The City of Tilburg seeks opportunities in the combination of accommodating its growth and reactivating urban life in peripheral postwar neighborhoods.
The aim is to attract and retain residents, in particular young generations, to improve the socioeconomic status, to diversify the composition of population and to stimulate healthy and productive suburban living.
Densification is part of the city’s strategy, but to make city districts like Groenewoud twenty-first century proof a new mix of functions is crucial to spark socially coherent milieus and to create solutions for the climate adaptability.
The City of Tilburg believes that the regeneration of the central area in such districts together with the local residents is key to setting climate transition in motion.
Jury comments
The jury acknowledges the high caliber of submissions in the competition, showcasing innovative approaches to urban development.
The winning project, Bricolage City (AE265), impressively integrates work and living spaces while maintaining a context-sensitive approach rooted in meticulous analysis. The harmonious densification of Groenewoud, in line with the garden city typology, demonstrates a commitment to preserving unique features and fostering resilience through strategic vegetation use.
The runner-up, Sub-urban Jungle (UR946), introduces a novel typology emphasizing the balance between private and public spaces. Its isolated islands within a green environment create an integrated landscape, although potential gentrification concerns are recognized. The project establishes a strong relationship between elements while prompting considerations about predominantly interior-focused views.
The special mention, Emerging Groenewoud (YM283), strategically employs densification, preserving green spaces and envisioning a dynamic mixed-use community. The proposed program addresses diverse community needs, with ongoing discussions about specific aspects, such as the inclusion of terraced houses atop a car park.
Winner
Bricolage City (AE265) Authors: Laura Izzo (IT), architect, Alessandro de Cadilhac (IT), architect, Lorenzo Gaveglio (IT), architect Team location: Santiago de Compostela , Spain
The City of Breda seeks opportunity to develop large-scale urban area within the city border and close to the historical center. The ambition is to make Breda a highly urbanized, international, and connected city by 2040.
The housing challenge and anticipating climate change in ‘t Zoet serve as a lever to address the challenges of energy transition, smart mobility, biodiversity, health, circular economy and climate adaptation. Most of the 25,000 homes that Breda plans to build by 2040 will be located in the city center.
In ‘t Zoet, there is an potential to build between 4,000 and 6,000 homes. ‘t Zoet is designated to become be a complementary, inclusive, energy-neutral and international living and working environment and will be elaborated in conjunction with the water, nature and climate ambitions of Zoete Delta and the mobility challenges associated with Breda and the region.
Jury comments
The jury applauds the outstanding submissions in the competition, showcasing diverse and innovative approaches to urban development.
The winning project, StrataScapes (XJ414), stands out for its emphasis on process and strategy, promoting sustainable practices through the introduction of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT). Despite its strategic focus, the design exudes creativity and playfulness, offering potential for inventive solutions and contributing to an industrial ambiance.
The runner-up, BLIJ-DA (LR826), is recognized for its welcoming and versatile design, conceived as a recognizable destination for both locals and visitors. The intentional incorporation of open and “undefined” spaces fosters adaptability, creativity, and an iconic potential, marked by cheerful and vibrant urban expression.
The special mention, BACK TO THE FUTURE (FQ248), distinguishes itself with an authentic commitment to ecology. Prioritizing sustainability, the project’s focus on ecological considerations along the River Mark and its emphasis on coexistence with nature and community contribute to its standout qualities.
BACK TO THE FUTURE (FQ248) Authors: Maria Vittoria Tesei (IT), architect urbanist, Flavio Martella (IT), architectural and urban theorist Team location: Madrid , Spain
From the perspective of Breda, Schorsmolen presents an opportunity to transform a fragmented urban fabric into a vibrant and cohesive neighborhood. The vision is to create a mixed-use, socially inclusive, and sustainable neighborhood that celebrates its diversity and history.
To achieve this, local housing corporations can play a crucial role in testing and implementing new forms of collective living concepts, which can enhance social cohesion and create more affordable housing options. it is important to involve and empower the local community through participatory design and planning.
Climate adaptation also needs to be taken into consideration, green infrastructure and sustainable design practices that promote resilience and mitigate the effects of climate change and become an integral, connected and attractive part of Breda and beyond.
Jury comments
The jury commends the outstanding projects in the Schorsmolen competition, each presenting innovative solutions for urban development.
“I’ll See You in Middelplein!” clinched the winning position by strategically employing selective demolition, creating a new central area with aquapuncture-like interventions, and implementing a thoughtful densification strategy. Realistic interventions such as decks, shared courtyards, and redesigned streets demonstrate a comprehensive approach, combining architectural and urban design elements for a holistic transformation of the urban environment.
The runner-up, “Open Up Schorsmolen!” impresses with its emphasis on waterfront quality and a straightforward densification strategy, enhancing urban density and functionality. The project maintains a strong commitment to legible neighborhoods, ensuring clear structure and organization while fostering diversity in co-creation.
The special mention, “Nurturing Schorsmolen,” stands out for its detailed phasing plan and small-scale interventions, promoting adaptability and connectivity without imposing restrictions. The addition of two bridges enhances accessibility and movement, showcasing an effective strategy for both short-term and long-term urban development.
Winner
I’LL SEE YOU IN MIDDELPLEIN! (HG311) Authors: Giacomo Gallo (IT), architect, Catarina Breia Dias (PT), architect Team location: Amsterdam , Netherlands
The City of Tilburg seeks opportunities to accommodate its growth in the existing city. Densification of urban voids, in particular the ones near a public transport hub, with a strategic position in the city are a part of this strategy.
This type of development is ideally suited to catalyze new interaction milieus, since it offers the opportunity to implement a new work-and-live program connecting citizens with all sorts of backgrounds, knowledge and skills levels, various economic status and other ‘resources’ that are already present in the surroundings.
The project area at center of the ‘Kenniskwartier’ is an urban void that is at the intersection of multiple neighborhoods with diverse urban dynamics, which offer opportunity to development iconic circular knowledge oriented milieus to be established in Tilburg.
Jury comments
The Kenniskwartier submissions in the Europan competition exhibit a rich tapestry of innovative urban development concepts.
The winning project, “SYMBIOSIS,” takes center stage with its strategic distribution of a mixed-use program, fostering diversity and functionality within the block. Its commitment to striking and innovative design, including contrasting plazas and expansive shared spaces, highlights a dedication to pushing architectural boundaries. Despite potential challenges, the project leverages deep floor plates for unique programming opportunities, emphasizing interconnectedness and collaborative workspaeces as integral elements.
The runner-up, “Density: Mode d’emploi,” charms with its captivating and optimistic urban composition. The Super Block, organized around a picturesque lake, forms a harmonious urban layout that revolves around the water feature. The central podium serves as a vibrant hub, hosting public activities and contributing to an interconnected urban space.
Special mentions “An Unexpected Neighbor” and “Wonen is een recht” add further depth to Kenniskwartier’s narrative. The former stands out for its detailed design addressing noise issues, fostering community interaction, and serving as a catalyst for West Tilburg. The latter, aligned with human rights principles, positions itself as an architectural exploration committed to innovative housing solutions.
Winner
SYMBIOSIS (IH345) Authors: Nicolas Gustin (BE), architect, Przemyslaw Witkowski (PL), architect, Miguel Serrano (ES), architect Team location: Paris, France
The City of Etten-Leur seeks opportunities in the combination of accommodating its growth and reactivating urban life in the shopping center.
The aim is to redevelop the large consumption-only shopping experience to a more mix-use locally rooted experience which will become a cozy “Central living-room” for everyone, embedded in existing historical character of Etten-Leur.
Densification is part of the city’s strategy. Transforming city district that are currently reliant on mono-functional shopping and consumption into a circular production and healthy consumption hub, creating economically stable environments fit for the twenty-first century. This can be enhanced by adding high-quality, climate-resilient new homes and other facilities that attract and retain residents and stimulate healthy and productive mid-sized city living.
Jury comments
The jury commends the outstanding submissions for the Etten-Leur competition, showcasing inventive urban development approaches.
Securing the winning position, “Future Nostalgia” presents a comprehensive strategy that reinforces the existing structure, emphasizing long-term evolution. The project introduces vertical diversity and balanced density, optimizing space utilization. However, concerns about potential overproduction on the ground floor underscore the necessity for meticulous coordination with the city and clients to navigate engineering complexities for the successful realization of this ambitious project.
As the runner-up, “Sale Ends Today” prioritizes the usability of ground floor spaces, emphasizing coverage and accessibility. The phased development approach respects the initial footprint of the shopping center and adapts to the changing culture of shopping. While proposing a transition from consumption-focused to living-based experiences, the project maintains a distinct separation between housing and commercial sections.
The jury did not choose any special mention for this location.
Winner
future nostalgia (NT565) Authors: Francesco Conti (IT), architect, Edoardo Quattrucci (IT), architect, Riccardo Bettini (IT), architect, Sarah Gjergo (IT), architect Team location: Porto San Giorgio , Italy
Waalwijk is fastest growing city in all of Brabant. This is a great incentive to facilitate the further development of companies in direct surroundings. This quantitative and qualitative leap requires that Waalwijk is an integral part of the larger urban network with good regional connections. Waalwijk urgently needs to accommodate its growth and establish a strong network hub embedded directly in the beautiful historical city center.
Densification is part of the city’s strategy, the aim is to develop an extension to the existing city center which can become a vibrant mix-use urban area, synergistic programs which attract residents, in particular people who work in the logistics businesses, improves the image of waalwijk, diversify the composition of population and to stimulate healthy and productive living and business environment for future.
Jury comments
The jury commends the exemplary submissions in the Waalwijk competition, showcasing remarkable urban innovation.
The winning project, “Belts and Hats,” is celebrated for its transformative ideas on connectivity, introducing a growth strategy with distinctive belts for connection and densification. The project includes three distinct belts—the landscape belt, commercial belt, and dynamic belt. The phased approach demonstrates a thoughtful, long-term vision for Waalwijk’s development.
The runner-up, “Climate Safari,” brings a fresh and playful perspective to urban composition, displaying adaptability and flexibility. The tech-oriented approach, treating buildings as climate machines, and the diverse program contribute to the project’s significance in enhancing urban diversity for Waalwijk.
The special mention, “Infranature,” is recognized for its intentional simplicity and achievability. Acting as an anti-hub, the project’s lightweight design, conceptualized with a long building, temporary parking structure, and bridge garden, emphasizes movement and connectivity.
Winner
About belts and hats (AS654) Authors: Joaquim Olea Fernández (ES), architect, Mireia Martín Salvanyà (ES), architect Collaborators: Olímpia Solà Inaraja (ES), architect Team location: Girona , Spain
Bart van der Vossen (NL) Directeur Ruimte at Gemeente Utrecht, Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands (https://bartvandervossen.nl) Don Murphy (NL) Founder VMX Architects, Supervisor Schiphol Municipality of Amsterdam and Eindhoven (http://www.vmxarchitects.nl) François Chas (FR) NP2F Architects, Paris (http://www.np2f.com) Johan de Wachter (BE/NL) Founding partner at 2DVW Architecten, Owner at JDWA, Associate professor KTU (LT) (https://jdwa.nl) Martin Sobota (DE/NL) Architect, Founding Partner CITYFÖRSTER, Rotterdam (http://www.cityfoerster.net) Marieke Kums (NL) Founder STUDIO MAKS, Rotterdam, Professor at Leibniz University Hannover (http://www.studiomaks.nl) Peter Veenstra (NL) Founder, Landscape architect at Lola landscape architects, Netherlands (https://lola.land) Stephanie Bru (FR) Principal at BRUTHER / Stéphanie Bru & AlexandreTheriot, Greater Paris Metropolitan Region (http://bruther.biz) Huub Kloosterman (NL) Founder Urban Xchange, co-founder The Dutch Mountains Eindhoven (https://www.urbanxchange.nl)
Oliver Thill (NL) (substitute jury member) Owner of Atelier Kempe Thill architects and planners (https://www.atelierkempethill.com) Tania Concko (NL) (substitute jury member) Founding Director at TCAU / Tania Concko Architects Urbanists (https://www.taniaconcko.com)
learn more about each competition location, ask questions, and interact with site representatives.
Europan is the longest-running and largest design competition in Europe for architects under 40 years old. The 51 locations of Europan 17 model the issues that are currently playing out in many parts of Europe. The Urban Region Breda-Tilburg (SRBT) is the host region for Europan 17 in the Netherlands. In the SRBT, nineteen municipalities, four water authorities, the province of Noord-Brabant, and the national government are collaborating on the sustainable development of the region. The region is participating with six locations (Groenewoud and Kenniskwartier in Tilburg, ‘t Zoet and Schorsmolen in Breda, the shopping center in Etten-Leur, and the Taxandriaweg in Waalwijk).
DAY PROGRAM |Thursday 20 April
During the day, competition participants will go on an excursion to visit the six locations and receive an in-depth explanation of the assignments. This will be followed by a Q&A session with project leaders representing the participating municipalities. The day will conclude with a public symposium, organized in collaboration with BLASt and CAST.
Site visits are open to all interested participants who want to learn more about each competition location, ask questions, and interact with site representatives. Please ensure that you arrive before 10:00 AM.After a brief introduction, each group will depart with their respective site representative to visit the competition locations, which include Groenewoud and Kenniskwartier in Tilburg, ‘t Zoet and Schorsmolen in Breda, the shopping center in Etten-Leur, and the Taxandriaweg in Waalwijk.
In the afternoon, we will reconvene at MotMot Gallery in Breda for six parallel workshops, where participants will have the opportunity to further deepen their understanding of the sites and competition assignments in detail with the site representatives.
Symposium Living Cities | 19:30-21:15 (room opens at 19:00)
During the evening program, which is open to everyone, we will delve deeper into the importance of the SRBT and competitions such as Europan, as well as the six locations and their corresponding themes. We will talk to:
Bas van der Pol (Alderman of the Municipality of Tilburg) and Bas van Rijsbergen (Director of Urban Development of the Municipality of Breda) about the value and strength of Europan for the participating municipalities.
Ton Venhoeven (VenhoevenCS architecture+urbanism) will give a Keynote presentation on Living Cities.
Peter van Schie (Urban Planner of the Municipality of Breda) and Marco Visser (Urban Planner of the Municipality of Tilburg) will discuss the significance of participating in Europan for the SRBT.
Sabine Lebesque (Europan NL) with a brief introduction on Europan. What is Europan, and what does it stand for?
We will conclude the evening with a panel discussion in which we further delve into themes such as broad prosperity, new urbanity, and mobility.
The presentation and moderation will be conducted by Sophie Stravens. The language used for this evening will be English.
Europan NL and the Stedelijke Regio Breda Tilburg (SRBT) are proud to announce six locations in the region for Europan 17. These sites have been and designated as “prototypical development sites” due to their unique characteristics.
The kick-off of the six Dutch Europan Europe locations. Presenting, ‘t Zoet and Schorsmolen in Breda, Shoppingcentre in Etten-Leur, Groenewoud and Kenniskwartier in Tilburg and the Taxandriaweg in Waalwijk.
Looking forward to meeting participants at #sitevisit on April 20th.
Organised by BLASt and CAST Architectuurcentrum in collaboration with Europan NL.
Europan NL and the Stedelijke Regio Breda Tilburg (SRBT) are proud to announce six locations in the region for Europan 17. These sites have been and designated as “prototypical development sites” due to their unique characteristics. We are confident that these sites will provide a challenging and exciting context for the competition. The municipalities of Breda, Tilburg, Etten-Leur and Waalwijk believe that these locations hold tremendous potential for innovative and impactful design solutions.
The challenge is to propose a transformation strategy for the dormant green heart of Groenewoud into a socially connected, climate resilient architecture and ecologically thriving suburban living, at the same time which offering guidance for the wider area framework to be transformed into a future-proof garden city of the twenty-first century.
Dear Europan competitors,
Europan NL and the Stedelijke Regio Breda Tilburg (SRBT) are proud to announce six locations in the region for Europan 17. These sites have been and designated as “prototypical development sites” due to their unique characteristics. We are confident that these sites will provide a challenging and exciting context for the competition. The municipalities of Breda, Tilburg, Etten-Leur and Waalwijk believe that these locations hold tremendous potential for innovative and impactful design solutions.
The challenge is to replace a consumption-based, outdated spatial model of shopping with a new urban fabric that fosters the local economy and promotes a more resilient combination of spaces for housing, shopping, meeting and working, leading to a vibrant, open, and town center connected to the public mobility.
Dear Europan competitors,
Europan NL and the Stedelijke Regio Breda Tilburg (SRBT) are proud to announce six locations in the region for Europan 17. These sites have been and designated as “prototypical development sites” due to their unique characteristics. We are confident that these sites will provide a challenging and exciting context for the competition. The municipalities of Breda, Tilburg, Etten-Leur and Waalwijk believe that these locations hold tremendous potential for innovative and impactful design solutions.
The challenge is to develop an iconic spatial intervention on this site to attract and retain talented individuals. Design a mixed-used iconic building cluster that incorporates innovative living typologies for various generations and income brackets, both local and international, which at the same-time create a highly connected open neighborhood.
Dear Europan competitors,
Europan NL and the Stedelijke Regio Breda Tilburg (SRBT) are proud to announce six locations in the region for Europan 17. These sites have been and designated as “prototypical development sites” due to their unique characteristics. We are confident that these sites will provide a challenging and exciting context for the competition. The municipalities of Breda, Tilburg, Etten-Leur and Waalwijk believe that these locations hold tremendous potential for innovative and impactful design solutions.
The challenge is to develop a long-term urban transformation strategy that offers a vision of ‘affordable living’ and testing alternative ‘living-together’ typologies. Propose public space and architectural design ideas for this hottest spot in Breda which is ear-marked for special attention in respect to climate adaptation, and is integral to the long-term urban strategy.
Dear Europan competitors,
Europan NL and the Stedelijke Regio Breda Tilburg (SRBT) are proud to announce six locations in the region for Europan 17. These sites have been and designated as “prototypical development sites” due to their unique characteristics. We are confident that these sites will provide a challenging and exciting context for the competition. The municipalities of Breda, Tilburg, Etten-Leur and Waalwijk believe that these locations hold tremendous potential for innovative and impactful design solutions.
The challenge is to develop an extension to Waalwijk’s city center that fosters programmatic synergies and integrates a new mobility perspective moving away from car dependency, also intensifying the use of existing areas and building upon town’s historical morphology while introducing new housing typologies.
Dear Europan competitors,
Europan NL and the Stedelijke Regio Breda Tilburg (SRBT) are proud to announce six locations in the region for Europan 17. These sites have been and designated as “prototypical development sites” due to their unique characteristics. We are confident that these sites will provide a challenging and exciting context for the competition. The municipalities of Breda, Tilburg, Etten-Leur and Waalwijk believe that these locations hold tremendous potential for innovative and impactful design solutions.
The challenge is to imagine a ‘curated cultural quarter’ that draws inspiration from the past to create a open, incisive and dynamic waterfront environment that brings together culture, city and ecology and functions as a regional attractor for (new) residents and (new) businesses to settle in Breda.
Dear Europan competitors,
Europan NL and the Stedelijke Regio Breda Tilburg (SRBT) are proud to announce six locations in the region for Europan 17. These sites have been and designated as “prototypical development sites” due to their unique characteristics. We are confident that these sites will provide a challenging and exciting context for the competition. The municipalities of Breda, Tilburg, Etten-Leur and Waalwijk believe that these locations hold tremendous potential for innovative and impactful design solutions.
We are happy to share Papaverwerf, Amsterdam designed by Europan 14 winners, UP4 in collaboration with Studioninedots. The process started in 2017 as the winning proposal of Europan 14 competition.
According to expectations, construction of Papaverwerf in Amsterdam-Noord will start early next year. The project consists of three volumes, which are connected by a six-meter-high concrete support structure that follows the contours of the entire plot. Studioninedots and Up4 are responsible for the design.
Papaverwerf is a mixed-use project located in Amsterdam-Noord, in the Buiksloterham transformation area. Designed by Studioninedots and Up4, the project comprises three volumes connected by a concrete support structure called the Outline. The volumes are divided into a residential block, an office block, and a hybrid block. The concrete structure houses industrial production spaces and a café, while a circle marks a central spot by the water that invites users to make it their own.
The design of Papaverwerf aims to realize the ambitions of the Circular Buiksloterham manifesto, which includes reducing the use of technical installations through architectural design. To achieve this, floors are extended into the facades to act as canopies and prevent overheating of the interior spaces. The building is constructed with recyclable or biobased materials, with all concrete elements consisting largely of recycled material. The window frames and curtain wall construction are made with certified FSC wood.
The project also includes surface vegetation covering 40% of the plot, organized in green “pockets” throughout the site, to reduce heat stress and increase water retention. Additionally, a rooftop terrace between the office building and residential buildings serves as a green buffer and is visible from the Papaverweg. The office building’s glass facade features climbing plants in designated areas, filtering light and creating pleasant workspaces, reducing indoor lighting from the office, and providing a soft facade image at all times.
Construction is expected to start early next year, with completion set for the end of 2025.
It’s the continuing story of the Europan 15 NL competition in Rotterdam that kicked off in 2019. The housing crisis, the climate crisis and the increasing unaffordability of urban centres were on the agendas of all major European cities. The competition’s theme, the Productive City, sought to address these problems.
After a 2 year’s period of Covid 19 pandemic this publication presents a story that is both catalogue of the projects as they were when they were submitted in 2019, and a reflection on the continuing process in Rotterdam. We noticed that during the pandemic cities were suddenly used in a fundamentally different way, but among the entries for Europan15 proved remarkably timely for their agile and human-oriented approach. All insights have been collected in this publication which reads as a guideline for a new holistic way of making city.
More information on the winners, runners-up & special mentions via www.e15rotterdam.nl
Partners: AIR, Architectuur Instituut Rotterdam, Gemeente Rotterdam, AM Gebiedsontwikkeling, Dudok Real Estate, Heijmans, BPD Gebiedsontwikkeling, Woonstad Rotterdam Publication: graphic design Loes Sikkes visualcommunication | editors Martine Zoeteman, Jessica Cullen, Marieke Berkers | photography Frank Hanswijk | event photgraphy Fred Ernst | inside cover Kunstenvliegwerkluchtfoto | printed by Veenman+
The publication is available for free via the naibooksellers shop at Het Nieuwe Instituut, drop by or order your copy!
Interview with Gerben In ‘t Hout and Kay Schellen from Woonstad, affiliate of Europan NL 15.
The five Dutch sites selected for Europan’s 2019 design competition are all located in Rotterdam. Each one presents unique challenges, and has stakeholders dedicated to its development. While six private parties have been involved in the competition working alongside creative teams to bring their solutions to life, so has one of Rotterdam’s most celebrated social housing corporations, Woonstad, in an affiliated role. AIR interviews Kay Schellen, Director of Portefeuillemanagement Management, and Gerben In ’t Hout, Asset Manager, to understand their thoughts on the site development potential proposed by winning teams, and how these benefit the city, and improve the availability of both attractive, and affordable, housing stock.
Continuation of the interview with jury members, Jacob van Rijs, Beatriz Ramo, and Like Bijlsma Europan15 NL publication is available now!
European ideas competition Europan 15 has a twofold target. On the one hand, Europan gives young design talent the opportunity to turn ideas into realistic projects. On the other hand, Europan offers cities the opportunity to gather fresh, innovative approaches to local challenges. But are the two targets really compatible? Won’t too much emphasis on realization kill the innovative impulse? We asked Europan 15’s three jury members: Like Bijlsma, Beatriz Ramo and Jacob van Rijs.
This is the third time architect Beatriz Ramo is on the Europan jury. She has noticed that competitors are taking fewer and fewer risks over the years. Ramo: ‘Young offices no longer participate in ideas competitions like Europan as a matter of course. This generation prefers to make plans they can actually realize. A pity, for pragmatic plans alone will not stimulate clients and municipalities to think innovatively, they’ll maintain a culture of risk-free development. What we need is plans that stimulate reflection on life in the city. Ideally, Europan entries provide food for thought. If that is not the aim, why set up the whole Europan circus? Architect and geographer Like Bijlsma agrees that the strength of Europan is in the exploratory character of the entries. Bijlsma: ‘Designers have to make sure that they do not become an extension of the planning and development level. They have to be able to weigh policy critically, first, and to look at ways to make innovative ideas more pragmatic, second.’
To achieve the best possible collaboration with the client, Europan NL focused its fifteenth edition on a single city, Rotterdam. The City of Rotterdam played a major part in the co-defining of the framework for the competition. The themes of the Omgevingswet (Environmental Act) are the starting point. Did this give designers too little freedom? Did this method push entrants in a specific solution direction? Bijlsma nods: ‘All challenges focus on densification, which was a prerequisite. While you may well wonder whether densification is the most logical choice in all of the Europan locations. The entrants could not call densification into question. This has resulted in entries that contain few original arguments and critical notes with regard to the choices included in the challenge. But designers need space to prevaricate and ponder.
Photo: Fred Ernst
Architect Jacob van Rijs also sees the advantages of defining challenges on the basis of current policy. Van Rijs: ‘Europan is a catalyst for a different approach to making city. Using the themes from the Omgevingsvisie (Environmental Vision), you hand the city ideas that it can really implement in the future. The municipality can use the entries to take strategic steps in its thinking on the future development of the city. The themes pointed the designers in a certain direction. It was up to them to innovatively develop them.’ According to Van Rijs, the strength of Europan lies in the fact that young designers are noticed by prospective clients. He speaks from his own experience, he also participated in Europan and won. Van Rijs: ‘Europan is a helping hand. Participating helped me to take the step to continue independently and to build a network. It’s not entirely realistic to expect a young team to meet such a substantive challenge. But winning can bring other things as well. Carrying out studies for the municipality. For smaller places, an architectural challenge. In this context, involving the municipality is crucial.’ Van Rijs: ‘The municipality is involved in every project in the city. Market parties had no say in defining the challenges and quality assessment took place at a distance from the judging. That’s how you make sure that market parties cannot steer on the basis of the direct interests they have in the city, but are nevertheless closely involved in innovative work on the city.’ Bijlsma comments: ‘In addition to the municipality itself, almost all of the partners in this Europan edition are project developers. Are they really the right experts when it comes to new ways of working? Perhaps it would have made more sense to involve municipal departments that deal with work and business premises. They are already much more focused on reuse, which is important for a theme like the productive city.’
Jacob van Rijs, architect and co-founder and principal architect of MVRDV and former Europan winner, is the chairman of the jury whose other members are Beatriz Ramo, architect and founder of STAR strategies + architecture, and Like Bijlsma, architect and geographer and co-founder of SUBoffice and researcher at PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.
This Europan edition, the challenges in Rotterdam turned out to be popular amongst young architects. From the 901 projects that have been submitted on the 47 European sites in 12 countries, 123 proposals were submitted for the five Rotterdam sites.
Groot IJsselmonde: WINNER: Hartland Authors: Zuzana Jancovicova (SK, landscape architect), Davor Dusanic (SI, landscape architect), Katarina Labathova (SK, architect), Ida Bjallerbæk Pedersen (DK, architect). RUNNER-UP: Semi-Urban Authors: Gijs De Haan (NL, architect urbanist), Corné Strootman (NL, landscape architect), Vincent Peters (NL, landscape architect).
Brainpark I: WINNER: Team Brainpark Authors: Wouter Keizer (NL, architect), Ule Koopmans (NL, architect). Collaborators: Douwe Strating (NL, architect), Lieke De Jong (NL, landscape architect), Anna Decker (NL, sociologist). SPECIAL MENTION: Building upon Brainpark Authors: Kevin Westerveld (NL, architect), Nima Morkoc (NL, architect), Hedwig Van Der Linden (NL, architect), Lars Kloeg (NL, architect). SPECIAL MENTION: Elegy for the Office Park Authors: Andrea Bit (IT, architect), Maciej Wieczorkowski (PL, architect), Robert Van Der Pol (NL, landscape architect).
Looking for up to date information about the winning Europan 15 Netherlands’ projects? Head on over to www.e15rotterdam.nl for more details!
Europan NL and AIR presented the launch of the Europan14 ‘Productive Amsterdam’ book. In conversation with EuropanNL board, the City of Amsterdam, jury members, editors and competition winners, the program reflected on what could be learned from more then two years of research and design into new urban typologies for productive mix-use neighborhoods.
The Europan 14 book was presented to Sabine Lebesque, principal client on behalf of the City of Amsterdam. In conversation with among others Europan 14 jury members Mattijs van Ruijven (head of urban design, City of Rotterdam) and Ruurd Gietema (KCAP ) we reflected on the E14 design-proposals and what we can learn for the Rotterdam search of shaping the live-work neighbourhoods of the future. Furthermore we talked with Eric van der Kooij (teamleader Spatial Quality City of Amsterdam) on research into the future of urban typologies. Kristiaan Borret shared his exemplary practice in thinking, planning and building a productive Brussels. The program ended with a review of the Europan 15 Rotterdam challenge and its key questions.
About the bookThe E14 Productive Amsterdam book presents the winning, runner-up and other noteworthy competition-proposals for the five high priority sites, that were selected for Europan14: H-buurt, Papavierdriehoek, Piarcoplein, Sluisbuurt and Transformatorweg. The book holds articles by among others Eric van der Kooij and William Stockman (City of Amsterdam); journalist Joost Zonneveld; strategic planning specialist Zef Hemel; Kristiaan Borret (Bouwmeester / Maître Architecte at Brussels Capital Region) and the Europan15 jury members Joost Beunderman (00, London) and Mattijs van Ruijven (Head of urban design, City of Rotterdam). These contributors highlight the challenges and opportunities related to the design and development of productive neighborhoods in Amsterdam and connect similar cases in Rotterdam, Brussels and London. The book offers strategies for the political and financial conditions required to foster the productive mix-use urban areas of the future and highlight the talented designers that might help shape them.
From Monofunctional Business Area to Innovative Urban District
Brainpark I is a monofunctional business area along the highway A16. The challenge is to transform the site into a vital and interactive work-and-live area that’s well connected to the nearby the Erasmus University Campus and the public transport hub Kralingse Zoom. Submitters must come up with a densification strategy that unlocks its productive potential. The main question is: where to begin? What are the first actions to be taken? A cross section of the site with several architectural interventions should give an impulse and a direction to the transformation of Brainpark I.
Transforming an Industrial Port Area into a Circular Urban Makers District
Vierhavensblok is an industrial port area in transition where creatives and entrepreneurs feel at home. The challenge is to develop a vision for the site that shows which of the eight leading principles for sustainable area development can be organized collectively. How can the site be densified with new circular building blocks where working and living meet? What is the right scale for such circular infrastructures? Submitters should come up with a strategy for a phased development in which affordability and the existing collectives of Vierhavensblok and their initiatives are included.
Creating a Multifunctional ‘hub’ in the Heart of a Multicultural Vulnerable Neighbourhood
Visserijplein is a square in the heart of the multicultural and vulnerable neighborhood Bospolder and Tussendijken (BoTu). BoTu deals with great challenges in the realm of safety, working and living. The assignment is to empower the neighborhood by designing a multifunctional building block providing space to new forms of living, meeting, learning, making, playing and working. The aim is to give the area a socioeconomic boost by a combination of housing, public functions, educational program and commercial spaces in analogy of new concepts like the Library of the Future.
Transforming an Urban Void into the Missing Link between a Vulnerable Neighbourhood and an Upcoming Makers District
Kop Dakpark is a wasteland on a central spot along a traffic junction with multiple adjacent areas with their own dynamics and atmospheres, like The Strip with Big Shops, the Makers district M4H and the multicultural neighborhood BoTu. The challenge is to develop a new building with innovative work home typologies for various generations and income brackets. The base should have an additional program that contributes to the accessibility and urban dynamics of the location. In the end, Kop Dakpark should connect citizens with all sorts of backgrounds, knowledge and skills.
Vitalizing the Core of the Garden City of the Twenty-first Century
Groot IJsselmonde is the perfect example of a post-war Garden City. The challenge is to transform the site from being segregated to a lively neighborhood by introducing a new mix of functions and more housing. The aim is to attract and retain residents, in particular young generations. Submitters must come up with an urban development strategy in which the resurgence of the central area is key to setting this transformation in to motion. An architectural elaboration can provide a powerful impulse to the desired urban dynamic in Groot IJsselmonde.
Europan NL, Rotterdam Architecture Institute (AIR) and the municipality of Rotterdam are proud to propose five locations for Europan 15. All five have been designated ‘high potential’ development sites by the municipality.
In Search of ‘Good Growth’
Rotterdam is growing. The city aims to build 50,000 new homes in the next decade and to vigorously enhance the quality and energy performance of the existing built environment. In short, Rotterdam is looking for ‘good growth’: building a compact, circular, productive, healthy and inclusive city with equal opportunities and high quality of living for everyone. It aims to be a vibrant and welcoming place for people of all walks of life, ages and beliefs. Citizens of Rotterdam should be able to live productive lives by working, learning, caring or in any other way contributing to the development of the city and its narratives. Therefore, it is important to remove barriers, to increase connectivity, to collaborate on ‘making city’ and to move forward on the rich Rotterdam tradition in architectural experiment and innovation.
Radical Renewal of Spatial Policy
For Europan 15, five sites have been selected within the city of Rotterdam that could catalyse opportunities on multiple levels. Places that could enhance the city’s social resiliency and contribute to ‘good growth’. These five sites will be a testing ground for the new Rotterdam vision and regulatory framework on spatial and socioeconomic developments, called the Omgevingsvisie (Environmental Strategy). This framework is currently being drafted by the municipality. Because of its holistic approach, it should accelerate innovative spatial solutions and sustainable socioeconomic developments. It is supported by an extensive participatory process and an action research program. The Europan 15 sites have been selected to implement this process, through research by design and its aim of implementing exemplary projects. The five assignments are in line with the theme of Europan 15 and the central themes of the Omgevingsvisie: Productive, Inclusive, Circular, Healthy and Compact City.
Public Learning Programme
In addition to the Europan 15 competition process, there is an extensive public learning programme, including public events, workshops, masterclasses and a storytelling campaign. Europan 15 is initiated by Europan NL, Architectuur Instituut Rotterdam, the municipality of Rotterdam and aims to connect a strong network of committed and innovative private parties.
Join the competition
This period is a crucial moment in de urban development of Rotterdam. For the municipality, the possibility of acquiring diverse new ideas, testing the scope of the Omgevingsvisie, and at the same time providing opportunities to young talent, is the main reason for the cooperation with Europan 15.
Enter the Europan 15 competition and contribute to Rotterdam’s search for good growth and the urban work-and-live environments of the future.
Europan NL, Rotterdam Architecture Institute (AIR) and the municipality of Rotterdam are proud to propose five locations for Europan 15. All five have been designated ‘high priority’ development sites by the municipality.
We would like to invite you all to join us for the Awards ceremony and exhibition on 8th march 2018. Respected Mr.Laurens Ivens, Alderman building and living and Mr. Pierre van Rossum, Director Grond and Ontwikkeling Amsterdam will be the chief guests for the event.
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Authors: Miguel Huelga de la Fuenta (ES), Architect Iria de la Pena (ES), Architect
Project Description
The proposal suggests an evolution towards a more flexible and sustainable urban model, able to respond not only to the current living and working needs but also adaptable to future changes and trends. The proposal is to create a flexible model designed to host both residential and non-residential functions, foreseeing future needs.
Jury Comments
This plan is convincing as it delivers the best organization of the ground floor. The design and organization of the lower levels of the tapered towers bring quality and spatial and functional diversity to the public space. The design enhances porosity and interaction between the plinth and the towers, where the core program is organized. The massing of the high-rise elements and the distribution of different typologies within these elements respond well to the surroundings. The design approach demonstrated in the project could be establish urban design guidelines. The façade design offers a lot of flexibility and creates nice possibilities for gardens to be positioned behind the facades. It’s a clever building scheme with double height units where all kind of uses could be possible. A phased development is easily possible.
The jury is convinced by the strong public space ideas and because the proposal responds well to the brief. There is some discussion on the singular identity of the over-arching superstructure which is a strength but also a potential weakness if applied to the whole site.
Project Description – Our competition entry is an investigation in how to build a new piece of city where the streets and the buildings can really come alive as they change over time. Rather than building on an image we propose to focus on generous, well-proportioned indoor and outdoor spaces that allow for changes in use and shifts in the degree to which they are either public or private. In our proposal we literally sample the proportions of the Amsterdam canal houses. We sample the deep plan, the section with the variation in floor heights, the patterns of window openings, the light wells and the way the buildings meet the street.
Jury Comments
This plan has been discussed extensively by the jury as it is clearly controversial. The jury was not sure if it is a conceptual or naïve proposal on how to deal with density in the city? Or is it a critical reflection on the typology of the tower? The problem of density is solved with a few towers and the rest as it is. This proposal is only a part of an answer to the question and the design brief and more a conceptual scheme than a design mainly focusing on the problem of density and keeping the traditional image of the city center. The thin towers are a statement, containing all the program. The urban fabric in the remaining space is focusing on generous, well-proportioned indoor and outdoor space. There was a lot of debate on the size, orientation and connection of the public space.
The jury chose to give the project a runner-up because of its quality as a conceptual manifesto addressing the lack of quality which the inner city has by using towers to get the needed density as well as themes like using the Amsterdam architecture, being vertical orientated while having a small differentiated plinth with different entrances and a clear relation with the public space. It is also quite clear and strict in its guidelines.
Authors – Agustín Gor Gómez, (ES), Architect Carlos Gor Gómez (ES), Architect
Antonio Jesús Guiérrez García (ES), Architect María Fernanda Barquero Barahona (CR), Architect Anastasia Chaidi (GR), Student in Architecture Martyna Smolareak (PL), Student in Architecture Marco Pallaoro (IT), Student in Architecture Luca Pasquini (IT), Artist
Jury Comments
This scheme is based on the concept of archetypal plots and buildings of the Amsterdam’s city center. The (romantic) idea of using existing typologies is interesting but difficult to realize. The jury is not convinced by the theme of urban farming on the facades. The proposal is very architectural. The guidelines are not very strong or workable for the municipality.
This scheme has an interesting mix of working at the outside of the block and living inside combined with the hotel function. The attempt is to organize different kinds of productivity in the vertical dimension which is very interesting but also makes it too complex and difficult. The spatial quality of the yards is not convincing and the orientation of the one-way orientation of the apartments can be problematic.
The idea of locating workspaces in the towers and creating diagonal sectional relations between buildings by using these spaces is interesting. The stacking of living and working in the towers creates new relations between the lower levels and the upper levels. The project lacks plans and sections to show in detail how spatial and functional elements are organized. The connection with the water is interesting as well as the attempt to establish a ‘heart’ in the neighborhood. On the other hand, the plan has a lot of commercial spaces and atriums and the diagonal relations appear to be only visual, not functional. The project does not really address issues raised by the competition theme.
Considering these premises, the proposal consists in a series of operations: -Liberating the space from cars to imagine a new kind of space for various and variable activities -Concentrating cars in two strategic points to organize them in a much more efficient way in terms of use of space -Occupying the space under the high-lines with new volumes to enclose the space and shape the square through solid and active borders -Modelling the volumes to generate visual and physical permeability, and then intercept flows from the surroundings streets -Proposing new activities to increase mixité and vibration within the area -Using open spaces and vegetation to diversify and enrich the inner landscape under the high-line.
Jury Comments
This proposal comes up with a simple solution for a complex situation through creating a public square with clearly defined boundaries under the existing infrastructure structure. The scheme creates a well-dimensioned square with buildings under the tracks without disturbing the flow of the different users. This set-up follows the logic of traditional arches underneath train tracks creating special spaces that offer interesting locations for additional urban programs in a friendly and transparent way. The scheme is smart in the way that it is organising the program at the ground level. The square is a simple gesture offering rest and quietness for this area without direct focus on connection, and by doing so, offers a clear vision and an opposing view to the current messy situation. This openness allows the connection with the station to happen naturally. The jury values this proposal as a solution for the immediate future without blocking a long-term development strategy. There some were discussions in the jury about the transparent building on the reservation for parking and the way future flows of residents are integrated in the plan.
Project Description – This proposal aims to investigate how digital and physical connectivity can recombine an existing transit oriented development into an urban platform. Considering work activities as a core productive factor for cities, workplace digitalization has in fact implications not only for the architectural scale, but for the overall urban space. Firms – previously identifying themselves into office buildings – are turning into platforms – that means the overall complexity of urban environment becomes their main productive resource. Within this framework, we proposed the design for a digital and physical infrastructure that allows local collaboration in space and provides a virtual environment of local connectivity which doesn’t have access to the internet but works as a City Operating System.
Jury Comments
This project creates a very interesting connection between the station and its surrounding by linking the different squares. The design brings together the different movements and flows in the area. By introducing a new mid-level movement system, the project creates a landscape underneath the elevated train tracks of folded footpaths and pavilions with urban program and places to stay. Using the different movements and flux as well as integrating ‘the bypass’ and the parking makes this a proposal worth looking at it seriously. The idea of respecting the existing structure and building underneath the tracks is strong but these new landscapes generate much more space that would need to be animated and programmed.
The idea of a tropical garden is a nice image that gives a completely different look at the place. Through this intervention the whole situation is put in a new context in order to create a lively place with a big staircase towards the station hall. This landscape approach with pavilions has a lot of flexibility for the development. The orientation of the public space in relation to the flows of users and the infrastructure is problematic and there are no clear front and backsides.
Authors – Jose Luis Munoz (ES), Architect Román Cordero Tovar (MX), Architect
Daniel Usero Guerrero (ES), Architect Cristina Medina Valverde (ES), Student in Architecture Lorenzo Vallone (IT), Student in Architecture Agnieszka Kepa (PL), Student in Architecture Yoshimi Horiuchi Gallardo (MX), Student in Architecture
Jury Comments
This proposal is creating a three-dimensional landscape by introducing an artificial structure and additional level of public space. Landscape elements, bridges and voids are used to create a world on its own and at the same time offers a solution for a better atmosphere for the parking spaces on the ground floor. The jury is critical about introducing another public level which creates even more public space and the adding of new tracks which is not temporary at all.
This plan is adding production space on the ground level where various types of production could take place. By placing new buildings in the middle of the parking area the project will transform the character of the place from mobility to productivity. The jury is rather critical about the historical building references and the orientation of the in-between spaces which look a bit naïve and romantic.
This proposal was selected for the Europan Cities and Jury Forum, held in Helsinki in October 2017. It lacks the concreteness of a proposal but it can be considered as being honorable because it is a new idea.
Authors: Timur Shabaev (NL), Architect Timur Karimullin (NL), Urban Planner
Sofia Koutsenko (US), Interior Architect Maria Krasnova (NL), Artist Kristina Knauf (DE), Urban Planner
Project Description
With our proposal, we aim to address the resulting undefined and fragile site by preparing it for the possibility of a new, nimble and savvy economy to emerge. An economy built on the circular principles of long-lasting design, maintenance, repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing, and recycling.
Jury Comments
This project has been unanimously voted the best proposal. The plan is interesting in that it proposes a solution that functions at different scales and with different typologies, with a clear and well defined collective space in the center of the plan. It proposes a clear hierarchy of urban spaces and city blocks, set within an loose organisational structure that allow for different types of uses. The system of flexible blocks is adaptable and can allow for different phasing ideas. This scheme is creating opportunities for entrepreneurs or private ownership situations. The proposed interventions offer undefined space as a reaction to the overly defined space which is considered one of the problems of the Bijlmer. The project is productive because it is ‘forever young’ and focused on the future. It somehow brings optimism and facilitates user participation without being to ‘closed’ to the community.
Project Description – The project is an individualized stepping stone in the sequence of diverse encounters along the metro-line and the adjacent south-west soft axis. Composed of a mix of middle-income housing sitting atop a set of affordable incubators of production, the strip becomes a brand name in Amsterdam, BUURTMAKERS, synonymous with local production in H-Buurt.
Jury Comments
The proposal is interesting at different scales, and the strategy is clear with its modularity and use of green houses that try to bring extra types of buildings and an increased population. A new park connects different public spaces with the existing neighborhood and creates opportunities for new collective spaces. The plan is quite utopian in the way it presupposes how working spaces in open areas can survive. In that sense, the jury feels that the proposal might not meet the needs of the affordable working spaces to the extent the project team claims it can. New living opportunities interact with each other under the over-arching roof. The generic glass structure could be seen as being an answer to the generic structure of the Bijlmer but on the other hand the jury is critical about the amount of glass roofs proposed, and its maintenance. The jury feels that the plan proposes an unrealistic romantic image of society and lacks density
Authors – Ylenia Rose Testore (IT), Architect Michela Di Saverio (IT), Architect
Valeria Colosetti (IT), Architect
Jury Comments
Interesting concept of habitation as act of production and an attempt for a revival of the domestic workshop with a research on typologies for a productive system based on a circular economy. The aim of the project is to create a community through fostering productivity. The jury is critical about the low density with only two floors of program, a large amount of public space and buildings that lack clarity of orientation and access. The jury felt that is a rather generic urban pattern and lacks explicit relationships to its context.
Housing as the moneymaking agent for economic development. The project proposes two blocks of stacked program, with residential accommodation located on the upper levels. The typology is conventional, clear and realistic.
Filippo Vaijra (IT), Student in Architecture Giovanni Ratto (IT), Student in Architecture Alessandro Chilosi (IT), Student in Architecture
Jury Comments
This plan makes an interesting relation to the wider context by introducing an urban strip of specific public spaces that enhances the potential of the area to be productive. The scheme for the H-Buurt is rather schematic and is not very clear in spatial terms and lacks a specific development strategy. The jury thinks that this is a rather conservative plan which does not conform with the current world.
Authors: Aleksandr Zinovev (RU), Architect Budarin Konstantin (EE), Journalist Shmeleva Irina (RU), Architect
Dimitrii Andreev (RU), Movie Director Elmira Kakabeava (KZ), Public Relations and Education
Project Description
MediaHub is a collection of spaces that offer various opportunities for education as well as for work. The architecture of the hub is a combination of the vertical and the horizontal. The horizontal plane contains all productive elements – the university, workplaces, commerce, public spaces. The vertical is a residential plane. It houses apartments of various configuration that can make homes for people of various requirements and opportunities.
Jury Comments
The jury finds this a promising proposal, as it is very specific in terms of program and in the appearance of the building. The project establishes a cluster of new interventions, where existing and new functions are combined in distinct building volumes.
Authors : Oscar Linares de la torre (ES), Architect
Bernat Bastardas Llabot (ES), Student in Architecture Guillem Rius Manuel (ES), Student in Architecture Maria Del Olmo Gomez (ES), Student in Architecture
Project Description – The proposal is a building that surrounds the existent, embracing the Media College and unifying the whole ensemble through its architecture. The proposal condenses living, working and learning all together in a single building, where the mixture of uses is seen as the main attraction to this area.
Jury Comments
In the emptiness of its surroundings, this proposal is a radical redefinition of the cluster with a perimeter block that defines clear edges, opens up connections to the park and embraces the existing the Media College structure. The proposed tower doesn’t block the views to and from the Transformatorweg. The jury is convinced by the way the building complex opens towards the park and strengthens connections between different kinds of public space and the transitional, differentiated spaces in between. The jury feels that the interaction of new proposal and the ground floor of the Media College is not that clear.
Here, the strategy is to densify the site with small functional and spatial intervention in order to create a campus. The scheme is easy to build in phases. It’s an intriguing project, the organization is smart but the small-scale massing is doubtful and inefficient and the appearance of the proposal seems quite generic. For the jury, it is not evident that the Media College could function well in this scheme due to the lack of spatial hierarchy and clarity
This project is an interesting modular system that offers a lot of flexibility for the Media College. The voids and glass elements in architecture are vague and lack some degree of hierarchy. It is nice project but it is a bit too generic.
Authors – Wouter Keizer (NL), Architect Ule Koopmans (NL), Architect Remko van der Vorm (NL), Architect
Jury Comments
This project demonstrates interesting ideas on how to set up a mixed-use, lively urban environment. It proposes to transform the Media College by creating a new building in the center of the site, surrounded by supporting program. For the jury, the connections between spaces in between the buildings are diffuse and not clearly defined
Authors: Alessandro Macaluso (IT), Architect Urbanist Carlotta Basoli (IT), Landscape Architect Giovanni Lavanna (IT), Architect Andrei Deacu (RO), Urban planner
Project Description
Amsterdam’s city centre is expanding and brings along development pressure on areas that possess social qualities. Our exploration starts from the tension between high density (and high rise buildings) needs and the local self built spirit. The site today holds the valuable De Ceuvel project, and gives character to the area. Our aim is to preserve this rugged and self made identity and enrich it through the new development. We have a strong focus on social sustainability and consider this the backbone of our proposal.
Jury Comments
This project stands out by its clear and strong urban strategy and a system of little squares which function well as public spaces that are well oriented on the sun. it is an intriguing structuring scheme which leads to a beautiful urban scheme.An all-round project, which is feasible as a design strategy. Spatially, the development strategy for the transformation of the whole of Papaverdriehoek is very interesting. The feasibility of the proposal and the functioning of the area during the different phases of development, with the possibility to integrate ‘de Ceuvel’ is convincing
Project Description – Within an area often characterized by a highly fragmented ownership that therefore implies bizarre plot shapes in the case of plots groupage, the strategy is to fill the borders this way gaining a double benefit: against a future denser urban environment, built limit operates as an interface through which it is possible establishing meaningful connections between “inside” and “outside”. Inner freed up space is the living core of the settlement: conceived as a semi-public space, but at the same time clearly shaped by the architectural volumes, here highly differentiated activities, both extensions of private spheres and public incursions, take place and discover a fertile meeting point.
Jury Comments
This proposal is convincing due to its strong, seductive (architectural) image which the jury see as an intelligent statement for ‘marking’ the area with a building which points on the opportunities for further developments. On the other hand, this proposal does not provide a convincing image on the urban scale and is missing a thoughtful development strategy for the site which makes a wider development possible. It is not clearly explained how this scheme could be realised. It’s an intriguing development for the first site to start having an interesting concept system of closed courtyards to be developed in phases. This creates public space which is very introvert, and linked to the quality of the building itself. But this space does not link to the surrounding spaces, which is important for the overall functioning of the area as a whole.
Authors – Jose Ramon Vives (ES), Architect Jose Nunez Gimeno (ES), Architect Laura Riaño (ES), Architect
Jury Comments
This project proposes a smart, high-rise development strategy to kick-start the urban redevelopment process, which also means a high return for the one who is first investing in the area. The setup of the urban spaces is interesting, with an emphasis on high density while engaging in productivity and keeping the exiting environment. The jury finds this an intriguing proposal but not a winner, questioning the tower as solution to distribute the components in a smart way as well as it’s effect on availability of sunlight for other parts of the plan area. It can be one off solution with in the plan area. For these reasons, this proposal is not sufficient enough as a building or urban strategy.
Authors – Nash Roy (IT), Architect Astorri Luca (IT), Architect
Jury Comments
This proposal shows an interesting approach on sustainability and urban green, developed with a focus on productive green. The proposed landscape structure is connected with its surroundings on a larger scale and operates as a biodiversity corridor in relation with the urban water system. The jury values this approach but thinks that the phasing is not realistic. The jury is not convinced by density of the proposal for the site. Despite the fact that the plan is focused on productive green strategies the ground floor hardly shows any synergy with the wider structure of public spaces. Also, there are some doubts if the proposed architectural appearance is fitting in the area
This project is interesting in the way the public space and the waterfront are developed and in the way existing buildings are integrated in the different phases. It tries to keep the small scale of the current situation and by doing so introduces good spatial qualities. They use a (romantic) stamp which is not pretentious and matches well with the existing, with a quite low density. The jury has questions if this is enough to give a strong impulse for the development of the whole area.
This plan is very convincing in its connection with the neighboring sites, having an interesting urban layout. Although the plan is very detailed in restructuring the whole site with a clear phasing, the development strategy itself is not clear. It is developable, but is this enough? The ‘masterplan’ is very fixed, not intriguing and obvious with much emphasize on the architecture and pretty pictures without thinking about the synergy between the volumes.
On 1 September the Technical jury came together to review the 113 entries that Europan received for five sites in Amsterdam. This review is a preparatory step before the national jury comes together for the first time.
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The technical jury was pleased to see the diversity and quality of the responses to the competition theme. Based on the different conditions of the five locations the received entries came up with a variety of special project ideas and development strategies, addressing the public quality of the specific place.
The technical jury welcomes the interesting and valuable new perspectives on the development of the city. The entries will lead to fruitful discussions between jury members and the city representatives, giving new impulses to the development of the city.
The national Jury will meet end of September and on 3rd of November will be the final selection of entries with afterwards a public expert-meeting on ideas for innovative commissioning. The announcement of the winners is on 1st of December.
Open call for Architects and Urban Planners up to 40 years. First prize €16.000 + Design assignment. All shortlisted designs will be exhibited and published.
Amsterdam asks teams to generate a vision of productivity in a new multi-functional neighbourhood. Designs should follow the Europan 14 theme: Productive Cities
Register your participation before June 19th!
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HOW CAN SLUISBUURT CONTRIBUTE TO THE PRODUCTIVE CITY? On this location, the task is to generate a vision of productivity for a new multi-functional district that is more than just a label. The challenge is to give spatial expression to contemporary patterns of productivity, living and working in our modern cities. Vertical mixed- use that can be applied at the scale of a block, the scale of a street and the scale of a neighbourhood. The city considers that productivity in Sluisbuurt could be diverse and ‘unexpected’. The competition seeks design proposals that can accommodate flexibility, future trends and possible changes in use.
CITY STRATEGY Over the last 20 years, intense housing production has taken place in Amsterdam-Oost as old districts and former dockland areas were upgraded and regenerated. The site for the competition is located on Zeeburgereiland and in the future it will link the centuries-old Indische Buurt with the new residential districts in IJburg and Amsterdam’s eastern docklands. Today, Amsterdam is under pressure to expand because it is recognised as an attractive international city. It is trying to find its own way to navigate these market forces. Sluisbuurt has been conceived as a compact city extension and while tall buildings characterize the vision, at street level the neighbourhood should feel typically Amsterdam.
Open call for Architects and Urban Planners up to 40 years. First prize €16.000 + Design assignment. All shortlisted designs will be exhibited and published.
Amsterdam asks teams to propose a transformation of a parking lot into a vibrant mixed use urban quarter. Design should follow the Europan 14 theme: Productive Cities
Register your participation before June 19th!
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HOW CAN PIARCOPLEIN CONTRIBUTE TO THE PRODUCTIVE CITY?
Work-related functions characterise the area but the quality of buildings and in-between spaces are poor. After the economic crisis, the city successfully initiated a series of bottom-up regeneration strategies. Looking to the future, the site requires further transformation. The question is what to do and how to do it? For the municipality, this is an open question, but one in which the theme of productivity can be explored in the widest possible sense in search for, perhaps, radical solutions. The site is surrounded by productivity. How can this influence and help orchestrate a new vision for the area?
CITY STRATEGY The long-term strategy is to transform Sloterdijk Centrum from a monofunctional business area into a vibrant, mixed-use urban quarter. Recently, redundant offices have been converted to hotels, student housing, short stay accommodation, retail and other amenities. These changes have been guided by some of the most flexible zoning policies in the Netherlands. Sloterdijk Centrum’s location mid-way between Schiphol international airport and the city centre helps to ensure that it will continue to be a dynamic area. There is no clear final image in sight but the large amount of infrastructure will remain a given.
Open call for Architects and Urban Planners up to 40 years. First prize €16.000 + Design assignment. All shortlisted designs will be exhibited and published.
Amsterdam asks teams to improve the productivity of this mono-functional neighbourhood and propose a socially inclusive development model. Designs should follow the Europan 14 theme: Productive Cities.
Register your participation before June 19th!
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HOW CAN H-BUURT CONTRIBUTE TO THE PRODUCTIVE CITY?
On this location, traditional light manufacturing industries such as a car wash and bakery already exist. These can stay, but a more comprehensive exploration of productivity is asked for in the competition. These ideas are needed in order to create a meaningful social and economic place in the city, which despite a recent influx of new residents it remains characterized by relatively high unemployment and high poverty. There is a need to attract private investment and from the perspective of the city, this be can achieved by proposing good design that is innovative and financially feasible.
CITY STRATEGY
The site is located in Amsterdam Zuid-Oost, an area characterized by mono-functional residential neighbourhoods and office undergoing transformation. High-rise residential buildings have been demolished and replaced by new blocks with a more human scale. Before the financial crisis, the municipality subsidised socially inclusive projects. In the current development model, the city would like to partner with developers to find new ways to safeguard strategies that can protect and nurture inclusive urban development. There is a desire to change the mono-functional area into mixed live/work neighbourhood that can foster the low-income economy.
Open call for Architects and Urban Planners up to 40 years. First prize €16.000 + Design assignment. All shortlisted designs will be exhibited and published.
Amsterdam asks teams to reconsider the relationship between education and living near a industrial district. Designs should follow the Europan 14 theme: Productive Cities
Register your participation before June 19th!
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HOW CAN TRANSFORMATORWEG CONTRIBUTE TO THE PRODUCTIVE CITY?
The municipality is seeking an inspiring architectural vision that can bring together the aspirations of the municipality, who intend to promote the creation of a new mixed-use neighbourhood, and the desires of the stakeholder, who intend to expand their building and in doing so, support increased multifunctional uses on the site. Design proposals for the public space should increase the attractiveness of the location, help foster synergies between education and entrepreneurship, and make visible the changes taking place in the area.
CITY STRATEGY
The site is located in Sloterdijk 1 development plan, an area in the eastern part of Amsterdam’s Port-City where in the long term, 40,000 homes will be built by 2040. The municipality wants to transform and convert this area into a coherent mixed-use urban district. Initially, the municipality is focusing on the area between Transformatorweg and railway tracks which will, over time, become a mix of living, working, educational and commercial facilities. The municipality wants to develop the area together with the existing owners and users. The first steps in this collaboration pro- cess has just started. 4,500 new homes will be realised in Sloterdijk 1 by 2025.

Open call for Architects and Urban Planners up to 40 years. First prize €16.000 + Design assignment. All shortlisted designs will be exhibited and published.
Amsterdam asks teams to reconsider the relationship between work and living on the 0.15ha site. Designs should follow the Europan 14 theme: Productive Cities
Register your participation before June 19th!
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HOW CAN PAPAVERDRIEHOEK CONTRIBUTE TO THE PRODUCTIVE CITY?
A mix of new and traditional manufacturing industries is emerging in the area, which is being transformed from an unsightly industrial district into a ‘Living Lab’ model showcase for the circular economy. The municipality is working with developers, private owners, housing associations, businesses, and utility companies work to create a neighbourhood where raw materials and energy are re-used as much as possible in the same area. Experimentation, research and innovation are actively encouraged and implemented. Activities in the area are very diverse: from new creative industries to a dance school and car repair shops.
CITY STRATEGY
The site is located in Amsterdam-Noord, which has a different scale and structure than what most outsiders associate with Amsterdam: it is more open, spacious, industrial and raw. The site offers many opportunities to act as a pivot or hinge point between neighbourhoods in the north and south, and as a gateway to the Buiksloterham. The study area is characterized by spacious commercial buildings that are rapidly turning into living and working areas (ratio 50:50) where the sturdy industrial character remains. The municipality would like to retain many of the existing businesses in the area after the transformation process has been completed.
“Productive Cities” is the theme of E14. How to integrate some of the production activities in the city – such as the production of food, energy, low skilled services, new industrial products – to enhance new relations between citizens?
How to involve the actors? How to manage the tensions emerging from the new relations between producing and living? How to integrate all the production cycles considering distribution, waste and consumption? These are just some of the questions that were discussed with site representatives and stakeholders during this workshop.
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Workshop participants:
Representatives from gemeente Amsterdam, Representatives from Europan NL, Key stakeholders for each location, Representatives from Europan NL’s support group ( kinderen van Europan), Specialist consultants expert in ‘productive city’
Voor het eerst bevinden alle prijsvraaglocaties van Europan Nederland zich in één stad. Voor Europan 14 (http://europan.nl/) zijn vijf plaatsen aangewezen in Amsterdam, variërend van een schoolterrein tot stationsplein. Het thema van deze editie is Productive cities.
De uitkomsten van Europan in Amsterdam moeten bijdragen aan de ontwikkelingsstrategie Koers 2025 (https://www.amsterdam.nl/bestuur-organisatie/volg-beleid/koers-2025-amsterdam /ontwikkelstrategie/), die de stad heeft uitgezet voor de bouw van 50.000 nieuwe woningen in de komende negen jaar. Ook bieden de plannen ruimte aan voorzieningen en bedrijven. Hoe deze ontwikkelingen vorm gaan krijgen, is een opgave waar onder andere de deelnemers aan Europan 14 zich over kunnen buigen.
