URBAN TRILOGY #2: MADE IN HAVEN

Europan12 competition / Assen (Netherlands)

Complexity in urban planning is increasing considerably, and it could be faced as an evolutionary system: the more frequent the feedbacks,

the more the environment becomes adaptable and therefore resilient

to its fluctuation.

Temporariness means adaptability, that is sustainability.

So, Havenkwartier will be an experimental district, where an “open”

planning strategy will accelerate the development by increasing the bottom-up/top-down connections and reducing the length of the in-between times.

The programming of the area is made using two planning tools:

Game Of Life (John Horton Conway, 1970) to simulate the bottom-up behaviour, and Urban Isobenefit Lines (Luca D’Acci, 2012) to ensure the top-down amenities which catalyze the bottom-up activities.

Consequently, Havenkwartier becomes a shared meeting ground between decision-makers and citizens, in an efficient both vertical and horizontal exchange between planners and local actors.

From the vicious circle of Havenkwartier today (NTC), to a virtuous circle

for the entire city (NPD).