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MSc Thesis AMS Institute - Healthy Urban Habitats: Transformations at the Edge of Land and Water

MADE Student Project

Globally, the rate of biodiversity loss has surpassed the safety threshold for the stability of ecosystems and the climate is rapidly changing. Delta-biotopes are collectively under pressure, and with them, the edge between land and water that shapes their relationship with nature. In order to bend the curve of biodiversity loss, a fundamental societal change is needed, shifting from prioritising economic growth to a way of living in balance with nature and within the planetary boundaries.
The aim of this research is to investigate the barriers practice encounters in integrating circularity and biodiversity concepts towards transformative change and to explore a strategy in which place-specific urban development can play a role in achieving transformative change. By combining qualitative research with design research and future studies, deliberate transformations in the urban context can be investigated and influenced using the urgent renovation of edge between land and water in the Delta-city of Amsterdam as a case-study. ‘Room for the experiment’ and ‘ownership’ are the most important drivers for including circularity and biodiversity in urban development. The finer grained spatial scale can play a crucial role in allowing biodiversity to return to the city. Through experimentation and iteration, place-specific urban development can contribute to deliberate transformative change under a climate of deep uncertainty through niche development of healthy urban habitats.

References can be found inside the document.

Author: Anne Bruggen

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Header afbeelding: Climate Resilient Cities | copyright IOOR

Icon afbeelding: AMS Institute logo vierkant rood

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