We are living in a time period commonly referred to as the Anthropocene, with the rapid and disruptive reshaping of landscapes standing out as a key feature. This restructuring is evident in the Netherlands, where the landscape has shifted from a natural and connected system to a human-altered and fragmented one due to interventions in natural areas, either by removing or isolating them. The result is a patchwork of remaining greenspace scattered between buildings, infrastructure, industry, and agriculture, leading to lost ecological and social connections and posing serious challenges to biodiversity, climate resilience, and quality of life.

At the same time, urban regions are under growing pressure from the need for one million new homes in the coming years. One of the areas where this urbanisation will take place is the city triangle region in the IJsselvalley. With its unique location between the Veluwe and the IJssel river, this region represents both the vulnerability and potential of urban-rural transition zones. Its patchwork landscape reflects past disruptions, while its ambitious housing goals threaten to intensify the fragmentation of remaining open space.

In a time of dominance over nature, I propose a pro-active concept of a Regional Landscape Park to find a new balance by protecting as well as developing nature and landscape. Rather than living in opposition to nature, we must learn to cooperate with it. To avoid further degradation, we must rethink the development of urban regions and let the landscape guide our actions. This includes steering urbanisation toward a more harmonious relationship with the land.
The central question guiding this thesis is: how can a Regional Landscape Park in the Stedendriehoek area, situated between the Veluwe and the IJssel, be utilised to protect and develop nature and landscape, raise awareness, and guide urban growth? Focusing on the Stedendriehoek area, the study analyses the spatial concept of a Regional Landscape Park, assesses the current state of its components, and identifies design principles and strategies tailored to the IJsselvalley context.

The resulting proposal introduces the concept of a Mosaic Park, a dynamic spatial vision that embraces landscape diversity and invites people to move through distinct yet connected environments with shared spatial characteristics. The design is structured around three interconnected layers: ecology, climate adaptivity, and recreation and identity. It proposes a guiding framework to balance ecological, social, and economic values in future development. As urbanisation continues to pressure remaining greenspaces, this thesis presents the Regional Landscape Park as a landscape-centered strategy for designing more sustainable and connected ways of living.