The Connection Between Regional Designing and Spatial Planning

Regional designing envisions and develops possible and desirable regional future scenarios, including how they can come about. It is a particular envisioning method used to draw up strategic spatial plans and, as such, is closely entwined with spatial planning. Regional designing has become a regular practice in the Netherlands, which is the context explored in this chapter. Dutch regional design practice teaches us that, like other kinds of designing, regional designing is highly contextual. It adapts and responds to the characteristics of a situation. Regional design projects build on a thorough understanding of the planning situation and the issues at hand, and they are tailor-made to fit that situation. In turn, regional designing aims to enhance the planning situation. It affects and influences the aims of planning, the planning process and/or the conditions of spatial planning. These effects arise from an iterative regional design process in which the expertise of the designer(s), the interaction with stakeholders and a proper embeddedness in its context are critical factors. Relationships and networks, as well as mutual understanding and shared concepts develop during the regional design process. They become strong assets in pressurised spatial planning situations that need to adapt and change their organisational structure.