This is a truly Happy New Year! ‘Making Space’, the vision for the urban development of Gemeente Zaanstad until 2040 and beyond has been officially agreed upon by the Municipal Council in the end of 2024.
‘Making Space’ is a spatial vision for the future that is firmly rooted in 5 basic principles that ensure spatial quality and address the contemporary urgencies and transitions a growing city faces.
This is the first time that Zaanstad, famous for its many windmills of Zaanse Schans and the cradle of the European industry made an integral vision for the entire municipality. Today the 170.000 inhabitant city is rapidly growing to 200.000+ in the Metropolitan Region Amsterdam. The vision is part of the portfolio of elderman René Tuijn, who, next to our team, proudly wore the t-shirt I let made (and is shown above) in the council gathering. It shows the map of the vision and its essence: The 5 principles. The vision was commissioned by director Lennart Graaff.
It was a great ride to co-author, inspire and take care for the continuity of this poject together with Anne Langenesch and the team of professionals finishing this job included Joyce Goudschaal MCD, Lisan Adolf, Marian van den Brink, Mirjam Hoetjes-Witjes, Tijs Rothweiler and many others. The beautiful maps based upon my workshop atelier results and a draft by Urban Synergy were made by Lisa Schouten, Jasmijn Hofman and Esra Esen. The friendly impressions of the key projects were made from my rough sketches by blau.