Dieuwertje Den Hartog
Faidra Ntafou
Joell ten Hove
Sanne Francissen
Sofia Valentini
Tutors: Diego Sepulveda, Luisa Calabrese and Marcin Dąbrowski
Key words: reinforced delta, water circularity, climate adaptation, urban liveability, socio-environmental justice
The changing climate pressures the resilience of cities and nature all over the world, putting the position of historically valuable urban and natural environments at risk. The province of South Holland has economically evolved around the unique triple delta landscape. In order to keep its economically competitive position and take environmental responsibility, the province aims to be circular by 2050. However, the province is facing a number of environmental challenges that are further aggravated by the intensification of land use and climate change. At the same time the region faces an enormous housing demand. Therefore, this strategic vision was created with the aim to propose a way to answer the high demand for space in South Holland while preserving the delta environment.
Three themes were identified as key drivers: the use of an adaptive delta water management, the transformation to sponge cities and a shift towards water circularity. Implementing interventions along these themes will preserve and redefine both the natural and the urban environment. The strategic vision provides the roadmap towards a circular delta environment in 2050. The vision involves the transformation of export-oriented agricultural land into wetland area, the densification and expansion of urban areas and a shift towards a bio-based port.