Building in the countryside encounters much societal resistance because we assume it always comes at the expense of existing green value. But is this assumption justified? While the countryside may look green, over the span of half a century, it has slowly transformed into an ecological desert due to intensive livestock farming and arable agriculture.
Climate change strengthens this effect.

It is therefore time for a more proactive approach to the countryside and the value it represents. Construction should, due to its economic transformative power, be part of this approach.

The discussion about red (buildings) and green (nature) is highly polarized: nature comes at the expense of construction. But is that really the case? It should be possible to combine 'red and green'—to create buildings that actually add landscape and ecological value. Housing, on one hand, serves as a financial engine for restoring landscapes and biodiversity, while also bringing more Dutch people into daily contact with nature. Why isn’t construction more often combined with the production of food and resources? New forms of agriculture, using natural pest control and small-scale machinery, can be well integrated with housing. How wonderful would it be to live in a food forest or orchard!

It’s high time to view housing differently. Not as a necessary evil that only harms the landscape, but as a lever for the development of nature and landscapes.

Rooted architecture contributes to strengthening nature by seamlessly integrating buildings into their surroundings. This is achieved through the use of natural, plant-based materials such as reed, hemp, flax, and wood, which are harvested locally. It also involves processing waste streams from food production into sustainable building materials.

By applying green roofs, organic shapes, and a smooth transition from the roof to the ground, a natural landscape is created, where animals can freely move over and around the building. Nature is not removed, but rather restored. Rooted architecture is nature-inclusive and also provides nesting opportunities for birds, bats, and small mammals. In this way, a building can contribute to rich biodiversity and harmonious coexistence with its environment.

With the growth of cities, the distance between people and the production of our food has increased. As a result, we are less connected to the value of our food and the impact of production on our landscape.

Moreover, this makes us vulnerable in times of crisis. In residential landscapes, food production plays an important role. By combining small-scale, ecological agriculture with housing, food production comes closer to people, and communities become more self-sufficient and resilient. It encourages participation in the production of one's own food and fosters connections within a community.

Combining housing, nature, and agriculture can serve as a transition model toward more sustainable and nature-inclusive agriculture, including new revenue models for farmers.