The question of the elaboration of a spatial vision on Roeselare-West remains: How to mesh the various transformation mechanisms so that the multiplication of incre-mental transformations generates a more coherent landscape? Hence, the question becomes to what degree spatial coherence is possible. In other words, we test the
capacity of the specific space to function as a bearing surface and aligner for the var-ious uses of space. A double hypothesis examines future workable combinations of structure and use. The first hypothesis investigates coherence as a long-term spatial structure onto which dynamics of use can be grafted and can interact. The second hypothesis is based on the processes that steer landscape formation. It investigates how a given actor can contribute to landscape coherence through his/her use of space: the possible spatial coherence generated via repetitive incremental actions of a certain type and with a short-term interval.
The first hypothesis examines a structural figure that is already latent in the ex-isting landscape. It is a figure that can function as a bearing surface by aligning transformations without disregarding their interaction or the larger whole. So we postulate that the articulation of a physical landscape feature can serve as a tool to generate coherence in a landscape throughout future development. This figure is a morphological frame. It allows perception of a logical whole regardless of the complexity of the parts, to keep an overview, regardless of the number of transfor-mations that occur. In our search for this figure, all natural and spatial configurations that actors produce, and have produced up to this day, are taken into account. The layered analysis of the existing (see Fig. 1) has made the specificity of the landscape structure intelligible. In the case of Roeselare-West the actual structure turns out to be a dispersed amalgamation of various spatial patterns. The latent figure that could be articulated through the process of spatial restructuring is a collage: a blow-up ver-sion of the landscape mosaic with the mesh as the structuring element. The detected latent collage that can be articulated has no prioritising spatial hierarchy, it expresses the existing diversity, but at the same time generates spatial entities by grouping (see Fig. 8).
In a second hypothesis various scenarios measure the bearing capacity of the actual space from the specific perspective of one actor.2These scenarios anticipate a specific land use need and test the landscape’s capacity to bear this dynamic.
They imagine in spatial terms the possibly coherent development of one specific transformation mechanism affecting agriculture, industry, nature or dwelling. They do this by highlighting and extending to the extreme a particular use or transforma-tion parameter in an otherwise static landscape. This happens in accordance with qualitative criteria based on ‘legitimacy’.
The legitimacy of a certain type of use is based on topography, hydrology, ex-isting soil suitability maps for the various agricultural practices, present users and accompanying spatial patterns, the existing opening up of a space, the (remaining) ecological value, landscape value, etc. As such, the various scenarios test possible coherent development in the light of the actual spatial characteristics.
For the Roeselare-West case study, two ecological development scenarios were developed (see Fig. 7). Both follow the line of least resistance. The first makes use of existing and valuable nature fragments for which possible ecological network extensions and creations are tested through the use of corridors and stepping stones. This resulted in the identification of plots with the least suitable soil for agricultural production and areas with valuable landscape relics. In addition, wa-ter network improvements and increases in the wawa-ter surface were tested using the existing creek system and – still open – wetlands.
250m
least suitable soil for agricultural production lot with ecological value existing agricultural lots landscape with historical value
Fig. 7 Scenarios depicting legitimate space for future developments in Roeselare-West. The first two scenarios examine how nature development can contribute to landscape coherence through the development of an ecological system and an improved water network. The third figure represents a scenario that enables more coherent development of pig farming in relation to a legitimate freight traffic network
As well as these nature development scenarios, the various dynamics present in the agricultural sector were extrapolated in a number of agricultural landscape scenarios. The points of departure were the existing agricultural plots, onto which
qualitative filters were successively applied so that only a selection of plots qual-ified for specific development. Where pig farming is concerned, the least suitable plots for crop farming were selected and qualified in a different manner, using the distance between the farm and residential concentrations as criterion. A dendritic network is seen as a legitimate freight traffic network and replaces the grid road network.
This set of scenarios is developed as a way of unfolding the landscape as a num-ber of parallel landscapes: a set of different landscapes each addressing a specific land use need and thus landscapes that are simultaneously aimed for.3As ideal sec-toral models – solo games of selected actors – they illustrate the open development process applied to the territory. However, they are not used as alternative ideas of the future but rather to question the superimposition of the landscape. Placed on top of one another, the various scenarios reveal similarities and contradictions caused by the simultaneous presence of various actors. Together with the landscape char-acteristic of hypothesis 1, they enable us to move towards the imagination of the desirable.
At this point a spatial synthesis of various selective scenarios is turned into an aggregated and coherent vision of the area.