This project investigates the challenge of water in the Anthropocene. Due to the accelerating human-induced climate crisis and human actions such as damming, over-extraction, and irrigation practices, the hydrological cycle has been altered, causing an increase in the intensity and frequency of its extremes: severe floods and prolonged droughts. In this Anthropogenic epoch, the world has become heavily globalized and urbanized, leading to critical territories that are exhausted, disconnected, and vulnerable as they are densely built with fixed, impermeable materials and structures. These artificial landscapes cause the detachment of the natural systems from human environments, threatening society’s existence.
Additionally, there is the intangible water challenge of social alienation from water identity: the loss of society’s (ancient) connection with water as an integral part of their way of living. These tangible and intangible water-related challenges are increasingly occurring in the territory of Emilia-Romagna, located within the Po Valley in Northern Italy. This transformation has turned a once wild, dynamic, and rich watery landscape into a humanized, artificial one, resulting in a sinking delta challenged by both sea and riverine floods. Therefore, this introduces the focus area of this thesis project.
There is an urgency to address these challenges by raising awareness and designing solutions for the changing water-related conditions of territories, systems, space, environments, processes, and human behavior. As natural water catastrophes increasingly and interscalarly threaten human daily life, this project argues for a transformative approach to living with water’s uncertainty and dynamics. It aims to answer the research question ‘How to interscalarly design a water-sensitive reality on the human dimensions of daily life in the Northern Italian southeastern Emilia-Romagna region for flood and drought protection while reintegrating water heritage as a way of living?’
The project focuses on Emilia-Romagna using the methods ‘non-linear interscalar design’ and ‘using water heritage as a transformative approach’. Additional methods include ‘critical discourse analysis’, ‘literature review’, ‘historical analysis’, ‘critical mapping of spatial systems,’ and ‘fieldwork’.
Spatial analysis and fieldwork show that Emilia-Romagna’s territory is densely urbanized, with 47% intensive agricultural land, and has lost its natural historical landscape due to land reclamation. The longue durée captures the (historical) transformation from ancient flood-dynamic settlements to completely canalized agricultural land, constantly threatened by floods from the Reno basin and Apennine rivers. Literature reviews reveal the changing societal position of water, from a worshipped living deity and landscape of care to an inconvenient object removed from the daily living environment by the introduction of the car, reflected in urban design and planning. They provide a framework for a healthy watershed by spreading, slowing, collecting, and infiltrating water in up- and downstream landscapes and providing room for the river to restore the natural balance through the various scales. This historical transformation and water identity form the water heritage used as the foundation of the design.
To conclude, the interscalar landscape-urban design uses water heritage, formulated by ancient structures and societal values, to restore the territory through water. Based on the concept of ‘water storage along various landscapes’ and guided by the Santerno River as the main connecting territorial element, Room for the River interventions, along with the interplay of artificial and natural water management through a territorial water reservoir system, demonstrate a possible interscalar framework. This framework contributes to flood and drought protection while increasing spatial quality and improving daily life. A transformative way of living with water in urban, peri-urban, and rural environments is proposed. This approach allows inhabitants to reconnect with their water identity, restore water’s position within society, and raise awareness of the crucial essence of water in providing life in various ways. This is highlighted by the water-sensitive small-scale urban design in the village of Sant’Agata sul Santerno, featuring a water storage square. This interscalar design reintroduces water as a cultural landscape where natural water dynamics freely roam within an artificial framework, ensuring water safety and reframing human daily life.

Excessive carbon emission has led to global warming, resulting in climate change. Due to this, the natural carbon and water cycles are disbalanced leading to extreme (water-related) events, such as flooding, periods of drought and diminished water quality. The degradation of ecosystems and threat to human survival are direct consequences of this process.


There is an urgency to act in the upcoming seven years to remain below the 1,5 degree global temperature rise. Aside from reducing CO2 emissions in long-term processes, carbon capturing is crucial to achieve short-term ambitions. Therefore, this study investigates the implementation of (nature-based) carbon sinks strategies, using water(bodies) as a tool, in North-West Europe..

This report fills the gap of knowledge on how to implement water-based decarbonization through spatial interventions in North-West Europe.
Firstly, the technical aspects of water-based decarbonization are studied by reviewing existing literature, providing the required spatial conditions for the implementation of water-related carbon sinks. The historical and current conditions in North-West Europe are mapped and analysed. Comparing these results, an evidence-based selection of feasible intervention areas are determined.


Our analysis shows that the EuroDelta is the strategic location for the spatial vision for North-West Europe. There is a need for a paradigm shift to restore the self-sustaining system of the Delta, demanding Nature Based Solutions. Wetland restoration is the most efficient, low cost approach of climate change mitigation as the free, well-functioning services of these carbon sinks naturally make way for long-term restoration of the natural balance and societal well-being. They should be restored in original historical sites and the Dutch Delta is suitable. Therefore bottom-up approaches are required in global visions as wetlands restoration is context-specific.

We conclude that de Krimpenerwaard polder and the Port of Rotterdam are effective, feasible, and inclusive solutions to tackle both climate change and societal challenges while providing long-term water-resilience and livability through all scales. Agricultural sectors will shift to sustainable farming and (port-)industries are held accountable for their emission. A limitation is the disregard on the emission of methane which in further research should be taken into account.