Regression & Progression

Towards a Regenerative Water Landscape in Wadden Coast

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Abstract

As the world’s largest intertidal area, the Wadden Sea Region has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009 .In addition to the scenic and ecological values, the Dutch Wadden Sea also serves as an infrastructure to safeguard the coastline of the mainland as a climate buffer, where it is good to live, work and recreate.
The Dutch Wadden sea is a dynamic landscape which is highly vulnerable to the future climate change, demographic changes, as well as the increase in recreation and tourism. The rising sea level and changing climate will lead to prolonged droughts and flooding, posing a water safety crisis to the area. As an indispensable infrastructure protecting the hinterlands, the Wadden Sea dikes define and fragment the features of the landscape. The Wadden Sea coast is also confronting declining populations and a mono-sector economy.
The graduation project seeks for the possible outcomes of the Wadden Sea Coast through in-depth research to analyze, synthesize and develop a strategic design proposal for a resilient and sustainable landscape infrastructure contributing to the whole system. This project sets up an agenda for exploring the prospective capabilities of design-oriented research and cartography. An in-depth research and analysis on the spatial and cultural landscape characteristics identifies the spatial dynamics and transformations undertaken in the Wadden Coast. The future scenarios and narratives are formed based on different climatic conditions. The design assignment is an adaptive landscape approach at multiple times and scales together with scenarios-making for an integral approach on climate crisis, as well as small-scale design interventions along the Dutch Wadden Coast.