Integrated Design for Public Space: Climate Adaptation and Spatial Quality in Het Hogeland

This paper introduces an integrated guideline for designing public spaces in the Het Hogeland municipality that brings together climate adaptation, cultural heritage, and social well‑being. The guideline applies the “Analyse – Ambition – Action” framework and four ambition levels: maintain, optimize, strengthen, and transform. The methodology enables value-informed and cross-disciplinary decision-making and provides a systematic basis for generating representative public space profiles that guide resilient and inclusive design across different spatial contexts. The outcomes of this approach offer clarity and a systemic overview of spatial and temporal processes, supporting participatory planning and coherent prioritization across municipal domains. By providing an integrated structure that links ambitions, values, and spatial interventions, the methodology enhances the capacity of local governance to navigate future uncertainties. This innovative approach can be scaled up for international knowledge exchange on urban planning and governance, with a particular focus on climate adaptation in response to increasing climate risks and extreme weather events (IPCC, 2023 & CDRI, 2025).