Jelle Engelchor

Allemaal Philippine

All Philippine
Searching for a new role for landscape architects 
* and myself

At the beginning of my graduation route, I asked myself which type of landscape architect I wanted to be. My social way of working in previous projects provided an opportunity for participation that could be utilised in the long graduation period. This was something that rarely arose at the Academy, but which I believed that a landscape architect should be familiar with. That is why I decided not to take the traditional approach of imposing a master plan, but opted for an approach aimed at the needs and wishes of ‘ordinary people’. I chose to focus on the village of Philippine in the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen region, a small place without clear spatial challenges. What caught my attention were the silence, and the unique scenes and challenges of rural border regions.

With participation as the guiding principle, I tried to understand the crucial needs of the village inhabitants. During a seven-day visit, I observed the local community, listened to their perspectives and I drew initial conclusions about what was on people’s minds in Philippine. Conversations with the inhabitants revealed various themes, such as the needs of farmers, senior citizens and young people, and the impact of policy that had transformed the village into a commuter community. A second visit, including a brainstorming session with several inhabitants, led to a story that focused on the role of water in the community in light of the historical connection between the village and the Westerschelde estuary, and the current problems with water management.

The result of the participation is a water system that connects Philippine with the Flemish hinterland and the Westerschelde. This system makes forgotten qualities visible and adds new functions. The design not only made water palpable and sustainably available for agriculture, but also initiated other developments in the village. The most important intervention in the plan is the diversion of a watercourse, in which water from Flanders is directed via a canal to a storage reservoir. A new canal directs water to a natural depression where it can be sustainable stored and managed. This canal is flexible in use, with opportunities for the local population to let in or close off water. The canal also has a recreational function and helps the historical fortifications surrounding the village visible. The bastions are used for developments aimed at senior citizens and young people, while the canal contributes to the redevelopment of the city centre around the old harbour.

Graduation date: 21 May 2024
Graduation committee: Thijs de Zeeuw (mentor), Fiona de Bell, Remco van der Togt
Additional members for the exam: Marieke Timmermans, Charlotte van der Woude