Deltas are among the most urbanised and wealthiest regions of the world. Today, their very existence is threatened by climate change. Innovative solutions are urgently needed, and delta cities around the globe have joined forces to confront the climate crisis. The dependence on innovation for their survival is however not a recent phenomenon but has a longer history. Surprisingly, little is known about the specialised skills and knowledge shown by earlier civilisations in constructing and protecting these cities. In this lecture, I will focus on the Low Countries, which was an early hotspot for building technology in the delta. The ‘Hollanders’ were considered to be ‘the most expert in Europe’ at constructing large structures in marshy conditions. Their ingenious building practices encompassed a variety of aspects that negotiated the environmental imperatives, allowing them to build prospering cities. I will consider innovations in foundation-laying practices and the conditions that fostered a climate of innovation.
Prof. Dr. Merlijn Hurx is professor of Architectural History at the Department of Architecture at KU Leuven. He specialises in late medieval and early modern architecture in the Low Countries. He has published “Architecture of Profession” (Brepols 2018), which discusses the socio-economic circumstances that allowed for the professionalisation of architectural practice in the Low Countries in the late Middle Ages. In 2023, he was a awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant for his project URBAN-DELTA, which examines innovation in building technology for marshy conditions in three pioneering deltas in Europe and China in the pre-Industrial Age.
The Paul Crossley Memorial Lecture is given annually in memory of the much-loved teacher and architectural historian at The Courtauld. It is generously supported by Sam Fogg.
