RE-PEAT. Different Futures for the Peat Polders as Social-ecological Landscape in the Netherlands

Project idea

This project addresses the challenging question of how to reconcile better the prevention of further peatland degradation and future settlement development. Against the background of climate change and the advanced degradation of the polder landscapes, this question is highly topical and relevant. Peatland drainage has negative social and environmental impacts that are harmful not only to the environment but also to humans. These impacts exacerbate social degradation by causing the loss of rural employment and traditional livelihoods. Additionally, land subsidence is the cause of building and infrastructure damage, as well as increased management costs and soil compression. Moreover, these impacts result in reduced water quality, and loss of biodiversity. These consequences cause conflict between human and non-human actors, nature and agriculture, and social and ecological systems in general.
Additionally, due to the increasing demand for housing in the Netherlands and the limited amount of good building sites, it is likely that places with peat soil will be developed as well. The design addressed the ethical issue of building dwellings on peat soil, which is perceived as mainly a threat. However, this project demonstrates that it can also be an opportunity. This will have a beneficial impact on social-ecological systems and could become the main economic driver of land use.

Overall, the project demonstrates a framework for mitigating harmful environmental and social impacts of peatland drainage and designing these areas by transforming them into a social-ecological landscape.

Project description

By evaluating the process from beginning to end, the project was created through two key processes: research and design. The system approach was used in combination with systemic (integrative) design and research to examine the interaction of social and ecological systems. Design is defined as a dialogue between a problem and a solution that takes place through analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

Beginning with peatland drainage issues and associated social and environmental impacts, the solutions for mitigating these negative consequences were researched. For this, a Literature review and References analysis were conducted in which mitigation of these impacts was a key factor in developing design strategies. Finally, a toolbox of design strategies was created.

These impacts are especially problematic when they are linked to the settlement. A review of the literature on the interaction between settlement and peatland restoration was conducted for this reason, where the social-ecological systems emerged as a theoretical framework.

The case study area was analysed as a further step in order to determine the cause of the significant disconnection between social and ecological systems. To deal with this problem, the chosen site-specific strategies were applied. Using the chosen design strategies, different typologies of the new type of living and elements along the path were designed. Landscape and architecture interaction presents the possibility of a new relationship between people and nature in which people are actively involved with nature.

Finally, the social-ecological systems concept was found and together with chosen strategies adapted in the social-ecological landscape.
The project explores landscapes as social-ecological systems, focusing in particular on the linkages between natural and human processes, in order to create a sustainable peat polder landscape.

Finally, the thesis explores landscapes as social-ecological systems, focusing on the interactions between natural and human processes in order to create a sustainable peat polder landscape. The social-ecological systems of the social-ecological landscape can be linked by sharing water, material, energy, or species flows that benefit both systems.

This results in a design plan with significantly reduced CO2 emissions, increased biodiversity and spatial experiential value, and a high income for farmers. Additionally, renewed peat growth can stop centuries of subsidence caused by agricultural use. A thick peat package retains rainwater, preventing subsidence and effectively sequestering carbon.

Harmonious coexistence between residents and species of the peat polder landscape, as well as a sense of connection and involvement of people to the landscape, are significant considerations. Instead of fighting wet peatlands, we should embrace them as a future cohabitation place. Indeed, peat polders have demonstrated to be a perfect place where we can learn, understand, and hear other species and ecosystems that we have muted.

The social-ecological landscape has a long-term positive impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services, which are the benefits provided by ecosystems to humans.

Different scales were addressed, as well as an explicit link between larger scale interpretations and strategies and the various scale levels of intervention, detailing, and materialization. The concept of integrating social-ecological systems of social-ecological landscape means that the impact of the project site expands beyond its boundaries. The case study project is the first step in propelling the larger development of the social-ecological landscape.The design has economic, social, and environmental implications. Public places for sharing knowledge, but also for connecting with nature and socialising, are inextricably linked to economic and social development.

Through its cross-scale architectural-open space planning treatment and especially the design-integrated material exchange processes, the work provides an innovative and convincing approach for an integrated, climate-sensitive spatial development of the peat polder landscapes.

Technical information

The water system connects social and ecological systems by linking the building’s water infrastructure and the water system for peat moss development. The roofs collect rainwater, which will be used for the flushing of the toilet and for growing peat moss as well. Additionally, grey water is reused. The wetland as the helophyte filter reduces nitrogen and phosphorous that improves water quality and at the same time treats the grey water of the buildings. After, this treated water can be used for irrigation, toilet flushing and washing machines and for peat moss cultivation. Living on the water is also advantageous due to the energy recovery system, which converts the heat contained in the water into heating energy. The human-focused housing provides space for nature by offering shelter and/or feeding areas with anaerobic conditions for organisms. Furthermore, by enhancing biodiversity, the floating living typology have a positive impact on the ecosystem. The social and ecological systems are also interconnected by peat soil, which provides areas for nature, agriculture, living, and production.

The innovative light low-density foundation of elevated typology on peat moss development helps to reduce peat soil compression. Moreover, these buildings can be beneficial for peat moss growing, by their shadows, since sphagnum productivity can be increased by some shading, according to research.

The introduction of a camping area increases the number of visitors, which raises awareness and value of the peat polder landscape. Furthermore, it is additional income for the farmer who owns this land.

Peat station connects social and ecological systems by integrating functions for water management and social interactions. The conic shape of the station is a reminder of the burned windmills in the 17th century.
The peat stations, on the interactions of the social-ecological path and ditches, have the weir that people can observe with a sitting platform on the path and `inside of peat` upper part to connect with peat soil.
These stations also consist of the viewpoint, the controller to regulate water level, the upper part with peat and CO2 hologram inside and a ruler to measure peat moss height.

In this landscape, it is possible to strengthen and extend the social network by giving lectures and workshops in the peat learning community centre. This encourages the establishment of an institution to promote social learning and the integration of social-ecological knowledge. Furthermore, the conflict between farmers and the government could be resolved by compensating for CO2 reduction. This can be an additional source of income on top of other sources of income such as leisure activities.
Economically, the area will become more profitable as new sources of income emerge, such as peat moss production for orchid potting soil, a camping area, housing, and CO2 compensation for developing peat moss nature.
Additionally, it is possible to enhance the ecological network by increasing biodiversity and producing sphagnum fragments that will be used as donor plants to propagate Sphagnum moss in peat bogs that are no longer harvested.

Documentation

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