Our current time, the Anthropocene, defined by crises, colours the Randstad and its accompanying Fringes in the ‘Groene Hart’ in the Netherlands, as a depleted landscape filled with economic, ecological, and socially misaligned housing developments, under constant pressure of further terrestrial urbanisation. The thesis seeks to research an alternative perspective to the prevailing market-driven, human-centric spatial zeitgeist that antagonised this misbalance, which is eroding the boundary between society and nature to being a Fringe of fluid hinterland within a depleted landscape. Contributing to housing shortages, environmental degradation, and societal polarization and segregation. Henceforth, the current form is no longer sustainable, and asking for a reiteration of the relationship between the urban and non- urban.

By adopting an ecocentric approach to housing the thesis seeks to foster synergies among, social, economic, and environmental interests by nurturing non-exploitative design. Subsequently, it contributes to the limited body of knowledge in contemporary Dutch urbanism, particularly regarding Fringes and housing developments within production landscapes.

Through the methodology of cycles of research for design and research by design, including literature and cartographic reviews, as well as digital and design interpolation, the thesis develops
a design language as a bridging design tool to explore ways to synergise conflicting systems within the peri-urban landscapes. Fostering an overall regional ecocentric strategy.

Concluding with the advocation of a transformative nature- inclusive Fringe of dynamic transitional mosaics of blue-green agroecological parklands with housing developments, advocating a revitalised relationship with the landscape and its natural operation, through the implementation of the Fringe National Parkland. Advocating a strategy of developing from the territory’s existing conditions to sustain functions by leveraging its inherent network capacity.

Emphasising the regenerative potential of enabling synergetic Fringes, the thesis paints an alternative promising perspective for the future region. It serves as a visual embodiment of how synergies can revive formerly depleted landscapes while addressing housing needs, offering a reflective outlook in the ongoing debate surrounding terrestrial development. ... Read more

The current food production and distribution system has led to extensive degradation on both the global and local scale, requiring a transformation of the vast, urbanized rural - beyond just climate-change mitigation but radical regeneration.
The ongoing intensive agricultural practices have contaminated air, soil, and water, while their market- driven character disallows the emergence of locality and circularity, exploiting workers and small-scale farmers, and disrupting the social welfare of the countryside. This system is analysed through the lenses of ecology, economy, and society, highlighting the problematic character of the Lowlands of North-West Europe, due to the immense sprawl of degenerative agriculture practices, as well as the small and fragmented network of ecosystem-valuable spaces.
Following the most urgent climate-change scenario from the IPCC report, we will attempt the transition from a degenerative system towards a regenerative one, based on the pillars of ecosystem restoration, ensuring food security through sustainable means, and the shift towards regenerative agriculture practices. Concerns about spatial justice permeate all pillars horizontally, to ensure the socio- spatial regeneration of the countryside.
To transition towards our vision, the strategy is approached through a series of interconnected key projects. The formation of a pan-European network of tree nurseries ensures the necessary capital of seedlings for reforestation and agroforestry practices, while a trans-border policy zone can integrate conservation and agriculture, enhancing the connectivity between ecosystems. The greenhouse zone of Westland is experimented upon, aiming towards the development of a replicable model of sustainably intensive food production model. These strategic interventions are underlined by a policy framework, stressing the liveability of the Lowlands for all rural dwellers, farmers, and workers, through access to services, education, and housing. Through this experimentation we hope to have highlighted that the examination of the countryside needs to be intrinsically tied to any effort of envisioning a future of climate- change mitigation and socio-ecological regeneration.
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