Author Archives: Mathias lehner

I am honoured that the IZES (Institute for future Energy and Resource systems), part of HTW Saar in the German Saarland state has invited me to speak about circular economy in fall 2025 on a dedicated conference. Circularity is one of import transitions which can ensure quality of life for the long term, and I am happy to present cases and reflect on the current developments in The Netherlands.

After my key note at ‘Let’s Go Circular!’ at TU Munich some years ago and a subsequent article published in German magazine I am delighted to deliver a key note and update the overview of practical solutions for this issue, one of which of course is a transition in the construction industry, that still is responsible for the largest share of wasted materials today.

Keep in touch on the details and maybe meet you in Saarbruecken in fall!

Earlier this year I was invited by BOKU University Vienna and Biotope City Foundation to speak about my work as city architect and co-author of the urban development plan ‘Making Space’ for Zaanstad Municipality. The online lecture is now available as registration on YouTube.

Please note that the lecture in in German (with slight Austrian accent). The lecture itself is 34 minutes, followed by a longer discussion of 35 minutes with the online audience.

Earlier this month former State Architect Floris Alkemade and me spoke on the urgent matter of how to make space for work in urban development. Floris spoke about he historical background of how cities function, and the past separation of work, housing and infrastucture in cities, which has proven to be wrong. He elaborated on current plans bij himself in e.g. Almere of Paris, on how to bring the different uses together again in cities.

I was honoured to reflect upon, and frankly to affirm, the well researched theses of the former State Architect. Also, i was happy to realize that our Urban Development Plan for Zaanstad is a vision that leads us into the right direction!

At the end of the afternoon the organizers of De Maatschappij rightfully stated that the audience of primarily entrepreneurs from the Zaanstad region had a truly inspiring event, with both larger context and concrete spatial strategies for their own city.

The local newspaper ‘Orkaan’ wrote a comprehensive article about the afternoon here. Copyright of the photographs by Marijn Kerkhoven.

This Spring the commissioner for the Big Spotter’s Hill viewing platform, #RecreatieschapSpaarnwoude, called again after some years. They are thinking of carrying out the second phase of the design of the ‘#MainPort‘ beacon and viewing platform we had designed earlier. The basic structure of the first phase had been realized some years ago.

This second phase entails another, elevated viewing platform high up in the sky, on top of the #MainPort construction in #Vijfhuizen: Imagine #Mysteryland music festival guests dancing into the sunset with a fantastic view until the North Sea coast. Via ondulating stairs visitors can reach the top level platform, which features glass fencing and a glass centre piece for an extra thrill. To be continued!

Former State Architect (College van Rijksbouwmeester & Rijksadviseurs) Floris Alkemade will speak about spatial planning with a focus on work in Zaanstad on 16th of May 2025. The venue is the former ammunition factory on HEMbrugterrein, location of the great ZAMU museum which will open fall 2025.

I am looking forward to co-lecture and discuss with Floris how our visions for the future and today can be realised in Zaanstad. Tickets will soon be available online via the organizers’ websites. See you soon on HEMbrugterrein!

This inspirational and networking afternoon is organized by De Maatschappij Departement Zaanstreek-Waterland and Babel Zaans architectuurplatform, with support of Gemeente Zaanstad. The event will be moderated by Leontine de Koning-Bruggeman.

SPEAKING ABOUT MAKING SPACE FOR WORK IN MEDIUM SIZED CITIES

Let’s meet at the REALCORP conference from 14th to 16th of April 2025 in Graz, Austria. I will be lecturing about the necessity for work within cities. The presentation will take place in the morning session of the 16th of April as part of the urban and rural transformation series in auditorium 4, of FH Johanneum.

Gemeente Zaanstad can be seen as an inspiring example where the recently adopted urban development plan acknowledges ‘making space for work’ with in the city as a key objective. I a honoured to elaborate about one of the principles of the urban development plan, developing a ‘woon-werk-stad’ (city for housing and work), next to a number of key projects within the urban weave such as intensifying an industrial area in the periphery from FSI 0.6 to FSI 2.

https://www.fh-joanneum.at/veranstaltung/real-corp/

Earlier this year Hans Fuchs interviewed me and Marco van Hoek of Amersfoort Municipality on the different approaches when it comes to intensifying industrial estates in our cities. The article comparing the diffent strategies was published in De Blauwe Kamer magazine for ubanists and landscape architect in the beginning of 2025. While Amersfoort also recognizes the urgency of making space for work they developed an approach of acupuncture within the existing city weave.

Zaanstad however, defines development of a mixed-use city of housing and working as one of the key principles in the Urban Development Plan 2040 ‘Making Space’. At the moment colleagues are developing not only a spatial economic strategy, but also define areas and sectors and related ambitions. For example for percentages in surfaces compulsory dedicated to work. When it comes to industrial sites, Zaanstad proposes intensifying the areas radcially, e.g. Achtersluispolder from FSI 0,6 to FSI 2.0.

Read the article online on the website of Blauwe Kamer magazine.

PUBLISHING EXECUTIVE TRAINING PROGRAM

The executive training programme #NewZaanstad is going into the second quarter of 2025. #NewZaanstad is part of the implementation of both, the Urban Development Plan ‘#MakingSpace‘ and the Social Vision of the municipality towards 2040 and beyond.

While focussing upon learning how to practically integrate these visions in the daily work in this rapidly growing city, Noah van de Werff will run an evaluative research on the effects of the program.

The executive program includes master classes, workshops, excursions, trainings and much more. We start off in the second quarter on April 1st with a Master Class by Roy Bijhouwer of Quadrat urbanists and landscape architects.

The editorial team includes Marc den Hertog, Koert-Jan Van Hees, Rianne Kleine Koerkamp, Lennart Graaff next to Lisa Schouten, Meike Westers and newly joined Frida Ruhulessin.

The programme is also open for strategic partners who want to co-create the future of Zaanstad municipality with us. Want to join, or contribute? Just drop me a DM! Looking for forward to great learnings and collaborations!

How can you keep the high ambitions for an urban plan until it is realized?

This question was the central topic of an atelier organized by Utrecht Province on improving nature inclusive building and climate adaptation in March 2025. The case discussed upon initiative of Bunnik Municipality was their urban extension plan ‘Kersenweide‘ with 1.200 houses (Masterplan by Loos Van Vliet).

This green field extension is part of a 60% (!) growth of this city within the coming years. As an expert I was happy to contribute next to Jip Lauwe Kooijmans and Bart Cardinaal, and wonderfully hosted by our colleague Marieke de Keijzer.