Author Archives: Mathias lehner

Do you recognize missing the right words to describe how to work on #futureproofcities? We talk about the need for more ‘#green‘, sure. But what kind of ‘green’ works when we design, plant and maintain our streets and buildings to make cities more liveable?

And then there is this Dutch saying that a great idea is “spreading like an oil stain” (in meaning similar to “spreading like a wildfire”). Being either fossil or fairly catastrophic both sayings are far from appropriate when you want to describe the positive impact of sustainable #designthinking.

So we have been thinking about writing a little dictionary about #natureinclusivecities. Not a thick book, but some essentials: A first step into finding the proper words in a conversation, and to better understand each other.

I am super happy that Provincie Utrecht has embraced this idea and has agreed to publish this ‘Little Natural Dictionary’ (‘Natuurlijk Woordenboekje’). Many thanks to Wendy van Poppel, Nancy Rullens en Pim Kimenai. The publication will be a co-production with them and co-author Jip Louwe Kooijmans. An expert commitee of Harry Boeschoten, Maike van Stiphout and #youngprofessionals will review and advise the proces. The publication is due in the beginning of 2026. Keep you posted!

How to make #spaceforwork in the existing city weave is just one of the crucial issues in urban development today. And sometimes you just have to go to see for yourself how others do that. I am grateful to Koert-Jan Van Hees and Marc den Hertog for co-organizing a study trip to some of the most published projects on stacking work and housing: #NovaCity and #CityCampus, both developed by citydev.brussels.

It was fantastic to visit these urbanistic projects on site from the inside and outside, accompanied by explanations of the experts Oana Bogdan of &bogdan architects and Somesh Barot of citydev.brussels. But not enough, director Nathalie Renneboog, took time to explain the goals, strategies and lessons learned at CityDev in the past years, next to welcoming us at the inspiring #CityFab and BRUSSELS GREENBIZZ.

And the best thing is: Our trip to study how to work on growth with quality in Gemeente Zaanstad attracted a much larger group then expected. We traveled with a truly integral selection of experts from #projectdevelopment, #economy, #housing, #publicspace and #socialdevelopment. To top it all off, colleagues from befriended cities in The Netherlands joined our group to acquire knowledge in realtime and on site, together with us.

Experts from the industry, municipalities and higher education discussed the future of work and industry within the city limits as a fare-well congress for strategist of economy Casper de Canne who has bonded Gemeente Zaanstad with local and international industries for many years.

As a strategist, city architect and not in the last place a professional jester I was honoured that Casper asked me to moderate the debate with Cees-Jan Pen, Ad van Vugt and Frank van de Lustgraaf. Many thanks for their insights, views on business opportunities and strategic advice such as the idea of founding a #workingcorporation for affordable space for work.

Also thanks to Jan Schreuder and Ellen Vlottes for the wonderful collaboration and mayor Jan Hamming, eldermen Stephanie Onclin MSc and René Tuijn and head of economy and sustainability Damir Dulovic for crowning the afternoon with their presence and inspiring words.

SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE!

Working on #urbanstrategies, #spatialsolutions and strengthening #sustainability within an international context is rewarding and fun! And then there are these moment when professionals or students approach you with serious and critical questions for their projects, researches or own practice: A wonderful opportunity to reflect, prioritize and sharpen your thoughts. And also to check if what you think is right really is 🙂 What’s a better investment in our profession than jointly develop and pass on knowledge and experience? So: Share your knowledge!

The new educational year barely started and I was honoured with a sudden wave of these inspiring dialogues. Julia Klapwijk, for example, a Master student of Complex Systems Engineering and Management at Delft University of Technology questioned me abouth the value and current status of nature inclusive strategies. Franklin Yasha a Master student of Business Management and Digital leadership of the Mannheim Hochschule der Wirtschaft für Management (University of Applied Management Studies) was interested in the relation between natureinclusivity and #SmartCities (!). And finally Kirsten Schipper was interested in my former work at BNA on architectural offices to improve their practice by #workinginternationally. Her article will go into a publication of the #CollegevanRijksadviseurs, which shall be presented by Rijksbouwmeester Francesco Veenstra later this year.

I am thrilled that this year’s Nature Inclusive Building Congres Natuurlijk has chosen a topic that is very important to my work as a #strategist: #Health.

But not enough: I am honoured to deliver one of the workshop sessions on the 27th of November 2025 in the beautiful Hanse city of Gemeente Zwolle.

Together with my colleagues Lisan Adolf and Hanneke Van Lindert we are addressing the topic of long term benefits for health, with a focus on #natureinclusivecities. We are happy to present determining factors, new research and insights – and what we actually can do about it. All of it nicely packaged in an interactive format for this workshop. See you there?

More information on the event is online soon.

Recently the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA) enquired if I would be available to contribute another design case to the Built Environment students in fall 2025. After having guided students wo look at Transit Oriented Development and how to make a river the centre of a city again in the recent semesters, I am puzzled to commission an nwe task with the curriculum of Designing Future Cities.

In the past semesters for both the students and Zaanstad Municipality it had proven inspirational and challenging to address some key elements of the Urban Development Plan of this fastly growing city. And I was impressed by the solutions and work ethics of the young students!

Let’s find out in the coming months which challenge can be addressed this fall!

It’s great to see that that Zaanstad Academy is programming two sessions on ‘Urban Develoment Plans for Dummies’ as a reprise over the coming summer months as part of their Summer Academy program. Together with my colleague and co-creator of this format, Anne Langenesch, I will be heading these succesful workshops, after inspiring editions in 2024.

The interactives sessions are set up to investigate with colleagues from all areas of the organization how we can envisage the future of the city, how to experience the vision of something abstract like an urban development plan and how to make this practical within your professional work.

Looking forward to meet new an know colleagues and dive into the world of 2040 and beyond!

Out now right on time after the summer holidays! The new programme of the educational sessions within the continous professional training programme #NewZaanstad at Gemeente Zaanstad! In Q3 and Q4 2025 there will be trainings, workshops, documentaries and an international excursion to #NovaCity by citydev.brussels in #Brussels!

The executive program is open to professionals within the municipal organisation and their partners in the field who are jointly interested in learning how to implement the hashtag#UrbanDevelopment Plan and the social vision, both adopted government policies as the base for collective actions towards a developoment and growth with quality.

The team working on this programme includes Marc den Hertog, Lisa Schouten, Meike Westers, Frida Ruhulessin, Hilde Bloemers next to Koert-Jan Van Hees, Lennart Graaff and Rianne Kleine Koerkamp.

No joke! Before the summer I finished my training to become a professional jester. A role known from the past, but with a modern twist the role of a jester may just be appropriate to ensure that reality remains part of the discussion on complex matters.

Did you know that there are sixteen roles that the professional jester can excercise to facilitate and start meaningful conversations in complex environments? A set of tools that is very welcome if your are a strategist and advisor in large companies and orgnisations!

It was wonderful to learn about influencing and stimulating necessary discussion with the fellow students in this series of trainings, and I was happy to see than also one of my cases from my professional environment was used as exercise material in the course, with many insights as a benefit!

The training is available via Het Narrengilde (the image is (c) Narrengilde, too).

How to design future proof cities? This was the topic of this year’s design studio series at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. I was honoured to contribute to the students’s education as a commissioner, critic and lecturer and bring in the River Zaan as a design task.

Three teams of students from the Netherlands and abroad made an impressive effort to design future proof scenario’s for the river as a lifeline for Zaanstad. And the best thing: all teams made beautiful models, either laser cut or 3D printed – next to the nowadays obligatory renderings generated by artifical intelligence software. I see a wonderful comeback of the maquette as an essential tool for urban and architectural design!

Thanks to all the students in the Zaanstad teams, and a big shout out to the other students working in the design studios on Amsterdam, Almere and micro housing. Compliments to Mariska van Walsum (also for the images) and Erik Anton de Graaf for guiding the course and inviting me to work with the students!