I WISH THIS WAS I wish this was…And the story begins. It is the story of a place and of what it could be in the future. In Transvaal there are many vacant and unused spaces. There are also many people who need and want things. The planning professionals could play a meaningful role in listening, understanding these different hopes and imaginations and translating them into the space. The key word in this process is transformation. Not only the transformation of the use and TIBQF of a space but also the transformation of concepts and values. This is translated in activating vacant buildings or making wastelands productive, using temporality as a strategy in UIF transformation process, changing our perspectives on planning. In terms of housing strategy this approach can take the forms of restoration projects that have to respond to the impacts of climate change, to improve the energy-efficiency or to install forms of energy microgeneration; self-help housing solutions
which involve people making use of empty properties and projects of adaptive re-use of vacant buildings according also to the new needs of immigrants and elder people. It implies we, as young planning professionals, have to look at new forms of decision making, social networks, alternative production methods and new concepts of habitat: the formulation of new relations and ideas. Such new ways of planning and design also demands of us to reformulate notions in regard to financing, property and responsibility. This also asks for a shift in role, engagement and responsibilities of the public institutions, real estate companies and project developer in managing the emerging dynamics of transformation of the city. A cooperation between all these actors is fundamental for the formulation and implementation of a strategy for small scale and progressive transformation of the urban environment. In Trasnvaal we will work to activate this transformation.
TRANSVAAL Transvaal is a multi-ethnic area in the Hague with about 20,000 inhabitants. It was built as an extension of Hague between 1890 and 1935. In the 50s and 60s the community was divided into streets where Roman Catholics and (separately) Dutch Reformed families lived. Foreign immigration began in the 70s; currently the 90% of the inhabitants are immigrants (Turks, Moroccans, Surinamese and Antilleans). The district had to contend with the stigma of being an ‘impossible community’. Since 1999 The Hague and housing corporations have worked together to “restructure” the district. This projects called for the demolition of 3,000 rental dwellings and their replacement with 1,600 dwellings, 70% owner occupied.
Transvaal today is an area undergoing a radical, long-term transformation. Dutch urban policy has shifted from urban renewal (rebuilding) to urban restructuring (a more comprehensive approach). The focus of Dutch urban renewal was on providing housing for ethnic families but this have contributed to segregation. Current efforts to achieve income and tenure mixing are likely to succeed but they probably will not lead to ethnic mixing. The Hague is marketing itself as an interesting multicultural city: Toronto and American Chinatowns are used by The Hague planners as models of the type of multiculturalism that the city is trying to attain.
URBEGO AND IFHP The International Federation for Housing and Planning (IFHP) is a worldwide network of professional institutions and individuals of many signatures active in the broad fields of housing, urban development and planning. Currently IFHP is facilitating the development of Urbego , a platform for young planning professionals (<35 years old) to discuss and share knowledge about urban issues, to engage new generations as agents of change in planning and to provide a space for young professionals in the international planning debate. Urbego aims to provoke a reflection on the future role of planners in the changing context. The network is also an opportunity to create synergies and work together on specific development projects and to create a new intermediary body which has the capacity and the commitment to develop collaboration or partnership with private actors or public institutions.
WORKSHOP PROGRAM Within the framework of the IFHP Housing Conference 2013 in The Hague, Urbego, Staedion and The Hague Municipality organize a five days’ workshop on an housing case study. The workshop participants will present their proposals and ideas for the area during the Conference on the 14th of February. The workshop will explore different scenarios for the transformation of the physical environment and promoting cultural exchange among)
young professionals from different countries and fields (architecture, planning, housing policy, geography).The group of young experts will explore and redefine in creative terms the nature of the relationships that take place between different social groups and the physical space, understanding the users’ real needs and the aspirations of the local stakeholders. The participants have the possibility to join the neighborhood assembly, meet local and international housing experts, local and NGOs political representatives. The characteristics of the workshop are: •diversity of participants’ profiles: professional/study fields,nationality; •young age of participants (<35)
• a junior consultants (participants)clients(local authorities) relation •an opportunity to contribute to a local decision making process and at the same time to take part to an international debate APPLICATIONS should contain a short CV and a motivation letter. The application should be sent to: g.maci@ifhp.org or j.milder@ifhp.org Deadline for applications is 20 January 2013 Successful applicants will be informed by 30 January 2013 For further information, please contact g.maci@ifhp.org