Bridges over troubled waters

Humans have a very strange relationship with the Earth we live on, and our interaction with water is even more complex. We have not taken good care of our global well. Rivers, oceans and waves have been shamefully used and abused for defensive, exploratory and economic reasons.

This 5th CROSSTALKS book presents a series of great academic and corporate projects that address the challenges associated with water governance and environmental issues, intertwined with contributions by world-class artists who give us a language to discuss these challenges in a metaphorical yet often crystal clear way.

The specific situation of the Zenne valley and the City of Brussels is a perfect test case for urban development all over the world in which water and rivers again play a major role, and where there are many gaps to be bridged between regional policymakers, decision takers, developers, architects and citizens.

... the water in which we were born, is troubled by people

The Water Spirit in the opera Rusalka by Antonin Dvorák

I believe that we need to make nature tangible and relevant to people in order to add clarity to the discussion of natural resources.

Olafur Eliasson

Not only have water services been financialized and privatized, but so has the core concept of living together.

Riccardo Petrella