Interviews for ‘MensenWerk’

Posted on by Sarah

Mensenwerk interviewees

In October 2016, SPcitI launched the research-by-design study ‘MensenWerk – The Future of Urban Living, Planning for the Unknown’, in collaboration with a group of stakeholder and experts. With this project, we want to start an initiative to study the spatial impact of the transition of work in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Region (MRA).

The work landscape is changing rapidly. It could even be spoken about a new industrial revolution – with flexibility, democratization and robotization as key words. Everything around us changes at such a high pace that it is almost elusive. Technological and social innovations demand more and more adaptation at the workplace and the future is becoming less predictable. In fact, only one constant remains; continuous change. But the transition of work involves more than economic and social issues, spatial issues also play a critical role. Space and spatial planning, however, change slower than use, and thus run the risk of falling behind the rapid economic and technological developments. This raises the issue of spatial development, as an open and flexible process, that should adapt to the unknown, yet urgent challenges of the future. 

Throughout March and April 2017, SPcitI interviewed a series of key  figures closely related to this subject: F. Kalshoven (de Argumentenfabriek), Prof. M. Kremer (WRR/UvA), B. Bruins (UWV/Connexxion), M. ten Hoonte (Randstad), J. van Antwerpen (SADC), A. Spork (House of Skills, Economic Affairs, municipality of Amsterdam), E. Ravenhorst en E. Spronck (de Cooperatieve Samenleving), Prof. J.Grin (UvA) and last Friday AJ. Krater (Instituut voor Publieke Waarden). During 1,5h long interviews with open-ended questions, we debated the transition of work and challenged everyone of our interviewees to think about possible spatial impacts. The results will be summarized in the form of statements, that are part of a pre-publication in July 2017.

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ISOCARP 2016 Article: The Future of Urban Living

Posted on by Sarah

ISOCARP The future of Urban Living

During the 2016 52nd ISOCARP Congress in Durban, South Africa, Miranda Schut presented a paper entitled “The future of Urban Living: New Forms of Work – Planning for the Unknown in Amterdam”. The paper was part of the congress fourth track “Urban Planning and Policy Making in Times of Uncertainty, Fragility & Insecurity” and introduced SPCitI’s research-by-design project in Amsterdam’s Metropolitan Region (MRA). 

The project’s goal is to identify the main themes that will drive changes into the future of work and that will have relevant impact on spatial planning in the MRA. With the continuous and fast-paced change induced by technological innovation and social developments, new perspectives need to be developed to address the development and growth of urban environments. This does not only apply to the MRA but also to other major cities in the Europe and beyond.

SPCitI study explores, among others, the topics of housing, healthcare, mobility and food chains and aims to gain a better understanding of the spatial principles, frameworks and development strategies that shape the city. In a later phase, the project will investigate, urban policy implications, tools and planning strategies.

The article provides insights into the issues that are addressed by the project, the methodology and the principles underlying the research.  

Check Miranda’s presentation and read her paper here. 

For the complete ISOCARP publication, check the ISOCARP Congress 2016 report page.

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ISIGE-Mines ParisTech on a Field Trip to Amsterdam

Posted on by Sarah

ISIGE Field Trip Amsterdam

Last week, a group of students of the ISIGE Institute, enrolled in the master program “ingenierie et gestion de l’environment” (environmental engineering and management) at the Ecole des Mines de Paris were in Amsterdam. The one-week long trip, guided by Miranda Schut, introduced the students group to different initiatives within the areas of the circular economy and social innovation in Amsterdam and included site visits and presentations by different local entrepreneurs, researchers and experts.

During this trip the students discovered the newest residential neighborhoods of Amsterdam: NKSM, Java Eiland and Ijburg; the formerly industrial site of Buiksloterham, now the site of Amsterdam’s first circular neighborhood, and the creative district of NDSM. Presentations on Amsterdam’s waterfront development by Gert Urhahn, innovation by and for citizens by Ivonne Jansen-Dings from the Waag Society and the presentation of the two research projects R-Link and Co-ReUs completed the students overview on the city’s urban innovation ecosystem.

To round the trip, the visit covered also socially innovative projects in Amsterdam through a visit to two initiatives in the eastern part of the city: BOOST where a group of local residents, young entrepreneurs and refugees collaborate to create integration opportunities for Amsterdam newest residents and the Zero Wate Lab, a neighborhood initiative for waste recycling and upcycling. 

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Linking Urban Farming and Urban Planning in Times of Crisis: Food Strategies for the Al Za’atari Camp

Posted on by Bernardina borra

Urban Farming in Al Za'atari Camp
In July 2016, SPCitI, in collaboration with RUAF, conducted a second mission to Al Za’atari Camp in Marfraq, Jordan. This second field work assignment is a follow-up to the first scoping mission organized in 2015 and commissioned by VNG International. During this last expedition, a number of interventions were identified to support the development of small scale integrated food production initiatives for host and refugee communities in Mafraq. These interventions are to be linked to the infrastructural framework and planning scenarios developed by VNG International and the municipality of Amsterdam within the framework of the LOGO Rep program. The program aims to bridge the gap between short-term humanitarian aid and long-term sustainable development in the region by preparing the ground for initiatives connecting people, food, water, products and services.

Read more about the project in RUAF’s Urban Agriculture Magazine.

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Porto Novo “Ville Verte”, Benin

Posted on by Sarah

Porto-Novo Ville Verte

In the first two weeks of February, the French NGO ‘Les Ateliers‘ organised a workshop in Porto-Novo, the capital city of Benin in West Africa. Two teams of 12 international experts, of which Miranda, brainstormed to identify directions for the development of the ‘Porto-Novo, Ville Verte’ project. The project, which involves five partners (City of Porto-Novo, FFEM, AFD, the cities of Grand Lyon and Cergy-Pontoise) aims to create a sustainable urban development plan. The city, qualified as ‘sleeping beauty’ by the workshop participants, is not taking advantage of the development happening in the large West-African urban corridor that stretches from Abidjan to Lagos, and is lacking a comprehensive and integrated city vision.

Porto-Novo Ville Verte Mobility

Themes included resilience to climate change, sustainable and inclusive development, conservation of biodiversity and natural resources, economic and demographic growth, densification and peri-urban agriculture. The team worked on 3 key strategies (economy, mobility and urbanisation) that are firmly rooted in the existing environmental qualities, cultural identity and local economic potential of the city. The next step will be the creation of a framework based on the workshop that can serve as a base for a sustainable urban development plan.

Credit: Photo by Romarick Atoke

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