The city of the future

__The results of the design research ‘The City of the Future’ by the BNA were presented on 30 November 2018. The results – scenarios, final images and roadmaps that show how we can actually get there – make the city of the future imaginable. The square kilometer where it all comes together is an illustration of how the city of the future can be put to practice in an actual place. __

The design research ‘The city of the future’ ran from January until the end of November 2018. On the basis of five test locations of 1 x 1 kilometer in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Eindhoven, they looked at new ways of making cities.

The underlying question was how, in a time where there is going to be another increase in population density, we can connect construction challenges to energy transition, transport innovations, circular economy and other system and network innovations. Can we create a paradigm shift together that ensures a sustainable future for the city? Can we look beyond the sectoral challenge or specific transition? And what would these new systems and interfaces look like? What is needed and to what (final) images can this lead?

Throughout 2018, ten multidisciplinary teams worked on visions for the five test locations. In addition to architects and urban planners, landscape architects, mobility experts, experts in the area of circular economy, energy transition, future strategies and smart cities, but also artists, writers etc. helped us on throughout this journey. Participants to the study worked together with all stake holders from municipalities and areas on visions for the five ‘windows to the city’ on a level playing field and they worked on ideas for the city of the future in general. They were fed by master classes, local galleries and plenary meetings, where the debate about the city of the future was held across the locations.

Chronicle and video report
You can find Marieke Berkers’ chronicle here and you can also watch a video report of the final manifestation on the BNA YouTube channel. You can also find the entire Pakhuis de Zwijger broadcast there.

Check out the results. The book that contains all the results of the design study will be presented in April 2019.