Drentsche Aa Landscape Vision

The 30,000 hectare Drentsche River Aa area comprises mainly three landscape units: stream valleys, old cultivation mounds, and fields (both heathland and recent transformation to agricultural lands and forests). This structure has become more and more obscure in the last few decades. The amount of forests, trees and shrubs has increased substantially, which is why, for example, the contrasts between large-scale open areas and small-scale closed areas have weakened. Hence the region is gradually losing not only its organizing structure, but also its beautiful dramatic potential.

The landscape plan is based on an in-depth, visual, integrated analysis of the landscape, made in cooperation with historical geographers and archaeologists, and its historical development. That development goes back approximately 6,000 years. Design principles are inspired by all phases of history. The plan is based both on history and on nature values and outlines a solution for contemporary conflicts and dilemmas. The new landscape must be strong enough to accommodate new developments.

The plan is predominantly a design approach and contains a large number of proposals on all scales, each consistent with the others, which accentuate the landscape and improve the legibility of the historical elements. Using a number of trial projects, a provocative perspective on the future is presented in which new developments are envisaged in a powerful and pro-active landscape.

Berno Strootman has been awarded the Harry de Vroome medal for the landscape plan.