Building resilience

Abstract

With the ongoing impact of climate change on inhabitation patterns in the Netherlands, the region of Gelderland will play a crucial role in accommodating a growing population while facing ecological and socio-economic pressures. Proper planning and design practices that prioritize long-term resilience are necessary to prevent the loss of opportunities and qualities in Gelderland. This design project aims to offer an alternative pathway for the future by identifying opportunities outside of the highly vulnerable Randstad region and envisioning potential developments in safer areas. Through the study of urban form across different scales, time frames, and scenarios, the project combines the concepts of resilience and densification, benefiting both Gelderland and the Netherlands as a whole.

The project centres around the shared framework of space in response to the uncertainties that we are faced with. Though these uncertainties impact various processes and elements within complex systems, the spatial conditions of a location play a crucial role in determining the functioning of the systems that are embedded within it. Recognizing the significance of (the alteration of) space offers an opportunity to address processes on different layers and promote resilience in a holistic manner.

By categorizing areas based on potentials and vulnerabilities, and employing different scenarios, the research identifies suitable locations for densification and develops strategies for improving connectivity, efficiency, modularity, redundancy, and diversity in urban environments. The multiscalar approach involves diverse and phased developments to answer to the pressure on space. By designing with higher densities with resilience as a starting point, urban environments can benefit from the transformation and the negative effects of climate change and densification can be mitigated.