During the second half of the 20th century the spatial development of the Netherlands was dominated by a planning paradigm based on the clear territorial separation between urban extension and rural development. This strategic concept was supported and elaborated by a political, legal, technical and scientific arrangement and was expressed by the two major colors on the planning map: development was either green (food production, nature conservation) or red (housing, industry). There were no exceptions to that rule. Only recently this doctrine became subject to discussion form various angles.
Urban farming, leisure facilities, energy production, water management, infrastructure and regional shrinkage ask for new planning concepts and procedures that mess up the original division between city life and landscape quality. Landscape architects actively participate in this debate and produce design proposals for a more differentiated daily environment.