Designers as Boundary Spanners in the Development of Multifunctional Water Plazas
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2025-08-09
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en
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As cities grow and climate change increases heavy rainfall, managing urban water problems becomes more challenging. This research looks at water plazas as a way to improve stormwater management while also creating spaces for recreation and nature. Water plazas, such as Benthemplein in Rotterdam, combine technical solutions for water storage with social and ecological benefits. Their development requires good collaboration between stakeholders with different interests. This thesis studies how urban designers help to balance these interests, deal with trade-offs, and create multifunctional water plazas. Using five case studies in the Netherlands, the research examines how designers connect stakeholders, translate knowledge, and integrate different needs.
The results show that when designers actively bridge gaps between stakeholders, collaboration works better, trust grows, and public spaces become more widely accepted and used. However, when collaboration is weak or roles are unclear, multifunctionality suffers. The most common roles they use are ambassador, scout, and entrepreneur, supported by design skills, communication skills, and motivation. The study highlights the importance of boundary spanning as a strategy for designers to improve both the design process and the final outcomes of climate-adaptive public spaces.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen