Unpaving Nature
Restoring Balance Between Nature and Infrastructure in the Wadden Sea
X. JIANG (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Laura Cipriani – Mentor (TU Delft - Landscape Architecture)
Peter Herman – Mentor (TU Delft - Environmental Fluid Mechanics)
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Abstract
The Wadden Sea is a unique and ecologically important coastal region
in the southeastern North Sea, stretching along the coasts of Denmark,
Germany, and the Netherlands. It is known for its vast tidal flats, salt
marshes, and barrier islands, forming a dynamic and constantly changing
landscape, creating rich biodiversity.
The Wadden Sea in the Netherlands is composed of the mainland
coastal areas and the Wadden Islands (such as Texel, Vlieland,
Terschelling, Ameland, and Schiermonnikoog). This area plays a crucial
role in protecting the land and supporting the people who live there. It
serves as a natural defense against storm surges and flooding, supports
local businesses through fishing and tourism, and provides a vital
ecosystem for numerous plant and animal species.
However, infrastructure development in the Wadden Sea area, including
offshore wind farms, shipping routes, and coastal engineering, has
impacted some ecosystems. The development is necessary for economic
growth, such as shipping infrastructure for tourism on the Wadden
Islands and offshore wind energy due to the energy crisis. These
developments will definitely shape the landscape in the coming years.
In the thesis, data on infrastructure and ecology was collected and
analyzed to find conflicts between them and how they affect the
landscape. This research formed the basis for the design phase. Then,
for the territorial scale, three strategies were put forward. Moreover, two
sites are chosen to demonstrate how these strategies can be applied to
site-specific design. Both sites share the idea of preserving and adapting
positive landscape features and restoring the natural process, achieving
minimal intervention.