Placemaking

Residents know their neighbourhood best. They know where the uneven paving stones are and where the sun shines the longest. They see which birds nest in the trees and how much rain it takes before there is a risk of flooding. They establish local organisations, know the neighbour who takes care of the green space, and know which play equipment is the most popular.

Placemaking is a valuable process of testing and learning. It is not a temporary ‘fun activity’, but builds on the local energy that is already there. It can start small, with a conversation, a colourful picnic table or a large pot of soup.

Green placemaking encourages the greening of outdoor spaces while also bringing people together in their neighbourhoods. In this way, you work with residents to create a climate-adaptive neighbourhood: one that can adapt toa changing climate. Placemaking builds on the knowledge and needs of a neighbourhood. It is a method for creating attractive places where people enjoy living, working, playing and learning. Placemaking can also contribute to creating climate-resilient places. These places can be small parks, but also streets, neighbourhoods or entire cities.

Residents and neighbourhood groups take the initiative themselves, bringing places to life and making them their own.Placemaking creates room for testing and experimentation. If something does not work, it can be adapted.Municipalities and professional placemakers can support active residents and work together to create vibrant, climate-adaptive, inclusive and functional places.

Our placemaking projects

Evenaarplein

Wat gebeurt er als je bewoners écht betrekt bij de inrichting van hun buurt? Op het Evenaarplein werkten wij samen met buurtbewoners, de gemeente en partners aan nieuwe plannen voor het plein, vanuit groene placemaking, niet vanuit blauwdrukken.

Hefpark

Studio Bas Sala is een van de initiatiefnemers van het Hefpark. Na een inventarisatie van behoeften,kansen en overige omgevingsfactoren is een ontwerp gemaakt voor het gehele park met meubilair. We hebben samen met bewoners gewerkt aan de ontwikkeling en uitvoering. Het ontwerp bestaat uit een fysieke component en een programmatische in de vorm van activiteiten. Het plein met zitjes zijn in het najaar van 2013 gerealiseerd. In 2014 is de bmx dirttrack aangelegd samen met paden en landschappelijke elemeneten zoals heuvels. Een populair deel van het park is de tuin waar buurtbewoners zelf hun groente kunnen verbouwen. Hier bestaat inmiddels een wachtlijst voor. In 2015 en 2016 wordt aan een kinderspeelplaats gewerkt. de komende jaren zal het terrein van gedaante verwisselen door nieuwe elementen toe te voegen en de programmering op de behoeften van de buurt aan te passen. Naast buurtbewoners wordt er samengewerkt met een bont gezelschap van professionals uit de buurt.

Placemaking tool

Wat is placemaking eigenlijk? En hoe start je zo’n placemaking project? Dit is dé website om dáár achter te komen/die al je vragen beantwoordt. Maak kennis met het rijke palet aan placemaking projecten in Rotterdam. Vind tips over de middelen die je in kan zetten. Leer van de verhalen en ervaringen van gedreven bewoners en professionals die je voorgingen. En ga zelf aan de slag! We wensen je veel inspiratie toe en succes met het realiseren van je eigen placemaking project. Tot ziens in de stad!

Our placemaking projects

Placemaking is a rich process that combines programming with physical interventions. Both the activities and the interventions can be short-term, but they can also become a lasting part of a place. Sometimes temporary initiatives evolve into long-term temporary uses or become permanent. And placemaking does not always have to take place in apublic space. Many placemaking initiatives can also involve a building or an entire area.

Within conventional placemaking, we distinguish three types: tactical, strategic and creative placemaking.

Tactical placemaking involves testing ideas through small-scale, relatively affordable activities and physical interventions. Step by step, insights are gained into people's needs and how they use a place. The approach can be adjusted easily along the way.

Strategic placemaking focuses on specific objectives, such as attracting talent and businesses and stimulating employment. The process is more goal-oriented and primarily involves a collaborative effort between the public, non-profit and private sectors.

Creative placemaking places a strong emphasis on the role of the cultural sector. Museums, festivals and other cultural activities help stimulate vibrancy and strengthen social connections within a neighbourhood.

Placemaking goes beyond participation: rather than simply asking the neighbourhood what it wants, residents take action themselves. They become more involved in their neighbourhood and develop a sense of ownership over the outdoor space. Residents get to know one another better and develop a greater understanding of the challenges facing their neighbourhood, as well as greater climate awareness. They also begin to recognise opportunities for using the spaces around them.

We do not see placemaking as a one-off event, a one-sided intervention or a way of managing vacant properties, but asan ongoing process of learning. It is an open process shaped by the interplay between the needs and visions of residents and other stakeholders. A placemaking initiative nurtures local energy.

Its aim is not to drive gentrification, forcing residents and businesses to leave their own neighbourhood. Placemaking enriches the project-based approach used by municipalities. The method can connect major transitions with the needs and lived experiences of residents. In this way, quality can be highlighted and added to a place that meets and continues to meet residents' needs and aspirations.

Explore our placemaking projects and tools to discover how we shape places together with our clients and local communities.

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