Making Design Politics

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MAKINGDESIGNANDPOLITICS

ANCBMetropolitanLaboratoryincollaborationwithHenkOvinkandthe5thInternationalRotterdamArchitecture

Biennale

25April2012,8pm

NetherlandsArchitectureInstitute,Rotterdam

ReflectingonwhatwaslearnedintheANCB2011seriesDesignandPolitics:TheNextPhase,thisdebatewilloutlinean

alternativeapproachtomakingoururbanenvironment.Aligningwiththethemeofthe5thIABR,andwithmissionof

ANCB,thedebatewillalsotakeanextsteptowardstherealisationofthisapproachbyconsideringwhetherandhow

adaptabilitycanbecomeitscornerstone.

Welcomes

tbcOleBoumanDirectoroftheNetherlandsArchitectureInstitute,Rotterdam

KristinFeireiss DirectorANCBMetropolitanLaboratoryandAedesArchitectureForum

RoelofBleker ChairmanoftheBoardofNetherlandsFundforArchitecture

Introduction(anddebatemoderation)

HenkOvinkNetherlandsMinistryforInfrastructureandEnvironment,co-curator5thIABR

ThisDesignandPoliticsapproachallowsspatialplanningtomoveawayfromasimpleprocessdiagram,towardsamore

fluidprocessthattests,reflectsandengageswiththeissuesatstakeandwiththemeaningfulspacesofcontemporary

life.Thisrequiresnotonlyanoverhaulofmodusoperandiofspatialplanning,butalsoaredefinitionofthescopeand

formofcollaborationsbetweenplanners,designersandpoliticians.HenkOvinkarguesforadaptabilityasthe

cornerstoneofthisapproach.Theagendaisnotablueprint,noraguideline,norapredictionofhowtomaketheworldbetter.No,theagendaistheprocessofchange.Theagendaleadsthewaytohelpformalliancesconcerningand

connectingspecificplaces,peopleandissues.Andtheagendainitselfshouldbeadaptive,changingwitheverystepof

development.Thefollowingdesigners,theorists,plannerswillrespond:

Onpodium:

WouterVanstiphout ProfessorofDesignasPolitics,TechnicalUniversityDelft

ThomasSievertsFoundingpartnerS.K.A.T.ArchitectsandUrbanPlanners,Bonn

FlorisAlkemade DirectorFlorisAlekmadeArchitects,Sint-Odenrode,Brussels,Paris

tbcPetraWesselerHeadofUrbanDevelopmentProjects,CityofChemnitz

Infrontrow:

RobertKaltenbrunner GermanFederalOfficeonBuilding,UrbanAffairsandSpatialDevelopment

ArnoldReijndorp ProfessorforSocial-economicandSpatialDevelopmentofNewUrbanAreas

tbcJoachimdeClerck ArchitectureWorkroom,Brussels

PaulineTerreehorst AuthorandAdvisoronurbanculture,formerdirectorofUtrechtCityMuseum

Forbackgroundtothisdebate,seeoverleaf.


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ExtractfromDESIGNANDPOLITICSUPFORCHANGE

HenkOvink,A+U2012,Issue1,nr496,pp112-114

Spatialplanningcannolongerbethetrade-offofinterests,norshoulditamounttotheallocationof

programvolumes.Instead,spatialplanningmustbe

aboutgivingdirectionandshapeinvisionsandstories,

inlawsandregulations,andthroughprogramsand

projectsallcontributingtothewiderperspectiveofa

social,economicandculturaltask .Thatisprecisely

whatmakesplanningpolitical,aplanningthatissocio-

economicallyandculturallydriven.Planningthat

connectswithsocietysdemands.Andplanningthat

confrontsandresolvesthedifferentchallengeswiththe

poweroftheplaces.Itcallsfordesignexcellenceto

makeexplicitandconfrontdifferencesratherthan

findinggenericsolutions.Thendesignandinnovation

becomeleadersinthisspatialdevelopmentprocess.

Thismakesthepoliticsofplanningabouttheredefining

ofourtasksinanintegralapproach.Itisabout

rethinkingourinstruments,financial,legal,etcetera,

withfeweryetmoreintegratedrulesandthrough

smartergovernance.Aboutreinventingthealliance,the

strongcollaborationthatenablesabreakthroughandfocus.Itisabouttherepositioningofdesignandits

politicalcapacity.Anditisabouttheexchangeof

knowledge,collaborationthroughexcellence,without

assimilationbutwithadaptation.

Anallianceentailsstrongcollaborationwhereanarrow

focuscanleadtoasuccessfuldevelopment.An

entrepreneurialattitudeamongstpartnersincluding

governmentorganizationsisessential.Alliancesstart

wherechallengesemergeandfacilitatesupportofthe

directinterestsofpeople(organizedandnon-organized).Goodgovernmentmustidentifythemas

highlypowerfulcollaborations.Governmentshould

participate,facilitateandgivethemastagetoacton.

Theallianceisalsoasidestepoutofourblocked

conditionofpre-definedsetsofactors,rules,

instrumentsandpolitics.Thispre-definingcomesfrom

thehopeswedevelopforabetterfuturethatwecan

pindowninguidelines,so-calledcertaintiesand

perspectivesthatlooklikeidealisticviews.Itisasearch

forcertaintiesintheever-increasingcomplexityofthe

world.

Thechanginghorizons,theredefiningofourbasisupon

whichwebuilt,thefluidnessofthedevelopment

processallaskforalettinggoofcertaintiesbuttendto

reactionsthataremorestrict,morepre-defined,more

so-calledcertain.Butwemustntfallintothistrapofcertainties.Thereisnosuchthing.

Itisthecity,themetropolitanregionthatcanre-setour

society.Ifthecollectiveofcitymakingistheconnection

anddriverforalliances,thenwhatdoesthismeanfor

thedifferentactorsinvolved?Theallianceisthe

sidestepoutofouralreadyimpossibleoratleasttoo

complexconfigurationofrulesandregulations,inertiain

societyandbureaucracyandeverythingthatmakesit

impossiblefordevelopers,investors,designers,

researchersandbusinesstoactasindividualplayers.If

wewanttomakecitiesitisthesealliancesthatmust

leadtheway.Ifwewanttochangetheworldwehave

toletthealliancescutrightthroughtotheheartofthe

individualactorsandletthemreform,aschangeagents

theseindividualandcollectivepowers.

Thenchangingtheworldisabouttheagendaforthe

differentactorsthatdevelop,research,educate,

execute,rule,reignandreflect. Thisagendaisnota

blueprint,noraguideline,norapredictionofhowtomaketheworldbetter.No,theagendaistheprocess

ofchange.Theagendaleadsthewaytohelpform

alliancesconcerningandconnectingspecificplaces,

peopleandissues.Andtheagendainitselfshouldbe

adaptive,changingwitheverystepofdevelopment.

DESIGNANDPOLITICS:THENEXTPHASE

ASeriesof7thematicdebatesatANCBMetropolitan

Laboratorythatteasedoutwhatthisalternative

DesignandPoliticsapproachwouldmeaninpractice.

#1CRADLETOCRADLE-Creativeandeffectiveurbanpractice

#2ONTHESURFACEOFARCHITECTURETechnologies&

Materials

#3CLIMATE-CHANGINGOURCITIES:COOL,ORWETAND

WARM?-Climatechange

#4LEARNINGTOPROVOKE-Agendasofdesign

#575-90-3:whoisourcity?-Migration

#6MOVINGCITIES,MOBILITYANDMEANING-Mobility

#7RE-CITY:THETOTALMAKEOVER-AgentsofUrbanAction

Onlinevideosofdebatesvimeo.com/user11026775


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Insights,IdeasandDirectionsforAlternativeProcessof

Planning,PoliticsandDesign,aslearnedin7debates

1. CitiesTheContext2. ValuesandIntentions3. Rules,Tools,Approaches,Strategies4. Instruments5. Roles6. ValueofDesign7. HowtoRespondtoCriticalIssuesFacingCities8. ListofDebateParticipants

1.Cities-TheContext

CitiesLackaClearIdeaofWhereTheyWanttoBein20

YearsandMeasuresofHowtoGetThere Lackofclear

benchmarksforurbangrowth,orforsustainability.

Measurementisalwaysbynon-designers.Some

considerationswillalwaysresistquantification.

Economistsanddecisionsmakersneedtobeeducated

inalternativewaysofthinking.Requirementsfor

alternativestocost-benefitanalysis,e.g.political

calculations(rightsofperipheriestobeconnected),

intangiblebenefitsandsymbolicvalues(Oslo-Berlinhigh

speedrailconnection).#6RientsDijkstra,FlorianLennert,PhilipRodd

NetworkCity=FragmentedCity .Riseofnetworkcity

hasledtothedevelopmentofmoreevenly-distributed

diversityasopposedtothetrade-specificpopulation

congregationsofpast.#5MichaelKnzel;Cityis

fragmentingintohigh-andlow-incomeislandspitting

immigrantsagainstethnicnationals,educatedagainst

loweducated.Thesegapsaregettingwiderandmore

entrenchedspatially.#4WouterVanstiphout;People

maysharespaceinthecitybutwidegapsbetweensocialclassesmayexistintermsofaccessto

opportunities.#5MekonnenMesghena;Growinglack

ofidentificationbetweenpeopleandtheplacetheylive

in.#7AngelLuisFernandezMunoz,#5Mekonnen

Mesghena;Complexityofcontemporarycityis

generatedbyadiversityofconstituenciesandvalues. #2

JohannesKuehn;Representationofvaluesratherthan

determiningsharedvalues.#2Anh-LinhNgo

WhatDoWeMeanbyCity?IstheEssenceoftheCity

PerhapsWhatisUncontrolled?Whataboutthe

dominantperipherywhenitisthecoreinner-citythat

receivesalltheattention?Doweover-estimateour

control?#7FlorisAlkemade

FourStepsTowardsSuccessfulCityMaking areClear

Intentions(whichguidetheentireprocess),aResponsivePlan,EffectiveInstrumentsfor

ImplementationandStrategicInvestmenttomake

thingshappen.#5RatnaOmidvar

2.ValuesandIntentions

CityMakingisAboutWhatPeopleWant. The

contemporaryurbanconditionisnotwhatpeoplewant

andthisiswhytheperipheryisexpanding.Forexample,

everyonewantstoliveinthepicturesquehistoriccentre

ofAmsterdambutnooncecanaffordit.Whycantwe

createnew,affordableurbanareasaspopularasthese

oldinnercityareas.#7FlorisAlkemade

ThePrimaryObjectiveMustBetoKeepOpportunities

OpenforEveryone.Integrationmustbelinkedtothe

possibilityofsuccess.#5MichaelKnzel

FundamentalRightofthePublictoDemandaFairer

ReconfigurationofPublicSpace. Therearegrowing

hybridinteractionsbetweenspace,objectsandpeople.Spaceisthoughtofasperformativeratherthanasa

neutralcontainer,yetarchitectureisstilltaughtin

isolationfrompolitics.#4ChristopherDell;Aoncultural

policyforurbanspaceisrequired,forcultural

playscapes,tofightforopenpolyvalenturbanspace. #2

PaulineTerreehorst;Amoralcommitmenttopublic

spaceisnecessary.#4WouterVanstiphout;

Communicationtechnologiesareleadingtogrowing

socialisolation.#5RatnaOmidvar

TheCityisTooValuabletoLeavetotheMarket .Citiesneedtoexperiment.Publicspaceshouldbetheprimary

driverofaguidedlong-termprocessfortheincremental

developmentofthecity,involvingpublicandprivate

collaboration.#7PetraRutten

TheRe-imaginationofthePublic(TheMostVisible

ManifestationofthePublicSector) isanabsolute

necessityanddangerouslyunderestimated

responsibilityfortheurbanplanner,urbandesignand

architect.Givinguponpolitics,onthepublicsector,on

publicinstitutions,andonpublicspacerepresentsthe

endofurbanplanning.Throughoutthewesternworld

governmentnowtakesprideinwhatitdoesnotdo,in


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theinstitutionsabolished,theamountofpublic

spendingreduced.Thisformofgovernmentviewsthe

publicsectorasanobstacleandfavourstheself-service

ideaofcitizenengagement.#4WouterVanstiphout

ReimagineWholenessandTakeOntheProblemsof

Others.Designprofessionalsneedtoengagewith

politicsinordertotakethenextstepbeyondthe

creativeghettoorriskbecomingjustanotherislandin

thearchipelago.Whatisnotrequiredistotakesones

ownproblemandmakeitbiggeruntilitcanhavewider

currencyandcollectiveforcebehindit-wemustalso

takeontheproblemsofothers.#4WouterVanstiphout;

Howtolearntheproblemofothersistheprimary

challenge.Thisrequiresaprocessofdirectdialogue

betweencityauthoritiesandcitizens.#4PetraWesseler;

Westernsocietyhaslostideaofsharedvaluesandin

theirabsencethecityhaslostitsbearingsintermsof

whattodoandwhichinitiativestosupport.#4Doris

Kleilein

3.Rules,Tools,Approaches,StrategiesofCityMaking

(ToolKit)

ACulture-Baukultur .Aninclusivetermforthecollaborativeprocessesandapproachesrelatedtothe

builtenvironmentthatincludesplanning,architecture

andpublicdiscourse.#7Lars-ChristianUhlig;City

makingshouldbeopentocontinuouspublicdiscussion

anddebate.Shouldnottakeformofpollingonanissue-

by-issuebasis.Newmediaandcommunications

technologiesshouldbeexploitedtofacilitatethis

processofdiscussionanddebate.#2various

CreateNewProjects,NewMyths .Europerequiresnew

visionstolead,totakenextstepincontextofurbanisationofworld.#4HenkOvink;AtscaleofEurope

andatscaleofcity.Importanceofsymbolsforsociety.If

societyistohavemeaningfulsymbolswecantjustrely

onchaosandcoincidence-designersarerequiredto

makethingswork.Alsoimportantnottohavejustovert

symbols,butalsotosharedstoriessupportedbyawide

varietyofpeople.#5OlvKleijn,RatnaOmidvar

FewerPlanningRulesandRegulations .Couldmore

laissezfaireapproachbestrategicratherthanmerely

neglectful?#5OlvKleijn;Whatwewantiscivilised

accidentandsafeconflict-urbanityisdefinedby

civilisedconflict.Welikethedangerofthecitybutneed

toframetheaccidenttomakeitbearable.#4Wouter

Vanstiohout,#5MartinReinCano;Innovationand

creativitycomesoutofchaos. #5RatnaOmidvar

AimtoLiveWellintheUnfinished.Onupdatingrules

governingthedevelopmentofurbanfabricto

accommodatecontemporaryrealitiesandtoleave

openingsfortheinnovativeandunplanned.#2Joop

Paul;Byuseofadaptiveplanningprocesses?Through

small-scaleinitiativesratherthanlarge-scaleplans?But

isntBerlinisagoodexampleofunfinished-nessinthe

fragmentsresultingfromfailedlarge-scaleplans. #5

MartinRein-Cano

ResponsivenessinPlanning. Tofulfilitsmandateto

servetheneedsofpeople;couldWiki-typecollaborative

designassistdesigntofulfilitsmandatetoservethe

needsofthepeopleespeciallyinspecificarchitecture

contextslikehousing#5OlvKlijn;Wiki-designisdesign

bycommittee,resultinginmediocrity. #5MartinRein-

Cano;Whileexperts,politiciansanddesignersare

necessaryforcities,itisalsonecessarytoallowsurprise

andtheunknownintotheprocess.#5HenkOvink

HoldingSpace,asaStrategy .Tosetasideplacesforexperimentation,toseewhatemergesandtofacilitate

thedevelopmentofaninclusivesociety. #5Christine

Hentschel;Ortointentionallydesignphysicalelements

ofthecityasspongestoaccommodatemultiple

identities.#5HenkOvink,RatnaOmdivar

OrderInsteadofRigidity. Orderisrequiredfordesign

andtheachievementofbeauty,rigidityisproblematic

forthecity.Forexample,thedifficulty,inToronto,of

multigenerationallivingwitharigidplanningmodel.#5

RatnaOmidvar;Order,notchaos.Chaoscanleadtoconfusion.Arigidlyorderedformofcitycanactasa

barriertodiversity.Aphysicallydiversecitycanbest

reflectextremeurbangrowthandchange,andthiscity

formmightalsofacilitatetheemergenceofmeaningful

diversitythroughthepreventionofanysingledominant

readingofthecity.Thoughamixofphysicalformsand

usesinthecityisnotadirectroutetosocialdiversity. #5

various

StrategiesCanBeExported,butImplementation

ProposalsMustAlwaysBeLocally-specific. Thus

everydaypracticesareimportant;Importanceof

learningfromotherplacesaslongasoneisawareofthe


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differencesinthespecifics.Dialogueandsharingof

experienceiscriticalinthisregard. #3PaulaVerhoeven

ResearchasaTool .Comparativelylowcost,andpotentialtogeneratereflectionanddebateregarding

keyissues.#2various;Newroleforcentralgovernment

toprovidelowlevelfundingforrealworldresearchto

testsolutionstolarger-scaleproblems.#6various

FrameworksThatEncourageClientBravery. Inorderto

growalternativetomarketledcitymakingwithout

vision.Forexample,freezonesbringdiversity,senseof

identity,butneedtobelocatedtoworkproperly.

Sourceofthisfreedomcanonlycomefrompoliticians.

Dependsoncontextandmustbespecifictotheplace.

Developmentofrulescouldbeoutsourced-selected

teamofprofessionals,academicsandpoliticians. #7

FlorisAlkemade.Courageousdevelopercanbeassisted

bytheremovalofregulationsthatoftenservetotake

citymakingawayfromwhatpeoplemayactuallywant.

#7PetraRutten;Aperiodofclienteducationat

beginningofprocessestoanalyseandchallengethe

instigatingquestionorbriefofanyproject.#7Floris

Alkemade

GetBeyondtheFearThatMistakesCanRuintheCities

WeValue.Acaseforreal-worldtrialanderrortesting.

Factorofscaleperhaps.Maybeeffectiveandefficientat

smallscalebutdifficultatregionalscale. #6Paul

Gerreston;Sometimescivicauthoritiesneedtocreate

artificialconditionsformorefreedom,toconveythat

experimentationisnotawildgamblebutcanbean

educatedguessworthyofsupport.Ideaoffailurecanbe

instructiveandshouldbepromoted.#7FlorisAlkemade;

Asanalternativeto,orinfluencinginitiativeofthe

masterplan.#4WouterVanstiphout

ShouldDesignShiftfromProductDeliveredtoProcess

Created?Fromthecreationofbeautytothefacilitation

ofcommunicationandthecreationofopportunityand

investment?Candesignbethissubtleandthisopento

uncertainty?Dangerthatprocesscantakeover,perhaps

bettertosaythatdesignermustcreatesystemsthat

havetoperformregardingtotheirintentions.#5Olv

Klijn;Beautyisrequiredforthegooddesignmustenact.

#5MartinRein-Cano

4.Instruments

TheMostPowerfulTooltheArchitectorPlannerHasis

GoodCommunicationwithStakeholders. Newmodes

ofparticipationarerequiredisallremnantsofpublicinplanningarenotgoingtobelost.#7FlorisAlkemade

DiversePlanningMechanisms arerequired,existing

(sessions,competitions,localplansandmasterplans)

andnew.Thenewaretobeinvented,andmustinclude

potentialtomake,admitandlearnfrommistakes.New

instrumentsofprocesses,discussion,debate,design.

MedellninColumbiaisexampleofsuccessful

integrationofpolitics,narrativesanddesigninclimate

ofgreaturgency.#4various

NewAnalyticalToolsandConceptualTools canhelp

reintroduceabsentcontextfordesign.Affinitywiththe

VanEesterennotionofdesignasanempiricalscience.

Scepticismregardingthepoliticallycorrectprioritisation

ofpoliticalcorrectnessoverrigorousanalysis. #7Klaus

Overmeyer,FlorisAlkemade

NewPoliticalInstrumentsforProvidingOpportunities?

Whataboutpoliticalinstrumentstobringbalanceand

resourcestounder-privilegedareasandpopulations.Whatabouttheresourcesrequiredforthis,tobuild

schools,createaccesstohealthcase,toachieve

security.#5MekonnenMesghena;Itwouldtakeforceful

housingpoliciestocounteractthesegregationcreated

bytheliberalisedhousingmarket.#5MartinRein-Cano;

Theminorityormigrantcommunityrequiresassistance

inordertofullyenjoythebenefitsofurbanlife. #5

BarbaraJohn

ArchitecturalCompetition. Criteriaareoftentoofixed

andthusthismodedoesnottakeadvantageofcreativethinkingofdesigners.#2BeateEngelhorn

InternationalBuildingExhibition(IBA). Asamodelto

inspiredebate,totestandresearchconceptsregarding

qualityandsharedvalues,andthelimitsofthismode.

#2various;OnwhethertheIABmodelreallychangethe

normalconditionsorifitjustprovidesadiscreteand

temporaryopportunitytostepoutsidethem?Asa

modelforaplanthatcanbeopentoevolutionatall

stages.Asatestbedforarchitecturalandurban

developmentideas.Canbemulti-focusedandseta

varietyofnewstandards. #7Lars-ChristianUhlig;Asa


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non-masterplanmasterplan,withaprominentrolefora

narrativeofchange.#4WouterVanstiphout;

Masterplan-MasterplanasCriteriaforEvaluatingDevelopment.

Notonlytosaynotorejectprojectsnotsuitableorof

sufficientquality,butyesagaintoreengageandguide

theenergyofaproposalratherthanallowitto

dissipate.#4PetraWesseler,WouterVanstiphout;A

diversityofmasterplanstailoredtovariousscalesand

contextsareneeded.#4RegulaLscher;

-DontMostLarge-scaleMasterplansFailwhen

ConfrontedwithReality?Acrucialbarrieristhe

naturalisationofmasterplan,thetreatingitsformas

fixed.#4ChristopherDell;Wearetryingtoplanthe

future,wearenotplanningthefutureswithabsolute

certainty.#4RegulaLscher;Patiencetoallowcityto

developintheframeworkofarelaxedorsimpleversion

ofthemasterplan.Potentialalreadyexists,butonlymap

andzoning-fixatedversionofthemasterplanis

formulated.#4TheoDuetinger,PetraWesseler;

-ThePlanortheProcess?Acommonsensecollective

processismoreimportantthanthemasterplanastheendresult.Processiscriticaltogettoapointatwhich

themasterplanrepresentsanarrativeinwhichall

citizenscanbelieve.#4RegularLscher,TheoDeutinger;

Masterplanisbankruptwhenresultistoomixedupwith

theprocess,whenitbecomesjustareflectionofthe

complexityofitsmaking.Adialecticalrelationship

betweenplansandprocessesandassertedisnecessary,

withtheplanascritical.#4WouterVanstiphout;

-MasterplanisBothPoliticalDocumentandSocialAct.

Acautionagainstfocussingtoomuchonthetechnicalaspectsofthemasterplan.Themasterplanasa

collectiveculturalactismoreimportant,representinga

declarationoffaithinthecollective. #4Wouter

Vanstiphout

-MasterplanasMetaphorforRecognisingWhatis

AlreadyThere.Howitcanprovideaportraitofthecity

aswellasablueprintforitsfuture. #4Wouter

Vanstiphout;

5.Roles

RedefinetheRolesofCityMakers. Inordertodealwith

anincreasingrateofchangepoliticiansmustprovidea

flexibleinfrastructureofrulesandregulationsto

facilitateworkamongbuiltenvironmentprofessionals.

Plannersmustinformpoliticsandpoliticsmustactas

moderatorbetweencompetinginterestswhomustintheendworktogetherinacultureofcollaboration.#7

RolandPttman-Holgado

TheMajorityPopulationintheCityDeterminesWhats

GoingonUntiltheDaywhenthePoliticalClass

RecognisesThataMinorityPopulationWillOneDay

BecometheMajority.#5BarbaraJohn

ItisCriticalThatPoliticiansAreInformedAboutDesign

andforDesignersEngagedwithPolitics. Curitibaand

BarcelonaaregoodexamplesinthisregardSuccessof

theseexamplesdependedonincrementalrealisticsteps

ratherthanonutopianvisions.#3HanMeyer

AnIntelligentClientisanAbsoluteNecessity. Rather

thanescapingclientquestion(likeSteveJobs),change

theclientquestion.Soundoutambitionlevelofclient,

developbrieftogether.#7AfainadeJong,Floris

Alkemade

TheArchitectisNotMerelyaDesignerbutaProfessionalwithaWiderResponsibilityfortheBuilt

Environment.Twoprimarytasksforpoliticaldesign-

therepresentationofdemocracyandsocialhousing.

Urbanprofessionalsshouldoccupypositionsofpolitical

responsibilitysothatpublicfundscanbedistributed

strategicallyandeffectively. #4PetraWesseler;

Influencepublicopinionthroughraisingawarenessand

initiatingprojectswithoutpublicmoney.#4Marcus

Fernhout;Butpublicfundingismeasureofvalueand

benefitofproject,arecognitionofquality,astampof

publicsupport.#4WouterVanstiphout

Moderator-NewrolefortheArchitect? Shouldthisbe

someoneremovedfromthedebateinquestion,who

canbringdisciplinestogetherandencouragecomprise

towardstheformulationofcomprehensivesolutions,or

ratherananimator(involvesthroughvisualisation),or

aninitiatorofprojectsaswell? #6RientsDijkstra,

HumbertKlumpner

FailureofContemporaryArchitectureEducationisthat

itTeachesPrimarilyTechnicalTools .Perhapsitismore

criticalforarchitectstobeabletoactasmediators,to

becapableofmanagingcomplexdiscussionprocesses,


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tobeabletothinkandcommunicateinpoliticalterms.

#2various,#3various;Educationshouldteach

collaborationandnotaimtocreatesuper-generalists.

Disciplinesneedtobedisciplinedandacknowledgerespectiveboundariesofknowledge.Metricsare

requiredintheoverlapsbetweendisciplines.#3Han

Meyer,#6PhilppRode,#6FlorianLennert; Change

requiredawayfromarigidprocessfromanalysisto

fixedsolution,tobecomemoreofanopenprocessfor

testingdeterminedbyknowledgeofandinputfrom

thoseforwhomwearedesigning.#5EricFrijters

6.ValueofPoliticalDesign

DesignersCanHelptoIntegrateIssuesandtoConnect

ResponsetoTheseIssuestoRealLife. Thereisa

problemwithcreatingonlyabstractvisions-quoted

HelmutSchmidt,whosaidifoneishavingvisionsone

shouldconsultadoctor.#3ReinerNagel

DesignersCanAssistPoliticsbyCreatingCompelling

ImagesofthePossibleFutureThatPoliticiansCanUse

toRallySupport.Butthatthereisariskthatdesign

couldbeco-optedbypoliticalmachinations;Butintheir

questformoststrikingimage,designsoftenlosesightofthecomplexityofissues, #3EdzoBindels;Prepare

strikingimagesthatcaninspirepoliticalcourage;

Combinestrategicresponseswithplansforhowthey

canpayforthemselves.

ToClarifyComplexIssuesThroughAnalysisandReal

ProposalsforImplementation. Firsttovisualiseissues

withafocusontheircomplexityandsynergies,andthen

producecompellingvisualisationofpossiblesolutions.

Designershelpbybreakingbigissuesdowntosolutions

atlocalscalesothatconnectionscanbemadeatthescaleofhumanexperience;#3EdzoBindels,Dieter

Grau,#6PhilipRode;Beliefinthevalueofcompelling

magesandmetaphorstoengagepublicandpolitical

support.Pessimismregardingtheefficacyofimagesin

thecontextofoverallpoliticalcomplexityatitsmany

levels.#3RichardBlack

ToCountertheGrowingDisconnectBetweenWhatis

ReallyGoingOnandHowWeDealWithIt .Wetendto

addressissuesinanabstractandgenericsense.Design

canhelpustothinkaboutfuturepossibilitiesandto

visualisesolutionstocriticalissues.Whoismakingcities

grow?Howdotheylivetogether?Howdowemakethe

citynotjustacollectionofindividuals?Butoften

discussionsaddressissues-gentrification,freezone

planningthatariseoutofaconditionofluxuryrather

thanrevealingthereal,urgentproblems. #5,#7HenkOvink

DesignLiteracyisaMassiveAssetfortheNon-

designer.Andthebesthopeforthefutureliesindesign

literatepoliticalactors.#3various

ImpactofProvocationisDrainedbyMarketPlaceof

Ideas.Ideasthatwouldoncehavebeenseenas

perversearenowco-optedanddrainedofimpactbya

marketplaceofideas.#4WouterVanstiphout;Real

provocationshouldntbeaboutcrazyideasandimages

butshouldbemorepragmatic,aboutaskingtheright

questionsandproposingsolutionstorealproblems#6

PetraWesseler

DesignisOnlyConsideredDesignwhenItRepresents

anException.Whiledesignisagainststandards

standardsanduniversalsmakedesigndisappear-

politicsisallaboutmakingstandards.Designonly

provokestwice,oncewhenitworksandoncewhenit

doesntworkanymore.#4DieterGrau

AssessingGoodDesign .Establishingtargetsand

assessingempiricalperformanceisrelatively

straightforward.Qualitativeanalysisaccordingtowidely

heldvaluesiscritical,andpublicengagementisrequired

hereforthechallengeofidentifyingandprioritising

thesebenchmarkvalues.Processplaysanimportant

roleindealingwiththesubjectivecriteriawhere

agreementisneverpossible.#2various

7.HowtoRespondtoCriticalIssuesFacingCities

MakeaNewParadigmfortheHumanRelationship

withtheEnvironment.Architectsshouldthinkmore

aboutusers,considercontextmoreandfindoutabout

connectionsbetweenwaysoflifeandphysicalbuilt

environment.#7AfainadeJong;Increasinglackof

identificationbetweenpeopleandtheplacetheylive.

#7AngelLuisFenandez,#5MekonnenMesghena,#3

DieterGrau;Designersneedtoknownotjustwhat

peoplewantandneed,buttoimagine,toanticipate

whatpeopledontyetknowtheyneed.#4DieterGrau


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DevelopIntegratedSolutionsRelatedtoaMultiplicity

ofIssues.Designcannotsolveanythingalong,butitcan

createholisticsolutionsthatunitedesignconceptsand

engineeringintosingleconcepts;Visualisingthelong-termissuesoitcanbeintegratedintoshort-term

solutions.#3HanMeyer,DieterGrau

DesignMustMakeProblemsintoPoetry. Togenerate

feelingsofhoperatherthanguilt,e.g.engineering

responsescanalsomakesamenityspace,cultural

activitiesandeconomicdevelopment;Designmust

makepeopleawareofissueratherthandesignthe

problemaway#3EdzoBindels;Designcandecentralise

ideasandissues,andallowcitytoactatlocalscales. #3

ReinerNagel;Integrateconcreteshort-termstepswith

longtermvisions.#3HenkOvink

DesignersMustKnowHowtoInjectaDoseofFruitful

UrbanChaosor(dis)orderpreciselycalibratedtothe

specificsofeachplaceanditsneeds.Doesfruitfulurban

chaosrequiredabaseuponwhichtogrow?The

designerrequiresanalysisandinformationandthe

engagementofallthesenses.Informedintuitionis

importantasashortcuttoknowledge.(incontextof

plansbeingoutofdateassoonastheyaremade).#5MartinRein-Cano

ArchitectsShouldUseTheirSkillsasStorytellersto

BendPoliticalWilltosupportprojectsthatbenefitthe

collectivegood.Architectsshouldusetheirabilitiesto

seethelargerpictureofthecityinordertoresistthe

tendencyofpoliticstothinkonlyintermsofnarrow

problemsolving.#4WouterVanstiphout,Theo

Deutinger;Designneedstovisualisethelong-term

imagesoitcanbeintegratedintoshort-termpolitics. #3

various

DesignMustEngagewithRealEconomyRatherThan

theSpeculative,LeveragedEconomy.Politicaldesign

shouldsettheboundariesandfacilitateradicalism

withintheseboundariesbutshouldntrequirethe

stakeholderstotakeonexcessivefinancialrisk. #4

various;Importanceofmoneyinthedecision-making

processcantbedenied.EdzoBindelswishesthesolar

powerindustrycouldbeaseffectiveandefficientlyrun

asApple.#3various

DesignNeedstoInfluencetheMoney .Designersare

alwaysengagedwiththeworldthroughtheirclientsand

theconstituenciesofthoseclients,andthroughtheir

interactionswithvariouslevelsofgovernment.Itis

necessarytoaddressthetopoftheeconomicpyramid

andtotake(theclimatechange)argumenttobusiness

leaders.#3HarshPurohit;

WhenNationalLeadershipFails,CitiesMustLead. In

contextofclimatechangethismeanschangingitfroma

politicalissuetoeverydaypractice. #3PaulaVerhoeven;

thenexpandedintoverticalintegrationbetween

nationalandcitygovernments

ScaleofCityExtendsintoItsWiderRegion,SoIssues

ShouldBeTackledatThisScale.Needforhorizontal

integrationbetweencities,regions.Someissuesare

bestaddressedbyalliancesofcitiesintegratedwith

otherissues(liketourism,economicdevelopment)and

someatnationallevel.#3various

Fullerargumentsinseparatedebatetranscripts,as

numbered.

CompiledbyineRyan

ANCBProgrammeManager

March2012

8.DebateParticipants(drawnfrompoliticsanddesign

fieldsinTheNetherlandsandGermany)

#1CRADLETOCRADLE-Creativeandeffectiveurbanpractice

MonikaGriefahn,formerMinisteroftheEnvironmentinLower-Saxony,Co-founderofGreenpeaceGermany,CoordinatoroftheCradletoCradleFestivalMichaelBraungart,FounderoftheCradletoCradledesignconceptandDirectoroftheEnvironmentProtectionInstituteEPEA,HamburgPeterRehwinkel,MayorofCityofGroningen,whohaspositionedthecityasmostsustainable;intermsofurbandevelopment,innovation,housingandbuilding,energyconsumption,environmentalpolicy,fairtradeandfoodproductionRinusvandenBerg,HeadofDesign,DSMMaterialScienceCenter,MaastrichtArthurThomaes,CEO,RoyalMosaTiles,Maastricht

#2.ONTHESURFACEOFARCHITECTURE- Technologiesand

Materials

ThomasAuer,PartnerTranssolarClimateEngineering,StuttgartStefanBehnisch,FoundingpartnerBehnischArchitects,StuttgartFlorianIdenburg,FoundingpartnerSolidObjectives-IdenburgLiu(SO-IL),NewYork


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JoopPaul,DirectorARUPAmsterdam,ProfessorofStructuralDesignTechnicalUniversityDelftPaulineTerreehorst,Authorandadvisoronurbanculture,formerdirectorUtrechtCityMuseum

JanEdler,Foundingpartnerrealities:united,studioforartandarchitecture,BerlinAnh-LinhNgo,architectandjournalistforArch+architecturemagazine,BerlinJohannesKuehn,FoundingpartnerKuehnMalvezziArchitects,Berlin

#3.CLIMATE-CHANGINGOURCITIES:COOL,ORWETAND

WARM?-Climatechange

EdzoBindels,PartnerWest8,urbandesignandlandscapearchitecture,RotterdamDieterGrau,PartnerAtelierDreiseitl,watersensitiveurbandesign,berlingenHanMeyer,ProfessorofUrbanDesign,TechnicalUniversity

DelftReinerNagel,HeadofUrbanPlanningandUrbanSpacesDivision,BerlinSenateforUrbanDevelopmentPaulaVerhoeven,DirectorofSustainabilityandClimateChange,CityofRotterdamRichardBlack,Foundingpartner,TimesTwoArchitects;seniorlecturerRoyalMelbourneInstituteofTechnologyRIIl-O,ArchitectPaektusanArchitectureAcademy,Pyongyang,DPRofKoreaPuMiao,MiaoDesignStudio,Shanghai;Professor,SchoolofArchitecture,UniversityofHawaiiHarshPurohit,SustainableCampaigner,Cognito,IndiaDanielSchwabe,Foundingpartner,Synarchitects,BerlinandBeijingAntjeStokman,FoundingPartnerospurbanelandschaften,landscapearchitect;ProfessorandDirectorofLandscapePlanningandEcologyInstitute,UniversityofStuttgartMichaelRoper,FoundingpartnerArchitectureArchitecture;teacher,RoyalMelbourneInstituteofTechnologyKoosWieriks,CounsellorforInfrastructure&Environment,DutchEmbassyinBerlinEduardKgel,ArchitectandResearcher,Berlin

#4.LEARNINGTOPROVOKE-Agendasofdesign

ChristopherDell,TheoreticianandMusician,InstituteforImprovisationTechnology,BerlinTheoDeutinger,FoundingPartnerTDArchitects,

Amsterdam/SalzburgMarkusFernhout,FoundingPartnerCodumPropertyInvestment,RotterdamWouterVanstiphout,ArtHistorian,ProfessorDesignandPolitics,TUDelftPetraWesseler,HeadofUrbanDevelopmentProjectsforCityofChemnitzUlrichBeckefeld,OfficeforSubversiveArchitecture,London,Paris,BerlinandViennaRegulaLscher,HeadofBerlinSenateforUrbanDevelopment;DorisKleileinArchitect;EditorandJournalistBauweltarchitecturejournalTonMatton,ProfessorArchitectureandDesignatWismar

University;founderWendorfAcademyJrgenPatzak-Poor,BARArchitects;memberTeam11,Berlin

#5.75-90-3:whoisourcity?-Migration

Martin-ReinCano,Foundingpartner,Topotek1,LandscapeArchitecture,Berlin BarbaraJohn,PoliticalScientist,ProfessorofEthnology,HumboldtUniversityBerlin;FormerCommissionerof

IntegrationandMigration,BerlinSenatOlvKlijn,Foundingpartner,.FABRICArchitectureandUrbanism,AmsterdamRatnaOmidvar,PresidentMaytreeFoundation,TorontoEricFrijters,Foundingpartner,.FABRICArchitectureandUrbanism,AmsterdamMichaelKnzel,HeadofLandUsePlanningandUrbanConceptsUnit,BerlinSenateforUrbanDevelopmentMekonnenMesghena,HeadofMigrationandDiversityDepartment,Heinrich-Bll-StiftungDanielaPatti,DepartmentforUrbanism,Transport,EnvironmentandInformationSociety,CentralEuropeanInstituteofTechnology,Schwechat

#6.MOVINGCITIES,MOBILITYANDMEANING-Mobility

RientsDijkstra, FoundingpartnerMaxwanArchitectsandUrbanists,Rotterdam MartinErtl,ChiefInnovationOfficerTransportation,BombardierBerlinMarcWolfram,LeibnizInstituteofEcologicalUrbanandRegionalDevelopment,DresdenDirkHeinrichs,InstituteofTransportResearch,GermanAerospaceCentre(DLR),BerlinPaulGerretsen,DirectorofTheDeltametropolisAssociation,RotterdamPhilippRode,ExecutiveDirectorandSeniorResearchFellow

LSECities/UrbanAgeProgramme,LondonSchoolofEconomicsandPoliticalScienceFlorianLennert,InnovationCentreforMobilityandCorporateChange(InnoZ),BerlinPeterHaimerl,FoundingpartnerPeterHaimerlofStudioforArchitectureundConsulting,MunichHubertKlumpner,ProfessorofArchitectureandUrbanDesign,InstituteofUrbanDesign/NSL,ETHZurichMichelHeesen,FoundingpartnerMichelHeesen.NL,ArchitectureandLandscapeDesign,RotterdamOliverSchtte,FoundingpartnerA01Architects,CostaRicaandUtrecht

#7.RE-CITY:THETOTALMAKEOVER-AgentsofUrban

Action

JoachimdeClerck,ArchitectureWorkroom,BrusselsFlorisAlkemade,FlorisAlkemadeArchitecture,Sint-Oedenrode,Brussels,ParisPetraRutten,ProperStokDevelopers,RosmalenLars-ChristianUhlig,UnitBaukultur,FederalInstituteforResearchonBuilding,UrbanAffairsandSpatialDevelopment,BonnKlausOvermeyer, StudioUrbanCatalyst,BerlinJanNikolasSchulz,bb22UrbanProjects,FrankfurtamMainStefanRettich,KaroArchitects,LeipzigRolandPuttmann-Holgado,HeadofStrategy&AcquisitionsTempelhoferFreiheitProject,Berlin

AfainadeJong,AFARAIUrbanDesignAgency,AmsterdamStephanSchwarz,ISSSresearchIndependentStructureforSustainableSpaceResearchRegulaLscher,HeadofBerlinSenateforUrbanDevelopment

Documents

Making Design Politics