Happy to share that after six inspiring lessons I successfully concluded a course by the Dutch Ruyteninstituut on the #futureproofplanting of trees. This interdisciplinary course is much more, and highly recommended for professionals in architecture, landscape and urbanism – either within a government, a design office or real estate. Next to the convincing theory by Frits Ruyten, the hands-on workshops and the wonderful setting in Belmonte Arboretum in Wageningen are great set up. The guest lecturers are true marvels within the field. Grateful to have learned more about “#greendata”, a shared vision on ecosystem thinking, or the use of native planning mixes for public green areas. Many thank to, among others, Jojanneke Bijkerk of Cruydt-Hoeck, Dirk Voets of Friedenau Society and Wil Jacobs of GAES (green as a service). Thanks for the lovely collab with Anne Floor Timan on our bold design project
Looking forward to teach at the Academie van Bouwkunst Amsterdam this fall again! Upon invitation of Anna Gasco, head of the urbanism at the academy and head or urban at MVRDV we will take a closer look into #citiesasaresource. With a focus on existing period Dutch city weave from the 70ies and 80ies we will challenge students how these typical parts of cities can develop with quality. This strategy is applicable to many cities in the Netherlands and would be a true alternative to building ten new cities in green fields… Happy to prepare the design studio together with Robert Younger, who will guide the group of students in the parallel O3 research course.
I was coming to this nature inclusive spot upon invitation of #NRP, #NationalRenovatieProgrammma, in order to contribute to their annual alumni day. This year #natureinclusive design, building and of course renovating was addressed.
Upon request by rutger oolbekkink I spoke about the latest research into the cost and return of nature inclusive building. So many gains! So much money to save by investing in nature inclusivity and climate adaptation instead of spending it on climate damage such as floods or heat waves.
Or think of our increased productivity and less sick leavew in working environments. And what about the huge spendings repairing health care, while nature inclusive building provides benefits such as reducing stress, stimulate physical movement and e.g. more diverse play of children; so much more to share, and to make a business case work.
I found it quite a thing to kick off this day with a diverse and highly professional audience, including province, municipalities, housing corporations, builders and project developers. And so glad to see them inspired and enthusiastically participating! Many thanks NRP (www.nrp.nl) !
How can we develop our cities in a holistic way, and how can we collaborate beter? We are happy to host the ‘#RuimteInDeDrukte’ congress on #publicspace on September 3rd this year in Gemeente Zaanstad, co-organized with ELBA\REC in the #Fluxus#Verkade Factory in Zaanstad.
Based upon the thinking developed in our Urban Develoment Plan ‘#RuimteMaken’ (Making Space) we are inviting experts to jointly explore possibilities and synergies of making space for current urgencies and transitions.
We are pleased to do this with excellent speakers including fellow city architect Michiel Van Driessche and Anne Geertje Bouman. Wonderful to have developed the concept for this congress with 🍀 Elise Bos Eyssen and many others and seeing the invitations being sent out no! Sign up and let’s meet later this year: Sicongres.
So happy to work together again with AMS, Amsterdam School of Metropolitan Studies again from May onwards! The wonderfully motivated and diverse group of students brought to Gemeente Zaanstad by Karin Peters will focus on the chances for urban development that might be realized by the arrival of a new high quality public transport system #HOVZaanIJ.
With a focus on the #longtimebenefits for the #health of Zaanstad citizens and decreasing the huge and #healthinjustice in our city, one of the least healthy cities in the Netherlands as reporter repeatedly by Arcadis.
Looking forward to the creativity and holistic ideas from the students, and towards working together with strategist Lisan Adolf and researcher Hanneke Van Lindert Lindert! www.ams-institute.org/
Many thanks to Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) and Arch-e for co-organising this week’s #cityarchitects and #statearchitects’ expert meeting in Brussels. I wonder if there have ever been more city architects in one room before!
Happy to encounter new colleagues and exchange on how we can develop our cities and spatial quality. Not less grateful to meet again colleagues that participated in Ahmad Attar‘s research on city architects, and international expert that I still knew from my previous job heading the international department at the BNA, Royal Institute of Dutch architects. It has again proven fruitful to exchange in order to learn from each other and be more effective in our daily work. Especially among this group of municipal and state advisors that almost never meet but face comparable dilemma’s.
It has been 25 years that the city centre of Gemeente Zaanstad has been transformed radically: The #Inverdan project. This total conversion based upon a design by Dutch architect sjoerd soeters replaced a dull area around a train station and a parking garage following modernist urban principles with a cheerful pedestrian based city centre that has been visited and photographed by millions of tourists and proud locals ever since. ‘Colleagues call it #Disney – I take it as an enormous compliment’, the designer replies to the critics.
Babel Zaans architectuurplatform published a vivid documentary of bit more of an hour that tracks down the main protagonists from this miraculous metamorphosis. From initial and fundamental scepticism towards rightful pride of what was completed eventually this film is an inspiring portrait of what urban design, administrative vision and political leadership are capable of.
The movie has been shown multiple times publicly. Continuing audience enthusiasm made us arrange a special viewing for the employees of the municipality within the Training Program #NieuwZaanstad some days ago. And yet another fully booked auditorium, followed by an inspiring discussion with urbanist Miranda Reitsma (also featured in the movie), strategist Jan Schreuder and manager of urban development Annette Nicolas Gnodde Gnodde.
The documentary ’#25jaarInverdan’ is a wonderful base to learn more about this successful urban transformation, but also a great starting point to discuss visionary minds, public-private-collaboration, entrepreneurship and the power of urban design. The maker’s website has details for additional screenings: https://lnkd.in/ewA4QZ_d
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!’
Cast off! Last week Jet Munster started her research and design on urbanism based upon the perspective and experience of women. Within her final year of urbanism at the Academie van Bouwkunst Amsterdam this project is entitled ‘#DesignForTheUnseen’.
It focusses on formal and informal spatial networks for women in #Amsterdam South East. Situated in the post war urban development in Amsterdam that became famous as ‘#Bijlmer’ is an incredibly interesting case study, as it has been designed from scratch originally in the 70ies and has since then been heavily redeveloped, too.
It’s always an honour if a former student reaches out to ask if I want to accompany his or her #finalproject. But it is even more rewarding to work together in a team with Jessica Hammarlund Bergmann and Wouter Pocornie of Bijlmer Believers 3.0 (Bijlm3r), both experts in either the area or the topic of Jet’s research.
Our first meeting was delightfull and a thoughtful discussion based upon first research results and we are looking forward to the coming months when the project will fully unfold. Set the sails!
*The collage is a part of Jet’s project description cover.
WORKING ON HEALTHY URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Do you also take time in January 2026 to reflect upon what went well in 2025 or what could have gone better? An of course now is also a good time for looking ahead! Despite the global and geopolitical transitions there is so much to look forward, too. May I briefly name three within my working field?
In my role as #cityarchitect (#Stadsbouwmeester in Dutch) I am looking forward to contribute to the spatial development of #ZaanseSchans, the nr. 2 #touristattraction in the Netherlands, togehter with Danny Jansen and others, upon request by our colleague and new director Damir Dulovic (congrats!) and guided by Joris Blokpoel.
Together with supervisor Edzo Bindels, Marian van den Brink and our urbanism experts invited by Annette Nicolas Gnodde we will look into the further development of Zaandam #intercitystation and one of the key projects in the Spatial Development Plan ‘Making Space’ (#RuimteMaken in Dutch).
Finally I am excited to share that NVTL asked me about my vision upon #healthyurbandevelopment in order to be published in their first newsletter of this year. I am honoured, and humble at the same time: Such a big topic to address! In any case, I hope that I can inspire some professionals within the spatial domain, and maybe also in other industries, too! Have a healthy 2026!
