Last Friday was the closing event design study City of the Future. In Pakhuis de Zwijger, 10 teams presented their vision. Team Triangel – chaired by Bart Mispelblom Beyer – showed his fantasy for the Fellenoord district in Eindhoven in 2040. No fill-in exercise with slick renders how it could be, but a new generic approach that should make urban development more future-proof. Because no one knows what the future will look like in 2040 or even in 10 years, there must be a city planning that can move along with unpredictable developments.
Data based
Data is crucial in this. These are still used sparingly in urban development, but they can form a powerful basis. In fact, the data-based company Google has already stepped into urban design. In Toronto, the sister company Alphabet is building a 12 ha urban district that should become a blueprint for cities around the world.
Values-free approach
Team Triangel has experimented with a data machine for the design study City of the Future. The aim was to integrate the major transitions that are coming towards us in the design process. Government and the market were traditionally the players in urban design, the municipality has joined. But other stakeholders also play an increasingly important role in the process. The question that Triangel posed: how do you involve all these players in developing complex plans, how do you create support and a more value-free approach?
Fellenopoly
The team developed the game Fellenopoly where all those involved can sit at the table. The game brings major issues (climate, energy, mobility, etc.) and wishes clearly to order. Large questions are broken up into pieces making it easier to make choices. Triangel played the game in Eindhoven. At the end of the session there was a real coalition agreement with which the designers could get to work.
Generic model
The game Fellenopoly is not a final vision but a snapshot. Developments and wishes can be different in a few years. That is why the team thinks that a generic model should be available that can respond to changes. A neutral framework (3D grid) that, for example, can move along depending on the property boundaries. For example, more or fewer buildings, more or less traffic space, and so on. The moment a lot becomes available, the players at the table can decide what to do with it. A new way of organic urban development, in the high development pace of today. Laissez faire within the rules.
Eindhoven
A lot of research is still needed to refine this new approach and make it really applicable. The municipality of Eindhoven is enthusiastic and wants to continue with it.
More info: see Projects => City of the Future