The Language of Water. De taal van het water

This book explores the intricate role of water within urban and territorial landscapes,
addressing urgent challenges like those predicted for Belgium, where water stress is
anticipated to be extreme by 2040. The book posits that water is more than a physical
resource—it actively shapes cities and landscapes through its complex cycles and
interactions within infrastructure. By treating water as a "language" within the urban
landscape, the book seeks to decipher this "language" by examining its physical elements, from natural flows to engineered systems like pipes and sewers, highlighting how water infrastructure forms a network that spans both visible and invisible layers within the cityscape.
Divided into structured parts, the book begins with a "reading" phase, analyzing the forms and governance of water infrastructure and mapping its vocabulary, syntax, and grammar as one would with any complex language. This process involves categorizing water elements (vocabulary), understanding connections (sentences), and synthesizing interactions (syntax) to interpret water’s role in shaping urban space. The book ultimately applies these insights to the Dender valley’s Bellebeek catchment area, a representative landscape within Flanders, illustrating how water’s complexity can be both observed and re-imagined in ways that offer innovative perspectives on planning and managing urban water resources.