We ask ourselves, what is the best method for designing areas under threat of uncertain change and unprecedented climate events?

The majority of current practices are sector-oriented planning approaches, developed for a linear development, which is assumed to be predictable.

In practice, climate change appears a non-linear problem, affecting multiple sectors in an integrated way.

Hence the ‘problem’ is developing over time and could be a surprise. Design solutions must be adaptive, be developed and offered continuously, and be adjusted by all engaged.

In our current design processes a design is often an end result of the process, becoming visible after a (long) period of planning, is hard to change once it is adopted, and it is often the privilege of a small group of experts (planners, politicians).

In order to develop constantly adaptive plans, it must be possible to create a method of planning which is constantly in operation, otherwise the plan cannot be fully adaptive and changed whenever required. 

Therefore, this Interreg-VB proposal develops a method that is capable of creating adaptive, constantly adjustable, plans with all engaged people and applies and tests this method in several case studies. This ‘virtual design lab’ allows involved people in different places to design together at every moment in time, test design propositions in a virtual environment, constantly innovate the plan and respond and anticipate to future surprises at the earliest.  

For the case study areas those areas are suitable which already face multiple problems that exaggerate under climate stresses (sea level rise, intense weather events, heat, drought, rain). Vulnerability for a complex of climate impacts in combination with demographic change (shrink or growth), food security, urbanisation and/or ecological degradation form a good starting point for such a continuous design process. 

1. develoment of the virtual design lab environment

2. run the constant design process in four case studies, resulting in adaptive plans for each

3. understand the interventions that make the area more resilient and adaptive regions

1. virtual environment for constant design

2. four adaptive and adaptable plans

3. manual describing the virtual environment and the adaptable design process

ARSU - Oldenburg, Germany

Ecolo - Bremen, Germany

University of Antwerp, Belgium

Queens University Belfast, N-Ireland UK

Clicks 'n Links, UK

Cittaideale, the Netherlands 

Regional planning authorities

Municipalities

Waterboards, -authorities