An acutely relevant account of recent solutions to flooding in Europe

This important book tells the multifaceted story of humankind's relationship with flooding, a story that is permeated with a history of both worship and fear. Modern water engineering has turned plains and valleys into fully inhabitable environments. At the same time, those environments have become highly vulnerable to climate change. In efforts to prevent future floods, countries are rediscovering adaptation strategies: making room for flooding, redistributing risks and reconsidering the use and legal status of floodplains.

Through historical investigations and six contemporary projects implemented in four European countries, Floodscapes illustrates how flood-mitigation measures can be embedded in local space and culture. Merged with landscape development, agriculture, recreation, nature, and even urban growth, river management becomes a design issue, giving landscape architects and urban designers a prominent role in future transitions. This book provides an in-depth look into the most common natural disaster in the US, and the innovative solutions that have arisen.