Chronologies of a (sub)urbanized territory: Reimagining (sub)urbanization processes in southwest Flanders, Belgium

Abstract

Chronologies of a (Sub)urbanized Territory explores how the depth and scope of an atlas can be increased through a careful engineering of the interplay between its constituent maps. This research aims to develop a structure for an atlas that can include the plural and often very diverse historical processes affecting the territory without jeopardizing the coherence of the atlas as a whole.

Chronologies of a (Sub)urbanized Territory explores the perpetual reproduction of the heavily (sub)urbanized territory in southwest Flanders. The atlas is comprised of three diachronic map series: Frames, A Classic Chronology and Interrelations. Each series pictures the passage of time in a specific way and therefore offers a distinct ‘take' on the history of the region. Perpendicular to these three diachronic map series, synchronic readings of the territory can be composed: the variation between the three series in terms of scale, and in the categories that are displayed, enable the reader to gain a multi-angled perspective on specific spatial phenomena at delimited periods of time. The different components of the atlas, and how they interrelate, are clarified by a metamap. The metamap is not merely a top-down organizational tool, but is intended to form the basis from which the reader can start to construct his or her own interpretations of the territory.

‘Phenomena intersect, to see but one is to see nothing.’

Victor Hugo (as cited in Jarvis 1997 )

Keywords:

• historical atlas; passage of time
• change
• landscape
• transformation
• territory
• suburbanisation
• metamap

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all those who have contributed to this article. The FWO Research Foundation Flanders is funding the PhD research of Bieke Cattoor. We are foremost indebted to inter-municipal organization Leiedal, and especially to its director Karel Debaere, for giving us the opportunity to collaborate on the writing/drawing of a biography of the Leiedal region (De Meulder B., Hoornaert S., Van Herck K. (Eds.) 2010). This laid the foundations for Chronologies of a (sub)urbanized territory. Joeri De Bruyn and Karina Van Herck helped formulate the captions that accompany the maps. Hilde Heynen, Lieven De Cauter, Kelly Shannon and Michael Ryckewaert commented on the atlas. We would like to express our gratitude to Steven Hoornaert, Greet De Block, Brecht Dewaele and Yves Segers, Nele Plevoets, Janina Gosseye with Karina Van Herck and Katrien Theunis, Michael Ryckewaert and Maarten Van Acker who provided input into, respectively, the first and second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth maps of the Interrelations series. Last but not least, we would like to thank Helen Simpson for showing patience and dedication in editing the English text.