The Things We Have In common

Abstract

Over the past decade, within many fields, there has been growing interest in thoughts and theories from the commons. In commons theory, the conceptualisation of something as a commons, is a way in which a common resource can be protected from enclosure, overexploitation or neglect by connecting it to a community which uses, manages and (re)produces the resource in a sustainable and socially just way, creating added value for the community as well. With the commons being originally connected to landscapes and natural resources, but the way we experience, use, and value landscapes has been changing, it is relevant to explore a contemporary relation between landscape and commons, and possibly using commons theory within landscape architecture as well.
This thesis explores the role of landscape architectural design in transforming landscapes into commons, with the particular focus on landscape edges. The study is focussed on the city of Den Helder which, being surrounded by the North sea and Wadden sea, has a valuable and intriguing land-water edge. However, this landscape as a resource is under threat of enclosure and neglect since the design and occupation of this edge limits its use by both humans and non-humans.
This research provides a framework for contemporary landscape commons consisting of ‘Landscape as Commons’ and ‘Commons in the Landscape’, and defines important factors and values to create landscape commons for both human and non-human communities. From a design exploration in the Wadden sea coast of Den Helder, general principles are derived to transform landscape edges into commons for both human and non-human species.
From the combined research can be concluded that ¬the landscape architectural design predominantly works on the level of resources, and has limited influence on the components of community and social practices. Through landscape architectural design, suitable conditions can be created for human and non-human communities to experience, make use of, appropriate and manage landscape edges as commons. This provides an important starting point for the transformation of landscape edges into commons, and provides a framework that balances different landscape values that need to be considered for landscapes to operate as commons.