the

neighbourhood is more represented though its history rather that its image(s). However Enschede is

a city that uses new and old layers in a dynamic development to a modern centre of the East.

Roombeek area has now the characteristics of the city of Enschede as being lively, modern and

innovative.

Experiencing the landscape

Roombeek area have not got a landscape, it has now a series of connected landscapes offering a

completely new image to the site. The fire disaster has killed the life within the site, but soon after

the neighbourhood was born again from its own reminiscences. Though it had a different life before,

the neighbourhood is now more viable and more attractive for inhabitants and developers.

As user of the space I appreciate the comfort of living and the experience on the neighbourhood

though its different atmospheres. Educational and cultural facilities are important for the comfort of

living in the area as the quality of public space. Moreover people can easily travel distances to other

parts of the city for entertainment facilities and working places.

As a professional user a noted the attention to details in the area as art objects and different textures

combination within the landscape. Also the careful maintenance of public space keeps the

importance of quality and comfort of outdoor spaces. However on a large scale the proportions of

large areas are contrasting the image of the living areas, where often tight open areas are placed in

the back of the buildings. There are a big number of areas that aim to gather the people, but the

focus is more on the children playgrounds, less than mature inhabitants as I noticed from the low

number of urban furniture.8

Lesson learned

Roombewk area had a big impact over the inhabitants but not over the city itself. Site-specific

lessons learned are related to the disaster that leaded to a better and faster urban development in

the area. Though the lost caused by the disaster was enormous, the rebirth of the neighbourhood

brought plenty of vitality and better life quality for the inhabitants. The management and efficiency

of the project was alimented by the awareness and the opportunity of founding for calamities

situation, but nevertheless the community shows solidarity and deep involvement within in the

project, all there for a successful achievement of the project purposes.

8Pictures annexed


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LIST OF SOURCES

Literature

1. Leo van den Berg, Erik Braun, J. van der Meer, National policy responses to urban challengesin Europe, Ashgate Publishing, 2007

2. Kevin Lynch, The image of the city, MIT Press, 1960Articles

3. Paul A.G. Lohmann; Enschede: is there a life after disaster?; New Technology for a NewCentury International Conference, 2001; http://www.fig.net/pub/proceedings/korea/full-

papers/session20/lohmann.htm; Oct 22, 2011, 11:27

4. Lynch, Urry and city marketing: Taking advantage of the city as a built and graphic image;Place Branding and Public Diplomacy 5, 226-233, August 2009, doi:10.1057/pb.2009.10;

http://www.palgrave-journals.com/pb/journal/v5/n3/full/pb200910a.html ; Oct 22, 2011,

20:20

Websites

5. Mi Modern Architecture; Roombeck Urban Plan;http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Netherlands/Enschede/Roombeek%20Urban%20Plan; Oct

22, 2011, 10:30

6. Project: Roombeek Informatie http://www.enschede-stad.nl/projecten.php?project=Roombeek Oct 18, 2011, 23:15

7. Wederopbouw Roombeek, Architectuurcentrum Twente;http://www.architectuurcentrumtwente.nl/pdf/eindverslagWederopbouwRoombeek.pdf,

Oct 22, 2011, 23:14

8. Wikimapia, www.wikimapia.com, Oct 22, 2011 19:209. Gireon Consult, http://www.gideonconsult.nl/68%20Roombeek%20wint%20EURPA.pdf, Oct

22, 2011, 01:2510. International Federation od Surveyors, New technology for a new Century International

Conference 2001, http://www.fig.net/pub/proceedings/korea/full-

papers/session20/lohmann.htm ; Oct 9, 2011, 13:30

11.Planum Magazine, Cultural Identities: Enschede (The Netherlands)http://www.planum.net/cultural-identities-enschede-the-netherlands; Oct 9, 2011, 13:48

12.Ecopolis Reinterpreted, Project # 2 : Roombeek, Enschede, The Netherlands;http://peterderuijter.weebly.com/ar0083-mpe-roombeek-enschede.html; Oct 23, 2011,

13:49

13.City of Enschede, http://esntwente.nl/, Oct 9, 2011, 10:40
http://books.google.nl/url?client=ca-print-ashgate&format=googleprint&num=0&channel=BTB-ca-print-ashgate+BTB-ISBN:075464846X&q=http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754648468&usg=AFQjCNFwgwmV_gX_LuejGYucwaonSm6c4Q&source=gbs_buy_s&cad=0http://www.fig.net/pub/proceedings/korea/full-papers/session20/lohmann.htmhttp://www.fig.net/pub/proceedings/korea/full-papers/session20/lohmann.htmhttp://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Netherlands/Enschede/Roombeek%20Urban%20Planhttp://www.wikimapia.com/http://www.gideonconsult.nl/68%20Roombeek%20wint%20EURPA.pdfhttp://esntwente.nl/http://esntwente.nl/http://www.gideonconsult.nl/68%20Roombeek%20wint%20EURPA.pdfhttp://www.wikimapia.com/http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Netherlands/Enschede/Roombeek%20Urban%20Planhttp://www.fig.net/pub/proceedings/korea/full-papers/session20/lohmann.htmhttp://www.fig.net/pub/proceedings/korea/full-papers/session20/lohmann.htmhttp://books.google.nl/url?client=ca-print-ashgate&format=googleprint&num=0&channel=BTB-ca-print-ashgate+BTB-ISBN:075464846X&q=http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754648468&usg=AFQjCNFwgwmV_gX_LuejGYucwaonSm6c4Q&source=gbs_buy_s&cad=0


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the perfect fire: pyrotechnic deadly failure

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