Schelde Ensemble
Basic information
Project Title
Schelde Ensemble
Full project title
Schelde Ensemble
Category
Reconnecting with nature
Project Description
Schelde Ensemble is a design research that empowers human and non-human voices of the Dutch Southwest delta region. The project manifests itself in different outcomes: ranging from a permanent installation in a museum to a “landscape makers congress” for (local) civil servants, scientists, (landscape) designers and citizens. Schelde Ensemble challenges participants to listen, represent and negotiate their collective future in relation to the climate challenges of the region.
Geographical Scope
Regional
Project Region
The South West Delta region of the Netherlands, or 'Zuidwestelijke Delta'. Where the rivers Schelde, Rijn and Maas flow into the North Sea., Netherlands
Urban or rural issues
Mainly rural
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
Schelde Ensemble is a design research and interactive experience through which participants become acquainted with the ecological politics of the Southwestern delta of the Netherlands. The climate is changing, and so is the landscape. Subsidence and rising sea levels put pressure on the relations between society and their environment. The players are encouraged to reflect on the diversity of voices that ought to be heard in the process of collective decision making regarding climate mitigation and/or adaptation.
The experience is inspired by the French philosopher Bruno Latour and his concept of a Parliament of Things. By taking everything to be a “thing” or an “actant” we place humans on equal footing with their environment. Without this hierarchy we create a novel politico-environmental sensibility which sheds new light on our democratic system. Rather than enforcing human perspectives upon our environment, The Parliament of the Schelde invites non-humans to the table and gives them an equal voice, a concept that was originally developed for a design competition organised by the Embassy of the Northsea.
‘Reconnecting with nature’, or archiving a wider, more complex and inclusive idea of ‘nature’ is central to the concept of Schelde Ensemble where we position ourselves as humans on a equal level to non-human stakeholders. And through elements of play and storytelling, open up conversations in which unheard voices (both human and non-human) are represented.
The experience is inspired by the French philosopher Bruno Latour and his concept of a Parliament of Things. By taking everything to be a “thing” or an “actant” we place humans on equal footing with their environment. Without this hierarchy we create a novel politico-environmental sensibility which sheds new light on our democratic system. Rather than enforcing human perspectives upon our environment, The Parliament of the Schelde invites non-humans to the table and gives them an equal voice, a concept that was originally developed for a design competition organised by the Embassy of the Northsea.
‘Reconnecting with nature’, or archiving a wider, more complex and inclusive idea of ‘nature’ is central to the concept of Schelde Ensemble where we position ourselves as humans on a equal level to non-human stakeholders. And through elements of play and storytelling, open up conversations in which unheard voices (both human and non-human) are represented.
Key objectives for sustainability
Schelde Ensemble strives to work through visualising possible futures and facilitating space for conversation on how to establish a variety of these futures in an inclusive way.
The aim is to create consciousness on pressing (climate) issues among citizens in relation to their habitat. By being more inclusive (taking into account human-non-human perspectives) and working integral on several challenges, we believe we work towards a more durable future. Sustainability is thereby critically analysed as the sustaining of a certain way of living, might ask for higher costs for both humans and non-humans in the region.
In a span of three years, the Schelde Ensemble team worked through analysing science and politics, and on how to weave them together in both physical interventions and interactive programs. Throughout the weaving process we did field work and spoke with entrepreneurs from the region, scientists from several leading Dutch research institutes and civil servants from several levels within the Dutch political system.
The region itself is on the forefront of climate change due to her position as a delta, between the North Sea and several rivers. Yet, discussions on water safety are a more common topic for larger areas of the Netherlands. The area is facing several transitions such as climate adaptation, energy transition, housing shortage and circular economy, it is therefore representative for the Netherlands as a whole and other (delta) regions around the world.
The aim is to create consciousness on pressing (climate) issues among citizens in relation to their habitat. By being more inclusive (taking into account human-non-human perspectives) and working integral on several challenges, we believe we work towards a more durable future. Sustainability is thereby critically analysed as the sustaining of a certain way of living, might ask for higher costs for both humans and non-humans in the region.
In a span of three years, the Schelde Ensemble team worked through analysing science and politics, and on how to weave them together in both physical interventions and interactive programs. Throughout the weaving process we did field work and spoke with entrepreneurs from the region, scientists from several leading Dutch research institutes and civil servants from several levels within the Dutch political system.
The region itself is on the forefront of climate change due to her position as a delta, between the North Sea and several rivers. Yet, discussions on water safety are a more common topic for larger areas of the Netherlands. The area is facing several transitions such as climate adaptation, energy transition, housing shortage and circular economy, it is therefore representative for the Netherlands as a whole and other (delta) regions around the world.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Schelde Ensemble is a research we present and make sensitive through physical, aesthetical objects and spaces. So far, we have established two major projects. The first one is a table constellation in a fictive boardroom: Oosterschelde Negotiations. The table, round, wooden and with a regional model in the middle, invites people to take a seat at the negotiation table. On the table a network of relations between humans and non-humans of the region will be made by the participants. The table also serves as a projecting element and shows how the decisions of the negotiations lead to changes in the region. The second project turned the Flooding museum into a fictional decor for a thought-experiment: the Landscape Makers Congress. The decor was set-up in reference to several political symbols and used references like “the parliament” and “the forum”. In both cases we use design as aesthetic tools to help people over a threshold and become part of the setting. Furthermore, we use design to portray possible futures in an understandable way. As an architectural collective we see Schelde Ensemble as a bridge to understand transition challenges, establish renewed relationships with our environment and become-with our non-human alliance.
Key objectives for inclusion
Showing a wide range of perspectives and giving them an equal ‘seat at the table’. Stating that a farmer (representing the agricultural sector), a holiday park manager (representing the recreation sector), a local citizen and a fisherman (representing the aquaculture sector), to have an equal say in their collective future. As well as emphasising the inhabitants of the region who cannot represent themselves through the existing political institutes, being non-humans. We make clear that the narratives represent in the experience are a selection and meant as an exercise to think from a perspective other than your own.
We’ve hosted participants from different ages and education levels. Also an interesting exchange was facilitated between local inhabitants and urban professionals, both working on the challenges in the Southwestern delta. And we’ve had international groups play the serious game (which is available in English and Dutch) that were interesting in comparing the challenges of this specific region, with other (delta) regions world wide. Such as a group of PhD students from New Orleans studying the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The interactive installation and the event have been designed in such a way to create an equal ‘playing field’ people from all kinds of professional and personal backgrounds can join the conversation.
We’ve hosted participants from different ages and education levels. Also an interesting exchange was facilitated between local inhabitants and urban professionals, both working on the challenges in the Southwestern delta. And we’ve had international groups play the serious game (which is available in English and Dutch) that were interesting in comparing the challenges of this specific region, with other (delta) regions world wide. Such as a group of PhD students from New Orleans studying the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The interactive installation and the event have been designed in such a way to create an equal ‘playing field’ people from all kinds of professional and personal backgrounds can join the conversation.
How Citizens benefit
We measure the impact of Schelde Ensemble so far, by the people who played the serious game in the past years and/or attended the Landscape Makers Congress on 13 October 2023. Participants have been students from the local university of applied sciences, a group of PhD students from New Orleans, youth policy makers from the national government, youth members of a local environmental organisation, civil servants from surrounding municipalities, amongst others.
Most of the participants' professions are related to the topics that we research within Schelde Ensemble, at the same time they are often also inhabitants of the region and reflect on the experience also from a personal view. As the region carries the collective trauma of the flood of 1953, most inhabitants have family members who experienced the disaster and grew up with a sense of resentment and fear of the water. The flood was only an enforcement of the everlasting fight the Dutch have with the water.
In Schelde Ensemble we find new ways to envision a future where we can live with water instead of fighting it. As the topic is considered a taboo and carries a ‘never again’ sentiment, we have found ways to open up the conversation in several layers of society.
Most of the participants' professions are related to the topics that we research within Schelde Ensemble, at the same time they are often also inhabitants of the region and reflect on the experience also from a personal view. As the region carries the collective trauma of the flood of 1953, most inhabitants have family members who experienced the disaster and grew up with a sense of resentment and fear of the water. The flood was only an enforcement of the everlasting fight the Dutch have with the water.
In Schelde Ensemble we find new ways to envision a future where we can live with water instead of fighting it. As the topic is considered a taboo and carries a ‘never again’ sentiment, we have found ways to open up the conversation in several layers of society.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Innovative character
The Negotiation Table and the Landscape Makers Congress, and all the forms and workshops in between, have gained acknowledgement among several locals, scientific researches (and institutions), universities and local and national political parties. The method can be translated in many forms, but is for sure something deemed valuable and to be continued. In an article we described it as following:
“Based on our experiences during the day and our activities in the region more generally, some reflections are offered on the different concepts and strategies operationalised in the Landscape Makers Congress: its playful use of multifocality, its dramatisation of temporality, and its staging of a particular experience of politics. Thus, some lessons are drawn for community engagement using design-based methodologies in the context of politicised (and the politicisation of) environments.”
Combining design thinking, eco--philosophical concepts (such as the actor-network-theory or the parliament of things) and transition challenges related to climate change, the project offers an innovative alternative to existing ways of facilitating a conversation between civil servants, scientists, designers and inhabitants.
“Based on our experiences during the day and our activities in the region more generally, some reflections are offered on the different concepts and strategies operationalised in the Landscape Makers Congress: its playful use of multifocality, its dramatisation of temporality, and its staging of a particular experience of politics. Thus, some lessons are drawn for community engagement using design-based methodologies in the context of politicised (and the politicisation of) environments.”
Combining design thinking, eco--philosophical concepts (such as the actor-network-theory or the parliament of things) and transition challenges related to climate change, the project offers an innovative alternative to existing ways of facilitating a conversation between civil servants, scientists, designers and inhabitants.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
The project has been carried out by a collective of five members. The core members of Studio Inscape - Eileen Storenbrink, Charlotte von Meijenfeldt and Willie Vogel, who met each other during their studies Architecture and Urbanism at the Delft University of Technology. For Schelde Ensemble we worked closely together with Maarten Meijer who is a philosopher and political scientist, at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen and with Isabel Gerritsma, a civil and coastal engineer at Deltares.
Together we are a group of thinkers who are interested in a eco-philosophical approach. Working as an interdisciplinary team, we try to look at the problematics of the region from a different perspective, bridging Dutch engineering way of thinking with a more fundamental understanding of how this is changing the regions’ ecosystem and what impact that has on the relations of all inhabitants (human and non-human).
In the end we used our design background and interest in elements of play and theatre, to create a setting where these topics can be discussed in a different way. The uniqueness of our team and way of working makes the project an valuable contribution to existing initiatives.
Together we are a group of thinkers who are interested in a eco-philosophical approach. Working as an interdisciplinary team, we try to look at the problematics of the region from a different perspective, bridging Dutch engineering way of thinking with a more fundamental understanding of how this is changing the regions’ ecosystem and what impact that has on the relations of all inhabitants (human and non-human).
In the end we used our design background and interest in elements of play and theatre, to create a setting where these topics can be discussed in a different way. The uniqueness of our team and way of working makes the project an valuable contribution to existing initiatives.
Methodology used
Schelde Ensemble is a work inspired by contemporary eco-philosophers. The playfully literal interpretation of some of their works, such as the Parliament of Things by Bruno Latour, has led to several methodological features explored and implemented throughout the design research.
First of all, the project invites participants to playfully engage in more-than-human (non-human?) perspective-taking. The performative logic of stepping out of professional and personal roles into the performative serious play, allows one to speak more freely about serious issues. Secondly, the project explores several representational methods of (inter)relationality. Through physical network making activities the interdependencies of relationships are explored and argued. Thirdly, we explored different ways of portraying diverse temporalities. In the project the divergent rhythms and time scales are discussed and brought to the fore. Finally, throughout the project we have used several political references and playfully used these as methodological rehearsals for real life conversations.
These four main methodological adventures have been formulated and tested throughout Schelde Ensemble. We have explored their potential and their shortcomings which we would like to continue doing.
First of all, the project invites participants to playfully engage in more-than-human (non-human?) perspective-taking. The performative logic of stepping out of professional and personal roles into the performative serious play, allows one to speak more freely about serious issues. Secondly, the project explores several representational methods of (inter)relationality. Through physical network making activities the interdependencies of relationships are explored and argued. Thirdly, we explored different ways of portraying diverse temporalities. In the project the divergent rhythms and time scales are discussed and brought to the fore. Finally, throughout the project we have used several political references and playfully used these as methodological rehearsals for real life conversations.
These four main methodological adventures have been formulated and tested throughout Schelde Ensemble. We have explored their potential and their shortcomings which we would like to continue doing.
How stakeholders are engaged
Zuidwestelijke Delta is a governmental institute, connecting civil servants from local municipalities, provinces, water boards (a regional governing body managing surface water) and several ministries (including infrastructure and water management). They invited their network to our events, giving us the opportunity to have the actual decision makers to be challenged to think from other perspectives.
Watersnoodmuseum is a national museum of remembrance of the flood of 1953, where 1836 died due to the high water and many neighbourhoods were destroyed. The museum looks back 70 years, but asked us to look forwards 70 years and see what’s ahead in terms of water related challenges. We have realised the permanent interactive installation in the museum and the museum was the location of the Landscape Makers Congres 13/10/'23.
For the content of the project we consulted Arno Nolte, from research institute Deltares. As well as Jim van Belzen (NIOZ), Leo Adriaanse (Rijkswaterstaat) and Philip Drontmann (Kennis Community Oosterschelde). These professionals research the potential scenarios for the region to stay resilient in the future. Their knowledge on climate mitigation and adaptation solutions gave us insights on the challenges the region is facing now and in 2100.
The event was joined by Jannemarie de Jonge, chief government advisor on the built and rural environment. While all participants were representing actors from the region (such as a seal, holiday park manager, farmer or worm), she was representing the dynamic delta as a whole. The gaia of all actors. Participants were impressed by her contribution as government advisor, who also has her roots in the region, strengthening the relevance of the event.
On a local level we have done a lot of site visits and interviews with inhabitants and entrepreneurs from the region. Such as farmers, camping owners, fisherman and divers. Giving us a better understanding of the delta and the existing relations.
Watersnoodmuseum is a national museum of remembrance of the flood of 1953, where 1836 died due to the high water and many neighbourhoods were destroyed. The museum looks back 70 years, but asked us to look forwards 70 years and see what’s ahead in terms of water related challenges. We have realised the permanent interactive installation in the museum and the museum was the location of the Landscape Makers Congres 13/10/'23.
For the content of the project we consulted Arno Nolte, from research institute Deltares. As well as Jim van Belzen (NIOZ), Leo Adriaanse (Rijkswaterstaat) and Philip Drontmann (Kennis Community Oosterschelde). These professionals research the potential scenarios for the region to stay resilient in the future. Their knowledge on climate mitigation and adaptation solutions gave us insights on the challenges the region is facing now and in 2100.
The event was joined by Jannemarie de Jonge, chief government advisor on the built and rural environment. While all participants were representing actors from the region (such as a seal, holiday park manager, farmer or worm), she was representing the dynamic delta as a whole. The gaia of all actors. Participants were impressed by her contribution as government advisor, who also has her roots in the region, strengthening the relevance of the event.
On a local level we have done a lot of site visits and interviews with inhabitants and entrepreneurs from the region. Such as farmers, camping owners, fisherman and divers. Giving us a better understanding of the delta and the existing relations.
Global challenges
The region stands at the frontline of climate change due to its position between the coast and several internal waters. The flood of 1953 created a fear for the dynamic landscape of a delta and a major plan with dikes and sluices was installed. At the same time the flood of 2021 (in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany) caused anxiety related to the several rivers leading into the sea. The project Schelde Ensemble tackles several dilemma’s dealing with regional issues. Think of coastal protection in relation to sand erosion, freshwater supply against salinization or turning sluices into dams to protect inland but damaging local ecosystems.
Discussions about water security and environmental ethical approaches in the Southwestern Delta are also relevant for a much larger part of the Netherlands. The different transitions (climate adaptation, energy transition, circular economy) where the region is dealing with, are representative for the Netherlands and (delta)regions elsewhere. We have for example already researched several other delta regions such as Jakarta, Sussex and New Orleans. Every region has its specificities, but learned lessons and an array of approaches can be shared to foster adaptive living.
Discussions about water security and environmental ethical approaches in the Southwestern Delta are also relevant for a much larger part of the Netherlands. The different transitions (climate adaptation, energy transition, circular economy) where the region is dealing with, are representative for the Netherlands and (delta)regions elsewhere. We have for example already researched several other delta regions such as Jakarta, Sussex and New Orleans. Every region has its specificities, but learned lessons and an array of approaches can be shared to foster adaptive living.
Learning transferred to other parties
The objectives behind Schelde Ensemble, focussing on long term perspectives, network thinking and water consciousness, and the methodology we use to obtain them are applicable in different contexts. That methodology would be to experiment with thinking through other perspectives as a way to look more broadly at the impact of design solutions on a regional scale. We would be able to replicate the facilitation of these conversations and processes to other contexts.
Also, the interdisciplinary approach on how we worked through fieldwork and between scientific and political institutions, and local inhabitants is a process that can be transferred and beneficial for several layers in society. The methodological approaches, the situatedness between several layers of society and the ability to visualise and portray possible futures in an aesthetically appealing way through spatial design, is something we can replicate to several regions.
Also, the interdisciplinary approach on how we worked through fieldwork and between scientific and political institutions, and local inhabitants is a process that can be transferred and beneficial for several layers in society. The methodological approaches, the situatedness between several layers of society and the ability to visualise and portray possible futures in an aesthetically appealing way through spatial design, is something we can replicate to several regions.
Keywords
Network thinking
Political decision making
Water related challenges
Climate change
Non-human perspectives
