Landscape Matters Issue 4 FINAL - Flipbook - Page 26
Book reviews
7.2
Frederic L.M. Rossano, Floodscapes: Contemporary Landscape Strategies in Times of Climate Change.
Rotterdam: nai010 publishers, 2021; with support from: the
French Ministry of Culture and Communication, Bureau of
Architectural, Urban and Landscape Research (BRAUP) and
AMUP Research Laboratory. 17x24cm, 270 pages, 150 illustrations in colour. ISBN 978-94-6208-525-1.
The risk of flooding and especially catastrophic flood events
has increased in the past decades as a direct consequence
of climate change. As explained in the introduction to this
book, ‘the combination of rising sea levels, increasing climatic
fluctuations and urban sprawl accentuate the risks incurred
by flood plains’ (p.11). This book, which explores various landscape architecture approaches intended to mitigate these
risks, is therefore welcome. This topical issue is explored and
illustrated through the comparative analysis of contemporary
projects. The author, a trained landscape architect, is drawing
on both his experience as a practitioner and researcher as a
way to assess flood mitigating measures and highlight successful approaches to inform future practices. His main objective is to provide inspiration and demonstrate the possibilities
to reconcile the natural phenomenon of flooding with human
activities. The various case studies are located in Western Europe and include: the Isar in Bavaria, Germany; the Meerstad
in Groningen, The Netherlands; the Isere valley in France; the
upper Rhone Valley in the canton of Valais in Switzerland; and
‘Room for the River’ project in The Netherlands.
The comparative analysis of the case studies is put into context through a particularly interesting first chapter entitled
‘God, The River and the Engineer’. In this chapter, the author
argues that flood prevention needs to be underpinned by
strong concepts and narratives. He looks into myths and stories related to floods before providing an historic overview of
