A sectoral flood safety approach has been the critical condition for Delta Urbanization in the Netherlands until now. But does this have to be the case for future urbanization as well? In the Dutch approach to flood safety, a dilemma appears to exist between (sectoral) flood safety on the one hand and biodiversity and flood resilience on the other. Where pursuit of flood safety, especially in a context of extreme climate scenario’s, might continue at the cost of biodiversity and resilience.

The thesis is on the reconciliation of the anthropogenic and natural systems of the Dutch Delta. It proposes a re-positioning of the relationship between peopel and nature. The concept and understanding of landscape identity is an expression of this relationship. In the case of the Dutch delta, landscape and flood safety are inevitably intertwined, and a certain relationship of human mastery over nature becomes apparent of this intertwining. The Dutch landscape is historically shaped through hydrology, geology, air and climate, however, contemporary landscapes represent severe anthropogenic intervening, enclosing and directing the dynamics of hydrology, geology, air and climate.
This thesis aims to understand the relationship between people and nature, through landscape Identity, the mutual relationship between people and landscape, shaped by and shaping landscape characteristics and individual and collective identity. Subsequently, proposing and testing a method for altering this relationship, based on the following hypothesis: Shifting the technocratic understanding of flood safety to align [again] with the trajectories of hydrology, geology, air and climate, which are both fundamentally shaping the landscape, allows the transition towards a biodiverse and flood resilient delta. Rethinking the relationship between people and nature, through landscape, is therefore essential. The concept of Building with Nature is tested as an approach to align the understanding of flood safety with the dynamics of air, water and soil. Proposing this re-alignment as the new critical condition for delta urbanization in transition towards a biodiverse and resilient delta. Ultimately, proving this apparent dilemma between flood safety on the one hand and biodiversity and resilience on the other, to be void.

The Dutch national spatial planning system is increasingly dealing with wicked multi-layered spatial challenges, also known as integral challenges. This development has led to a transition in the current national spatial planning system by means of the new Environment and Planning Act, which aims to work in a multi-level governance manner. One of the law’s instruments is the National Strategy on Spatial Planning and the Environment (NOVI), which identifies frameworks for a national spatial long-term vision. Design research is suitable for addressing these wicked integral challenges, and has two types; the inspiring design-type and the clarifying research-type. Both have distinct design processes, outcomes and contributions to policy. The first type, the design-type, is characterized by an incremental, experimental, solution-oriented and multidisciplinary process that focuses on reducing complexity. This form delivers a detailed master plan in order to inspire and give high abstract issues an realistic and tangible content. The second type, the research-type, is characterized by an iterative, problem-oriented, and interdisciplinary design process, which delivers an adaptive framework for decision-making processes by clarifying the issues and challenges. At the same time, it can function as inspiration as well. Both approaches offer distinct benefits and their application is situation dependent. The research-type contributes to achieving a higher degree of integrality, assessed on the topics of function, time, scale, and interest integration. The research-type is also effective when applied within an abstract question within spatial planning to clarify challenges, such as within the NOVI. The design-type, on the other hand, can be effective within context-specific questions, such as within Regional Agendas, for providing an inspiring and innovative image using multiple directional solutions. Nonetheless, design research is most effective when both types are used, with the focus on one or the other.