Uploaded on 2015-04-25 by JFrijns

1) The visible elements in this picture are: construction machines, pipes, man on a bicycle, art (tea pot), and on the side a road with cars, and office buildings. Moreover, there is an information sign, explaining about the reconstruction work. 2) A key invisible element in this photo is the (surface) water that currently is flowing underground in a constructed pipe, linking two sides of the circular canal of Utrecht. Historically, at this side, the water canal was visible, until 45 years ago the canal was filled in to make way for a motor way. And nowadays, the filling of the canal is reverted so that within a few years the canal is back again. Another invisible information in this photo is that on social media commuters regularly complain about the construction works blocking the way through, in particular for cyclists travelling to the train station. 3) The filling of the canal was part of the in those days modernisation of the city. The design in 1970 was based on constructing a central shopping centre and making the city centre accessible for cars. In the historical archives pictures and news clippings can be found about this period; this information is made visible. But as it isn’t that long ago, many citizens recall and are aware of having a canal earlier at this side; this tacit knowledge is invisible. This is a good example of how decisions in the past have become archealogical items we can use today to redesign the city centre. Thus nowadays inhabitants preferences for the surroundings of the reconstructed canal, e.g. for leisure, nature and/or shopping, can be (and is) used to design for a more liveable urban space. Regarding the invisible information about the commuters complaints, this can become knowledge for better designing the current reconstruction road works, e.g. make way for commuters at peak hours. ![Reconstruction Utrecht canal][1] [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1429952888107141.jpg