KCAP envisions a future where cities are adaptable, joyous, vibrant and prepared for the challenges of climate change, underpinned by a deep understanding of the social and environmental needs of people. We add value to the world’s cities, by orchestrating urban interventions, leading to well-crafted places and spaces. To create this future we design and care for the lifecycle of the world’s cities and urban areas—blending our expertise in architecture, landscape and urbanism.
We achieve our ambitions, by adhering to these key principles, which guide our design development:
Sustainable Transformations and Circularity: We are devoted to leading sustainable transformations, targeting carbon reduction through adaptive reuse of existing cultural heritage, embracing circularity, and implementing strategies that reduce our environmental footprint.
Inclusivity and Social Cohesion: Building inclusive, progressive communities is at the core of our overarching ethos. We design places that foster social sustainability, aiming to create environments where every individual is valued, thus enhancing the social fabric of urban areas.
Nature-Inclusive Resilience: Our work prioritises nature-inclusive solutions that contribute to climate resilience and improve outdoor comfort. We are dedicated to creating spaces that balance urban development with natural ecosystems, ensuring resilience and sustainability.
ABOUT THE LECTURE
KCAP will present two transformative waterfront projects that highlight the firm’s expertise in creating resilient and adaptive urban environments in response to climate change. The first project is the internationally renowned HafenCity in Hamburg, one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration efforts. Located on the banks of the river Elbe, HafenCity expands the city’s size by 40%, transforming a former inner-city port area into a vibrant new district. The masterplan, designed by KCAP and ongoing since 1999, balances modern urban development with the heritage of the nearby UNESCO site Speicherstadt. With a focus on climate adaptability, the plan preserves historic port structures while introducing a fine-grained mix of functions, public spaces, and waterfront amenities, ensuring a resilient, future-proof living and working environment.
On the other side of the globe, KCAP is redefining the coastline of Shenzhen, China, through the visionary ‘East Dike’ project. This project reimagines the 130 km coastline along the Dapeng Peninsula, damaged by Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. By implementing the innovative ‘Triple Dike Strategy,’ KCAP has introduced a multi-layered approach that enhances water safety, ecological restoration, and socio-economic development. This forward-thinking strategy combines protective dikes with green public spaces, tidal parks, and urban promenades, while addressing future climate risks. The East Dike project is a shining example of how KCAP integrates environmental sustainability with community engagement and economic growth, offering a blueprint for the future of coastal resilience worldwide.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ruurd Gietema
Partner
Rotterdam, Netherlands
“As a marathon enthusiast, Ruurd knows what it takes to run the distance. And that serves him well, because he believes there is a similarity between designing cities and running an endurance race: it is necessary to be focused, well prepared and in it for the long haul. To create a successful urban environment, it is also important to be creative and open-minded when working on multidimensional projects: “I pair my academic knowledge and experience with a sense of social engagement. I’ve pioneered the multi-disciplinary approach that the office is renowned for, and I’ve helped to develop KCAP’s international portfolio and the landscape architecture as an area of expertise.” Ruurd works on large scale urban transformations, public transport-oriented development and campus designs. He loves to create exiting environments for ‘everyday life’ in cities. He has international experience in creating new urban districts, regeneration strategies for former port and industrial areas and in the development of airport cities. The strength of his designs lies in the comprehensiveness, accuracy and conception. He aims to create places that are green and social. Ruurd has a talent for area development expressed in dense 3-dimensional mixed use districts. Examples are the design for the Schiekadeblok in Rotterdam and the very ambitious Sewoon Grounds in Seoul. He has a keen eye for existing buildings and communities and weaves them into new buildings and users, while future-proofing the design by taking energy design into account.”