In times of global urgencies and new spatial claims for #climateadaptation, #energytranstion or #mobilitytransition – to name a few – #spatialquality and the power of strategic and holistic #designthinking is more needed than ever. Until June 2026 Ahmad Attar will do research on how the role of #cityarchitect (in Dutch ‘#stadsbouwmeester’) can contribute to this quest.
The research project focusses on how municipalities ensure spatial quality by the means of a city architect, and how such a spatial expert is placed in the organisational network. The research is carried out at the Strategy Department at Gemeente Zaanstad headed by Wouter van der Heijde. With his qualitative research Ahmad will conclude his studies of public administration at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.
Having worked in the role of a stadsbouwmeester myself for some time now and having exchanged professional views with others in the field I was intrigued by the variety of the meaning, extent and impact of this role throughout the Netherlands. Also, I was surprised about the little collaboration, exchange and evaluation. It is great to see that the College van Rijksbouwmeester & Rijksadviseurs is also conducting an additonal study, in order to highlight the added value of these particular spatial professionals, after their earlier research by noud de vreeze and Max van Aerschot in 2010. ‘Every city deserves a city architect!’
*The image above is a fragment of the cover of the CrA publication from 2010.