Leen Vansteenkiste
Herkenrode, Resilient Landscape. UHasselt (Belgium)
The Abbey of Herkenrode – in Hasselt – has a rich history in the midst of its landscape. A bocage landscape - consisting of fields, meadows, forests and small landscape elements - was managed by various farms in function of the Abbey of Herkenrode. Both this variety of landscape elements and the farms were fundamental corner stones of a productive and ecologically divers bocage landscape around the Abbey.
Today, however, the landscape around the Abbey has become the subject of spatial fragmentation and ecological degradation. Dominant developments such as urbanisation, expansion of infrastructure, the increase in scale in agriculture and equestrianization have put pressure on the current landscape. An area that has suffered greatly from this complex spatial transformation is the area of the Herkenrode forests.
The Herkenrode forests lack a resilient landscape that can withstand further fragmentation and ecological degradation. In order to protect the last valuable remains of these centuries-old forests, this project is conducting research by design into the historical landscape around the Abbey of Herkenrode. A re-introduction of this productive bocage landscape - from the remains found in the landscape - is explored through design.
Architecture plays a supporting role within this re-introduction. In order to realize the repair of the landscape, the half-timbered barn is used. The half-timbered barn formed a fundamental part of the historical farms in the area and supported the Abbey in the management of its productive landscape. The demountable character of the half-timbered barn, the use of local building materials and the implementation of craftsmanship form the starting point for the design of a half-timbered barn that travels through the fragmented landscape. The barn is built where necessary and leaves for the next location after repair. Architecture thus plays a generous, but steadfast role in the transition towards a resilient landscape for Herkenrode.
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