When Disaster Flows
G. Umasankar (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
C. Forgaci – Mentor (TU Delft - Urban Design)
A. Wandl – Mentor (TU Delft - Environmental Technology and Design)
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Abstract
When Disaster Flows examines how centuries of engineering the Rhine - Meuse delta have shaped the Rijnmond region an area that has long been central to the Netherlands’ economic vitality and cultural identity. Despite its scale, with a river basin extending over 185,260 km² across Northwestern Europe (Copernicus, 2011), the delta’s natural dynamics have been progressively constrained in favor of human safety, port expansion, and industrial development. This heavy reliance on engineered defenses has overshadowed the ecological functions that once sustained the landscape and moderated flood risks.
This research seeks to rediscover and reintegrate the delta’s natural logic as a fundamental strategy for addressing intensifying climate impacts and growing uncertainty. Through a systems-thinking approach, the study analyses the Rijnmond region using methods such as the DPSIR framework and Adaptive Pathway Planning. These tools enable a comprehensive understanding of environmental pressures, socio-spatial vulnerabilities, and long-term adaptation trajectories, ultimately proposing a renewed delta regime that aligns natural processes with future resilience.