What are we doing at CU?

The participants of the Creative Urbans project 'Healthy Climate WeZt' told us that they get a lot of questions from friends and family about Creative Urbans and what it is they do and why they do it. The participants took a lot of initiative and decided to make a video to explain what they do every wednesday and sunday at Creative Urbans.

Masterclass

climate proof design

On Sunday 21st of February Creative Urbans organised a master class dealing with climate proof designs. The 32 participants of the Creative Urbans project 2009/2010 ‘Healthy Climate WeZt’ had the opportunity to work together with professionals of the planning department Amsterdam, the housing association Far West, the municipality of Geuzenveld-Slotermeer and the climate office of Amsterdam. The concept as developed during the basic training and the Master class were subjected to a climate study and a draft will be made for the neighbourhood Lodewijk van Deysselbuurt in west Amsterdam which is supposed to be made climate proof.
In the past month the participants made a concept design for the Lodewijk van Deysselbuurt. This design will be ‘tested’ for various possible scenarios in 2025 and 2050. It will be tested of the neighbourhood can withstand climatic changes like droughts, floods and extreme heat.
Together the professionals and participants examined how small changes to the draft of the new neighbourhood design can make it immune to the threats of possible consequences of climate change and thus make the area ‘climate proof’.

If you would like more information about the masterclass look at www.creativeurbans.nl or contact met Elselien Sonnevijlle, elselien@creativeurbans.nl / 0031-20 – 528 51 51
 

Exhibition Build you own School

39 8th grade students of the Ababil en El Furkan Elementary school in Schieden have worked very hard since October 2009 untill January 2010 to realise the architectural project ‘Build you own School’. After finishing the project the results were presented in a grand opening exhibition on Sunday 21st of January in the Cultural Center in Schiedam.

During the opening the participants presented their plan for their own school buildings on the basis of sketches, models and drawings. It became apparent what kind of school 11 to 12 year old pupils would ideally like to use and visit. There is a lot of space for moving around as well as surprise and play elements. The class rooms were very functional and only meant to be used for temporary stays.
Judging the designs was a jury consisting of Mohammed Talbi (Stichting Islamitisch College), Laurens Steerneman (Educational Policy Advisor Policy at the municipality of Schiedam), Piet van den Berg (Official at the municipality of Schiedam) and Fatima el-Bouyakyaoui (architect). They judges originality, feasibility, cooperation and the presentation.
 

Project Healthy Climate WeZt 

On th 11th of October 2009 the new project Healthy Climate WeZt was launched The themes are climate and health, with the assignment to create an urban renewal plan for de Lodewijk van Deysselbuurt in West-Amsterdam. In this plan the participants think about how they can make this neighbourhood climatefriendly, sustainable, which facilities it needs and what the future inhabitants can do to make this a clean, climatefriendly and nice neighbourhood. But this time participants will also be looking at public spaces as well as housing areas. Healthy Climate WeZt is a pilot project for innovative cooperation with European partners.

The project is divided in two phases: Basic training and Specialisation. The first incorporates brainstorming, analysing, conceptualising, presenting and the acquiring of skills. The main issues are: trust, trust in ones own possibilities, trust in others and trust in absurd ideas.

The second phase of specialisation will develop the chosen project further in to a detailed architectural and urban plan. Participants and tutors chose a specialisation in the fields of architecture, urban planning, landscape planning, marketing and PR.

All the time the groups are supervised by professionals. But they also have the so called junior tutors at their side who answer questions and support the progress of the project. Junior tutors are participants of the last year who share their experience and knowledge but are still under supervision of the professionals.
Participants have to learn to work independently in teams and to stand up for their ideas and responsibilities. With the excursions, lectures and workshops, the inspection of sight, presentations and visits of examples a long lasting learning effect is desired. There is always a theoretical background to every new topic and a series of debates and discussions is deepening the knowledge of the participant. The aim is to make participants acquainted with rules and regulations of urban planning, the theory of architectural principles and typology of planning and social cohesion.
Because results of the workshops always have to be presented to the tutors and other groups there is a constant revision of all ideas and ultimately of the models and designs. This way a high quality of work can be ensured.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nieuwe Amsterdamse School (New School of Amsterdam)

Together with the institute for multicultural development 'Forum en Fym Advies', Creative Urbans developed an active network of young urban planners, architects, designers and other creative minds. The network is striking a new chord when it comes to urban renewal in The Netherlands.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manifest

The Manifest ‘living in 2025’ is the first project with which the New School of Amsterdam appeals to the wider public. The Manifest constitutes the basis of a vision which will manifest itself over the following years. The intention is to reshape today’s building mentality which does not live up to modern and future living demands.