Nomadic Territories

Abstract

The scope of this graduation thesis is to examine up to what extent nomadism as a way of life and human existence can inform spatial planning and landscape design concerning risk mitigation and adaptation to the uncertainty of the future, and eventually, reconceptualise the resilience framework within the spatial context of the Wadden Sea Region. The thesis starts with an inquiry around the very notion of nomadism, outlining the figure of the nomad in relation to the territory, as a habitat and as a field of knowledge. Nomadic territories are distinguished by co - habitation between human and nature systems accompanied by a synchronized performance of natural and anthropogenic agents. The nomad is fully embedded with the territory and its nature, meaning that he or she is not only aware but also part of the biophysical cycle. The ex ante of Sámi contributes to the establishment and definition of the nomadic paradigm and simultaneously supports the previous argument. A hypothesis transition moves the scope of the study from Sápmi to the Wadden Sea Region, aiming at testing how the nomadic paradigm could trigger a shift in the way sedentary civilization, currently based on permanence, stability and over – exploitation of ecosystems carrying capacity, values the landscape. The analysis and diagnosis of the multifaceted pressures related to climate change and human activity in the Wadden Sea Region highlight the urgency for a new balance between economy and ecology, based on co - habitation and de – growth. A shift towards the nomadic paradigm, thus, seems extremely relevant. Following this, an evolutionarily adaptive strategic framework is developed and applied on Texel Island which becomes an “in situ” experiment. Here, the strategic actions turn into place specific (plug in) design interventions. The living lab of Texel is an iterative, robust, open innovation ecosystem, where water management, land use and human activity are reprogrammed through design, in a way that mitigates risk, enhances the island’s adaptive capacity, activates awareness and participation of permanent and temporary actors, towards a sustainable development that will set a (neo nomadic) example for the Wadden Sea Region as a whole.