In light of extreme urbanization trends, this paper summarizes the conclusions of a three-month research collaboration facilitated by the Creative Industries Fund NL under the Building Talent program and addresses the big challenge of preserving contested undefined open green space. With an emphasis on the Randstad, the project conducts exploratory research on a series of pivotal urban parks, green-blue structures, and metropolitan landscapes as key elements of urban spatial quality. The key outcome of the research is the development of an atlas of radical spaces with a historic, spatial quality and cultural meaning. The atlas is the research and design tool that enables the start of a conversation, allowing our circle of professionals, researchers and policy makers to draw their own conclusions in the perception and value of urban and metropolitan landscapes.

Highlighted by the recent 2021 flood events in Europe, this research takes the momentum to underline the necessity for radical solutions that embrace uncertain and extreme discharges at the core of planning and design frameworks. Building upon existing Adaptive Management practices in the Netherlands, this research takes the experience of the Room for the River programme to discuss the challenges and opportunities arising from its (eventually inevitable) upscaling in the context of the Netherlands. It does so by means of two spatial and two managerial inquiries to draw conclusions on the complexities and entry points to shift towards large-scale change through small-scale interventions.