VALUES FOR SURVIVAL: CAHIER 2 11
Stories
Story-catcher Borough
96
West Aysegul Karaca As I listened to people’s stories, I became aware of the neighbourhood’s long history. I spoke to people who had lived in West all their lives and who had seen the neighbourhood changing. What I heard a lot, for example, was that the neighbourhood had become ‘too hip’. Of course, things change over time, but it is a shame when beautiful things, such as diversity, gets lost. With the arrival of many expats, some people also find it difficult to deal with the ‘anglicisation’ of the neighbourhood. Several people I spoke with thought that we should look at the history of the neighbourhood and at which things we should preserve, in order to build a bright future. A good mix of social housing and owner-occupied properties with sufficient affordable housing, is one of the most important conclusions I have heard in people’s stories.
The ‘neighbourhood feel’ of the past as inspiration for the future ‘How do you see Amsterdam in 2050?’ was the question. A difficult question, but also confronting, because at the same time you realize that you are not going to make that year at all and that your sons will then be about the same age as you are now. So I’m going to think about what I would like for the children of today and look for a photo from the time when I was a child myself. Amsterdam West, Landlust, one car in the street, grocer on the corner and my school and playground in the background. It is no longer like that of course and it will never be that way again, but it was a real neighbourhood, with a neighbourhood feel. [...]
[…] Booming BoLo! The story of ‘we are so hip’ is not the only story. This district has so much more. It was once a working-class neighbourhood and it is a neighbourhood with a migration history too. Let’s build that future story on the existing historical stories. The stories of real people. Let’s do it Colours and diversity together with all those groups that are On the cycle path or through the grass luckily still represented here. From Westerpark to Bos-en Lommer Arjen Barel, 30 From Oud-West to the Baarsjes By car or scooter From the Muslim butcher to the coffee bar A soya latte or a lamb chop Quickly inside from the terrace A locally brewed beer and fries with mayo
Living together in our capital A feast for the mind I love Amsterdam, But I love West the most.
VFS_Cahier2.indb 96
Vacant buildings for the community
[…] There are vacant buildings. It is unclear what is being done with them. The people have been displaced, as have the market and shops. Let’s use the vacant buildings for French balcony or a rare garden learn–work trajectories or neighbourFrom social rent to expensive new hood activities to bring the neighnew buildings bourhood back together. To offer All of them on tight square metres young people the opportunity to work The housing market remains cornered on their future again, without getting discouraged. Then you immediately From across to under the bridges tackle the ‘problem’ in West. [...] A squirting water hose or dry in a dinghy Anonymous, 25 From the mothers on a carrier bike to the fathers with a baby carrier Dreaming under A closer look at the child-friendly the greenery places I wish for more greenery, more space, more freedom I wish for more colour, more joy, more diversity
André, 74
Let’s build the future on the stories of the past
Güler Karaca, 35
[…] But what keeps me awake and where I dream of sometimes ... green roofs. How fantastic would it be if all the ideas, promises and plans for roof greening could finally be implemented in real life. Then my energy bill won’t keep me awake.
27/11/2020 10:00