12 May 2022
general impression
Various themes emerged in this round on the basis of which several projects were submitted. It is noteworthy that many applications specifically focus on the connection between the economic development of our country and our relationship with nature. A direct example is BURA urbanism’s starting-grant application on the Post-Growth City. In this project, BURA urbanism wants to investigate how an urban-design practice that is not cultivated on growth can exist and what the position of the designer could be in this situation. Another application that illustrates this is Randerij by Jos Willemsen. In the project, Willemsen explores new forms of landscape management with special focus on existing ecosystems. The aim is to create new landscape typologies at the interface of agriculture and nature.
There are also several proposals that address the impact of economic growth, exponential demand for housing, and the adaptations to Dutch inner cities that result. For example, in the project SamenDeStad, DesignArbid is investigating how the voices of individuals can be much more engaged in inner-city developments to ensure that inner cities remain liveable and match residents’ expectations. Another example is the documentary by Stichting Pitztop, which focuses on the demolition of the former Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment in The Hague. By portraying several users and residents in their own environment, the film shows how a number of urgent issues within Dutch society converge in this building, including the acceptance of people with a refugee history, the housing crisis and structural inequality.
In addition, in this round we see several historical explorations, in which the qualities of a designer or an architecture critic are examined in order to apply insights gained to current issues. For example, COFOarchitects focuses on the direct relationship between the work of Catalan architect Josep Maria Jujol and that of a group of influential Dutch architects. And Stichting ROAM wants to draw more attention to the importance of architecture criticism on the basis of texts by Hans van Dijk. Other projects focus on techniques and typologies that have disappeared or faded from view. For instance, Sytske Hoogterp sees the Spieker, an underground pantry, as a potentially unifying element in developing more sustainable local and regional food chains. And Groothuijse de Boer architecten wants to make a connection between the Austrian prefabricated house and the contemporary approach to housing construction and the use of wood in architecture.
A few other notable projects in this round include:
