Contemporary uncertainty regarding future climate fundamentally reflects concerns about the spatial, temporal distribution of water resources, as well as the availability of fresh water. Landscape-based stormwater management systemsrespond to these challenges by addressing both severe droughts, devastating floods, improving water quality, integrating water cycles with urban forms. LbSMS respond to ecological, social imperatives while possessing unique aesthetics. This study started from the hypothesis that such aesthetics may play a “performative” role within the system by adding a cultural dimension to the more evident environmental, economic aspects of sustainability. This study interpreted the aesthetics that characterise LbSMS, using a methodology based on case study analysis, hermeneutics.Eight cases at the forefront of current design worldwide, located in different urban, sociocultural contexts were selected, which provided exemplary responses to diverse climate change-related threats.Data were retrieved using a framework developed by the authors for this study, which consists of12subitems organized under4items: sociocultural constructs, site conditions, design features, functions, processes.The information was interpreted, discussed according to Elizabeth Meyer’s11tenets manifesto “Sustaining Beauty: The Performance of Appearance”.The study concluded that the proposed methodology was instrumental in interpreting LbSMS, identifying its performative beauty. This methodology provides an additional valuable perspective to state-of-the-art studies in this field. The research concludes that exemplary LbSMS, through their synergistic response to a systemic problem, help create, promote a culture of sustainability that transcends ecological performance. This is achieved by designs that prioritise the dynamism of natural processes over natural forms, highlighting the art of landscape design, constructing experiences rooted in local contexts, histories. Ultimately, the authors highlight that the distinct resilient beauty of LbSMS emerges from how designers read, interpret the current disturbance regimes of extreme weather, flooding, drought, uncertainty, risk. The study concludes with a combination of categories of beauty, the sublime that characterises LbSMS aesthetics, conveying symbolism around water that unifies world regions in coping with climate stress.
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