Designing for Complexity: Climate Adaptation & Systems Change with Matthijs Bouw (One Architecture and Urbanism)

How do you design for a crisis that’s already happening—and constantly changing? In this episode of Renaturing for Resilience , host Stewart Monti speaks with Matthijs Bouw , founder of One Architecture and Urbanism, about the role of design in navigating climate complexity, institutional inertia, and social vulnerability . Matthijs shares insights from decades of work across the Netherlands and the U.S., helping cities confront sea level rise, flooding, and climate risk through long-term, multi-scalar approaches to resilience. We explore: Why climate adaptation requires designers to embrace systems thinking Lessons from Rebuild by Design and community-led resilience in New York and the Bay Area The limits of traditional infrastructure and the case for multi-benefit, iterative solutions How resilience isn’t just about protection—it’s about governance, equity, and cultural change This episode explores how design can help institutions evolve, communities adapt, and cities become not just more resilient—but more just and responsive.