This project delineates the urban design project proposed for Hoogvliet, Rotterdam. Based on the learnings from the field visit and urban analysis, the projects goals are established: Soil and Water guiding Design, Improving Landscape and Ecological Quality, and Enhancing Public Space Quality. These goals entail various strategies at spatial scales, beginning from the neighbourhood scale and further delving into the public space design to detail how humans will perceive the natural processes and the convergence of the water bodies, the ground surface, and the vegetation to strengthen the socio-ecological relationship. For this, material considerations and vegetation catalogue are established and represented through plans, sections, sectional views, and eye-level views to convey how the humans and other species will perceive the reformed space.

In their work Concepts of Sustainable Development (Dorst & Duijvestein, 2004), the authors emphasise the need for context-specific definitions of sustainability, recognising that every urban project has challenges. Their tetrahedron method assesses sustainability through four interconnected parameters: ecological quality, social quality, economic growth, and the project that defines the spatial quality. In the context of Hoogvliet, Rotterdam, the need of the hour is that of Sustainable Urban Ecology that prioritises ecological quality within this sustainability framework, supported by economic incentives and social programs that highlight biodiversity’s value and support communities prioritising environmental health. The tetrahedron method is redefined to evaluate Ecological Quality through landscape integration and ecosystem quality, Social Quality through the impact on people and the quality of public space, Economic Growth through policy frameworks and economic models, and Project through the built environment quality and aesthetics.

At the public space design scale, these manifest in measures like blue-green infrastructure, including bioswales and rain gardens along roads, enhances infiltration and biodiversity. Sea clay soil supports collective farming, fostering socio-ecological interactions. Green roofs further connect urban ecosystems and provide habitat for migratory birds, while stormwater tunnels address flooding. Community engagement is envisioned through programs like allotment gardens, campfire grounds, and “living” museums showcasing flora and fauna create socio-ecological ties and opportunities for education and employment. Native species are prioritised to maintain ecological balance. Circular energy systems complement this vision, harnessing organic waste for biogas, utilizing solar panels, and recovering industrial waste heat. These strategies reduce waste and reliance on non-renewable energy, fostering local resilience. Densification through mixed-use typologies reduces sprawl and minimises environmental impact. Features like stilt apartments prevent soil subsidence, preserving groundwater levels. By integrating ecology into urban systems, this approach enhances air and water quality, mitigates climate change, and fosters biodiversity, ensuring a livable and sustainable urban ecology.