Small Urbanism

Small Urbanism Small-scale urban design as a catalyst for spatial development Robert Broesi Daniel Casas Valle Vincent Kompier Honoré van Rijswijk August 2014 SMALL-SCALE URBAN DEVELOPMENT Now that the first signs of recovery from the financial crisis cautiously manifest, the question arises; how can municipalities encourage spatial development in an effective way in the Netherlands? In this article, we explore the current frameworks that determine the role of municipalities and then provide a set of recommendations based on case studies from four European cities. Amidst the recent years of financial crisis, reorganization has taken place at all levels of public urban and spatial planning in the Netherlands. The responsibilities of governments at the national, provincial and municipal level have been redistributed. While municipalities have been granted more authority, they are also now operating with fewer resources. Under financial pressure brought on by austerity and the downsizing or dismantling of urban planning departments, the role of the urban planner has diminished. The ongoing administrative restructuring is equally relevant in the examination of the role of municipalities in current urban development. Increasingly, municipalities have merged so that multiple urban centres have come under the authority of larger municipalities. When analysed together, both of these trends indicate that fewer officials are given responsibility for the urban development within the greater municipal region. Many municipalities made large-scale land purchases to allow for the expansion of housing, and consequently, went into considerable debt in the process. This dynamic has led to the development of precarious financial management. It is now clear to most municipalities that the days of major public investment are gone. The financial crisis has also revealed the weaknesses of the traditional, large developer and housing association as they both struggle to initiate new projects. As banks make more and more stringent demands on the financing of new projects, urban expansions and redevelopments have been postponed or cancelled altogether. The reversal of these developments, has created the space and opportunity for a wide collection of new and existing (otherwise underutilized) parties to contribute to different forms of incremental urban (re)development. By giving opportunities to new parties, the halted developments can be initiated again, and the desired spatial innovations can be implemented. The large scale of VINEX districts is being replaced by smaller development plots, varying in size from a single housing unit to complexes of several hundred homes. From the perspective of a municipality, small-scale plots are advantageous because they reduce the financial risks associated with land acquisition and development. Moreover, small, incremental developments have more potential in providing a wider variety of housing needs while also relating to the specific localized conditions and character of each site. In this way, the connections are heightened between residents and the built environment they inhabit. Now, the question is; how can we capitalize on these opportunities knowing that development projects in municipalities have tighter budgets and increased dependence on outside investors? In many other countries, small-scale urban development is daily practice. In this study, Small Urbanism (partly funded by the Netherlands Architecture / Creative Industry Fund) we present case studies of projects in Porto, Birmingham, Hamburg and Malmö as examples of small urban developments. The analysis of the four case studies provides some insights that may be relevant and Page 2 of 11 helpful in the practice of Dutch urbanism. These studies are important, not just as instruments to highlight the success stories from other countries, but also as a means of revealing the parts of Dutch planning that can be achieved more economically. In Small Urbanism we select four recommendations associated with small-scale urban development to assist Dutch municipalities. Together the recommendations indicate where municipalities can focus their attention and resources to achieve quality and effectiveness in new developments. Each recommendation outlines the main principles before introducing one or more specific instruments for implementation. Before going to the recommendations, first, a compact description of the foreign cases and the analysis method used in the study. FOUR CASE STUDIES: PORTO, BIRMINGHAM, HAMBURG, MALMÖ The foreign case studies offer examples of specific practices in which small-scale development can be achieved. Each of these practices is exemplary in its own way. An important distinction between the cases is in the central actor(s) for area development. In each example, this involves 'private' parties. When studied concurrently, the juxtaposition of these practices provides tools for meaningful urban, small-scale development. Taken together, the cases show how small-scale development can be achieved, how "private initiatives" can be incorporated in development and which (urban) tool is crucial for the approach. For the study, Small Urbanism, we have four cities selected as a cross- section of Europe. These cities are Porto, Birmingham, Hamburg and Malmö. Porto There is a long tradition of small-scale urban development in the Porto Region based on the traditional urban mosaic patterns and modern government systems. The laws established to regulate development are based on technical requirements that fit within a political hierarchal structure. Authorities at the national level have distinctly different and in most cases, superior roles to those at a regional or local level. For each local plan to be approved, it must pass through ascending levels of authority, eventually reaching the Minister of Spatial Planning for final review. This upward channelling contributes to a rigid planning process that cannot suitably adapt to unique circumstances at a localized scale. The example of Ponte da Pedra in the municipality of Matosinhos demonstrates how a housing cooperative can work within the rigid planning process to make high quality and inclusive social housing projects. Through a series of fortunate planning decisions, a former industrial site was rezoned as a mixed-use/residential area. A union of housing cooperatives initiated a public competition to explore the various possibilities for the site, all the while focused on clear and specific project requirements regarding necessary architectural and social qualities. In the Ponte de Pedra, several solutions were created to help implement the project. With a lack of public investment or municipal guidance in the direction of small-scale urban development, a new form of "public urbanism" was initiated. What resulted was a highly successful small-scale housing project that transformed an industrial space into a desirable public asset that positively influenced the surrounding urban fabric of Matosinhos. Page 3 of 11 Hamburg The City of Hamburg is actively involved in the future growth and shape of the city. Central to all municipal planning policies is a belief that attracting new residents requires a city of diversity, vibrancy, and density. In order to meet the established population targets and visions for "more city in the city," many policies were introduced to facilitate high quality, family-friendly housing developments and small-scale interventions. In this case study, the Parkquartier Friedrichsberg is examined as a successful small-scale intervention. This development incorporated high standards of sustainable and energy-efficient design practices to create an attractive housing complex and enhance the existing local urban character. A winning design was chosen for an adaptive plan to facilitate the activity of the Baugruppen community housing cooperatives. The approach implemented by the winning team encouraged continual public participation throughout the stages of development. The designs of living environments were catered primarily to the needs of housing cooperative members. Through an intensive design process involving the repeated consultation of municipal staff, developers, architects, urban designers and Baugruppen members, plans were approved only once all parties were content with the results. The final design had to meet the strict building guidelines used to ensure architectural quality, while also meeting various environmental considerations. The resulting development creates an attractive and environmentally friendly community for families. This neighbourhood also meets mandate to increase the density of the urban landscape. Birmingham In the wake of the global financial crisis, cities throughout the United Kingdom have been facing major challenges when trying to redevelop their urban centres. With a lack of project funding many of the planned urban regeneration projects have been cancelled or put on hold, deemed unfeasible during this uncertain economic climate. To encourage future development, the central UK government introduced a variety of policies and strategies to spur economic growth. These strategies helped to prioritize economic growth and job creation by introducing tax and regulatory relief for entrepreneurs and investors. Simultaneously, the government prioritized localism in the planning process, giving people the chance to participate in the ways their communities would develop. In this case study, Dayus Square, situated in Birmingham’s Jewellery

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