The Roombeek, Enschede

 Urban Green-Blue Grids

The Roombeek, Enschede

History:

    In the past Roombeek, served as a water source for drinking, washing, and irrigating the fields. Due to the growing textile industry in Enschede and the excessive amounts of water required for the textile process, it would lead to parts of the streams drying up. The textile industry resulted in the water being polluted and eventually overburdening the sewer system, causing overflow problems and inefficiencies in the use of sewer water treatment.

"Blue veins back in the city"

    When rebuilding the Roombeek district the community showed a desire to restore the old Roombeek, and wanted to bring back the history that Enschede had had with water back, in a way that will make water management more sustainable, and improve not only quality of life but also increase environmental quality as well. 

    How was this accomplished? Well, "the Roombeek flows in a natural riverbed, in an above-ground urban canal system, through ponds, and sometimes even through pipes. Where the Roombeek flows underground, a ribbon of blue tiles marks its path above ground."

    Designs like this really help to make it apparent to the community that have lived around such natural elements that this is also a part of their community. The design also helps to engage younger kids, whether they understand what it is or not. Designs like this also show innovative ways to bring water back into cities and not only help mitigate problems that have been created by situations similar to that of what happened in Enschede.