On October 27th, Mathias was speaking at the conference on urban development and the importance of the discipline of urbanism, which he was also setting up together with Gert Grandiek, head of Area Development. After a grand bow towards the urbanists Sjoerd Soeters and Frits Palmboom who worked more than 20 years for Zaanstad Municipality the second act of the show presented in Zaantheater focussed on the coming 20 years. Indira van t Klooster and Esther Agricola gave their inspiring and critical take on the role of governments and the importance of staying connected with the citizens, followed by a discussion with the speakers and Mathias, led by host Jacqueline van der Sande on how urbanism is a crucial tool for the Vision upon Urban Development for the long time.

In his position as Strategic Advisor Urban Development of Zaanstad Municipality Mathias was invited by the architecture centre Babel on October 13, 2022 to speak about the Vision upon the Built Environment 2040. This document sets out five crucial principles for the future development of the city in the immediate vicinity of Amsterdam, and that is rapidly growing from now 155.000 inhabitants.

The city is famous for its heritage as first European Industrial City along River Zaan, green wooden houses and it’s formerly ‘1000 windmills’ now illustrated by the international tourist attraction Zaanse Schans. The city faces major (spatial) challenges when it comes to climate adaptation and its ecosystems, transitioning energy and mobility, while working on equality and inclusivity. All growth growth for houses and spaces for future-proof work will be realized within the boundaries of the urbanized agglomeration and sparing the protected green landscape.

The Vision will be finalized in 2023 and co-authored with Simone Huijs, Marieke Ros, Marian van den Brink and others.
The presentation took place in cultural centre Bullekerk, and Mathias was interviewed by Leontien de Koning, former head or Urban Development.

In April 2022 Mathias taught at the Institute for Environmental Studies of the University of Amsterdam upon invitation of Judy Shamoun-Baranes. The lecture, knowledge exchange and discussion with students from various backgrounds and countries shed a light on how nature inclusive cities can be achieved.

Please find some of the literature Mathias recommended if you would like to learn more about the topic below:

www.nextcity.nl with various documents in the download section.

Van Stiphout, Maike and Lehner, Mathias: First Guide to Nature Inclusive Design, 2019. (2^nd edition also available in Dutch; clever students find it on issue, too)

Chartier Dalix. Hosting Life, Architecture as an Ecosystem, 2019 (cool architects)

Poetz, Hiltrud. Green-blue grids. Manual for Resilient Cities, 2016

Beatley, Timothy. Handbook of Biophilic City Planning & Design, 2015

Video/film: Kellert, Stephen: Biophilic design the architecture of life, 2011, 60mins. (bit cheesy DVD, also on vimeo and if you are clever find it free online)

Boeri, Stefan. Manifesto on Forest CitiesLinks to an external site., 2010

Kellert, Stephen. Building for Life. Designing and Understanding the Human-Nature connection, 2005

Wilson, Edward. Biophilia, 1984

Hundertwasser, Friedensreich. Mouldiness Manifesto,Links to an external site. 1958.

Speaking at the 2022 Quo Vadis Real Estate Congress in Hotel Adlon, Berlin on February 16, Mathias and Debra Solomon, infrastructure activist of Urbaniahoeve and representant of the Netherlands in this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale elaborated on nature inclusive cities and multispecies urbanism.

Their dialogue was programmed on the visionary second day of the congress as part of the ‘What’s Next?’ section. Please find their presentation as a free download here.

Addressing “Urban Nature becoming a stakeholder – the new paradigm of Urban Planning and design” Mathias will speak at the Quo Vadis conference in Berlin in February 2022. The event organized by Heuer Dialog is the 32nd edition of this annual conference for deciders within the domain of real estate. More information and signing up online.

In fall 2021 Mathias is teaching Master students again at the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam as part of the Urbanism department led by MLA+ director Markus Appenzeller, next to accompanying students for their final project.

This autumn’s design class is themed ‘altruism’ and addresses the urban, landscape and architectural design of a new district on a transformation location on the waterfront of the IJ river in Amsterdam. Central questions are what this new district can contribute to ‘the other’: this ‘other’ is chosen by the students, and can be the city, the region, designated groups in society or other species in the urban ecosystem. Final presentation will be 12th of October 2021.

On the 28th of September the Integral Knowledge Programme Space was launched in the Bullekerk, Zaandam, with more than 50 colleagues of Zaanstad Municipality attending. The program is set up by MAAK.meester Frits Palmboom, the urbanists Marc den Hertog and Rocco Reukema, Bregt Balk and Mathias (who also coordinates the individual elements, such as Master Classes, excursions and Supervision Sessions. The program aims to improve quality and collaboration facing the challenges the region due to the huge growth and climate action required.

Speaking about Spatial Planning and Urban Development until 2040 in Zaanstad Municipality in the form of a webinar for the members of the local council. Ten thousands of houses, jobs and various ‘productive neighbhourhoods’ to come in the next decennia are a huge challenge and opportunity to Create Quality of Life in the City.

After heading the international program at Royal Institute of Dutch Architects BNA and the Next Step Program (with Synchroon Developers) I will be joining Gemeente Zaanstad Municipality as Strategic Advisor Urbanism and Space. To advise such a rapidly growing part of the Metropolitan Region Amsterdam (MRA) is an extraordinary opportunity to actively shape the future of our cities in an integral way.

I want to say ‘thank you’ my Dutch and international colleagues and network partners for the inspiring collaboration until now. Thank you for making a difference, for sharing knowledge (and dilemmas!). Together we discovered how to become resilient entrepreneurs and how to engage with global urgencies. I am happy that we have inspired and connected architects, clients and policy makers. Just think of the MakeHappen! Inspiration Night on the United Nations SDGs or the 100+ emerging offices participating in the 3 editions of the Next Step.

Professionally I go from advocacy and economic strategy to policy and urban strategy. But I will continue to share, to connect and to collaborate on Quality of Life. So, I am looking forward to this Next Step and inspiring endeavour!