De Stad als Bouwterrein

‘de Architect’ organized an evening to commemorate the launch of their new print edition ‘The City as a Construction Site’. The evening explored the challenges facing inner city densification. Evert Klinkenberg elabvorated on our Wisselspoor project and participated in the ensuing debate.

The evening opened with three cities, three challenges: David Gianotten (OMA) presented the Bajeskwartier in Amsterdam—a former prison site being transformed into a residential district. Irma van Oort (KCAP) took us to De Piek in Rotterdam and the densification strategy for Feijenoord. BETA’s Evert Klinkenberg concluded this segment with the Wisselspoor head site in Utrecht, focusing on densification directly alongside the railway.

The second part broadened the perspective to what cities need beyond housing: Arie van der Neut (formerly Studioninedots) presented OBA Next in Amsterdam Zuidoost—and the intensive participation process behind it. Bert Karel Deuten (Team Paul de Vroom + Sputnik) explored the promises and pitfalls of shared facilities in small dwellings. Eva James (designer and researcher) closed with the question: how do you design a city in which a woman feels at home?