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Within the Program for the Knowledge of Space (iKPR) at Zaanstad Municipality we organized a privilege walk with the audience: one step ahead for benefitial socio-economic factors, and one step back for disadvantages.
It was confronting to see for the particpants, that some of them were in a very privileged position, while at the same time everybody realized that little factors or unforeseen incidents can increase insecurity easily for everybody.

The ‘walk’ was part of a film viewing addressing the lack of housing and economic homelessness, a rapdily growing phenomenom in the Netherlands. The documentary shown was the new feature film ‘Scheef’ (‘crooked’) by Falkyfilm, Annemarije Rus and Tanja Warning.

On October 17 students of Journalism and Media at the University of Amsterdam made a short documentary on housing in Amsterdam with a focus on nature inclusive building.

One of the projects, earlier featured in Mathias’ lectures on building for biodiversity, is De Warren, a cooperative housing project designed by Natrufied, (Boris Zeisser and others). Mathias was asked to explain about cost and return of nature inclusive building, as part of his research for nextcity.nl‘s “3rd Guide to Nature Inclusive Building” featuring monetary and non monetary aspects of designing and building for biodiversity.

Watch the short feature video of less then 6 minutes on youtube here.

On October 16 Boris van der Moehlen presented his Master project on the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam. For Mathias as a teacher this was the last commission meeting, preparing the student to be ready for the final presentation.

Boris’ final project proposes a landscape design for an economy of sludge, turning the Belgian polder of Doel into a new form of agriculture with benefits for the Antwerp harbour, it’s economy and river traffic as well as the ecology of this newly developed estuarium between the river Schelde and the Northsea. A strategic and design project taking into account a larger ecosystem and the interdependencies in this time of energy transition, biodiversity loss and climate change.

It was a privilege and great fun to inspire Boris as a teacher and commission member and see his Master projects finding a perfect balance between utopia and dystopia, while at the same time coming up with a realistic proposal, featuring a new form of land use that can be scaled up to other river delta areas around the globe. The team of co-commission members consists also of urbanist Herman Zonderland of Amsterdam Municipality and landscape architect Jan Maas of Boom.

Fully booked celebration of 10 years nextcity.nl at the International Architecture Biennale exhibition in the New Insitute in Rotterdam on the 19th of Sepember. The event was ‘silent disco’ style amidst the exhibition with intimate earphones.

After a lecture by Mathias on 10 episodes of 10 years nextcity in 10 minutes Maike van Stiphout walked with the group through the expo and Sophie Floor Wartenbergh lectured on the development of urban ecology (see picture). A panel with young talent Bas Tibben and Michael Rikkelman concluded the content before the group mingled for drinks and networking on the sunny terrace.

In September 2024 Mathias organized an afternoon on designing and building with wood in the creative makers’ space De Hoop in Zaandam.

Pioneer Jaco Woltjer of Woltjer Berkhout architects and Eric Thijssen of Mark Koehler Architects introduced the basic facts about wood, but also discussed construction, process and scaling up this sustainable building material in the current practice of architects, housing corporations and developers.

This event was part of the Program for the Knowledge of Space Mathias has been organizing with colleagues at Zaanstad Municipality since 2022, and co organized with urbanist Marc den Hertog who also made the picture in this post.

On behalf of the team of authors Mathias delivered a lecture of the almost finished Urban Development Vision 2040 and Beyond ‘Making Space’ of Zaanstad Municipality at the University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam on 9/11.

In the consecutive weeks groups of students will develop spatial and urban planning schemes for one of the key projects listed in the vision. Mathias will join the students again for mid-term and final reviews. At the University the project is conducted by Mariska van Walsum and tutored by Erik de Graaf.

2024 marks the 50th anniversary of Zaanstad Municipality, a merger of seven smaller municipalities. Babel Zaans Architecture Platform celebrates this birthday and reflects upon the city of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

I am grateful to support Babel in challenging students and (young) professionals to envision Zaanstad over 50 years in a one-day workshop, and to better understand today’s urgencies, and challenges in relation to urban development.

Join this workshop on Saturday September 14, from 11-17hrs!

We will meet on the creative HEM brug area, famous from the past Big Art fairs and where ZAMU, one of the largest Dutch museums will be opened soon. Babel has invited top notch inspiration speakers to inspire this unique workshop: Wouter Pocornie of Bijlmer Believers 3.0, Kristian Koreman – ZUS [Zones Urbaines Sensibles] and Ton Venhoeven – VenhoevenCS

Practicalities:
Location: Affuitenhal 1, 2nd floor at the Hembrugterrein (Building Magazijn 14) in Zaandam. Participation is free. Limited spots are available, so please register via: https://www.stichting-babel.nl/agenda/workshop-ontwerp-de-toekomst-van-zaanstad-in-een-dag

The results will be presented during the Babel Festival on October 5th, 2024.

Image: Urhahn | stedenbouw en strategie

A successful first Masterclass on the Omgevingsvisie Zaanstad (Urban Development Plan) ‘for Dummies’ took place on 27 August 2024. A diverse group became acquainted with this important vision document. Anne Langenesch and Mathias Lehner, both co-authors of the vision, gave a brief introduction and room for discussion and questions. For example, how to best read the vision, and the participants were introduced to the heart of the vision: The Five Principles.

There was also time to work with the vision in a practical way: Together, the participants looked at the year 2042 using self-invented personas, and what the day of these future inhabitants would look like. For example, the twins Summer and Joy (20), whom they had invented, but also the developer Henk (48) and the recently happily divorced and retired Hanneke (68). One thing was quickly clear: these persona’s were enjoying themselves in the future Zaanstad!

The feedback from the participants was too kind. ‘A lot of fun’, ‘Really nice to follow this master class’ and to top it all off: ‘Now I really feel like reading the entire vision!’

Hello everybody!

We kindly invite you for a little gathering celebrating 10 years of nextcity!

Thursday, September 19th, 2024 @ 15:30 hrs, New Institute

We are looking back with friends, but also 10 years into the future of nature inclusive cities with experts, practitioners and young talents. Enjoy a summerly program with little lectures, an informal panel and nature inclusive networking.

The session takes place right in the middle of the main IABR (international architecture biennale Rotterdam) exhibition ‘The Nature of Hope’ in the New Insitute in Rotterdam’s Museumpark. Haven’t seen the IABR exhibiton? This is an excellent opportunity (ticket/museum card required).

At 17:00 hrs we invite you for informal drinks on the terrace.

Join us and dive into the nature-inclusive city, meet inspiring colleagues and make connections!

There is a limited number of seats. Please let us know if you will join us via a short message to 10@nextcity.nl, so we can treat you for drinks and a special gift!

Aligned with the public participation period for inhabitants, entrepreneurs and partners the Zaanstad Future Vision ‘Making Space for Tomorrow’ (Ruimte Maken voor Morgen) was set up in the public ground floor foyer of the city hall and can now be viewed in one of the public lounges there.

The construction billboard can be easily moved to various locations, and shows the main map as well as the sketches of the 14 key projects to be realized on the way to 2040 and beyond. A QR code links to online content and larger maps.

‘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. Picture by colleague Anne Langenesch.