the slachtHUB HUB
manifesto!
INDEX
the slacht HUB
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INDEX
AMBITION - CLAIM STRATEGIC DAM
STRATEGIC HUMAN CAPITAL STRATEGIC LOCATION STRATEGIC PROGRAM-INNOVATIVE SETTING UP THE AGENDA
THE SLACHTHUB
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AMBITION
CLAIM
The ‘Slachthuis’. Antwerp, November 2016. © Lucas Lerchs.
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AMBITION The Dam neighbourhood is today in a crucial moment of his history. A new master plan for the redevelopment of the area is going to be approved this year, 2016. Consequently, a Land Use Plan will be defined (RUP). The Dam neighbourhood was once an important industrial area of the city. It grew thanks to its position into the city and its good connection to the urban infrastructures. This is where the slaughterhouse was built and this acted as a leverage to develop the dam area. Through the development of the area, the slaughterhouse gave the inhabitants an identity. Its past legacy and identity would not have been as strong as it is without the slaughterhouse. Nevertheless, this whole urban infrastructure is today unused and forgotten. The new Masterplan - in the process of being approved – does not take into account the major importance that this slaughterhouse used to be in and for the city. The different actors and developers have failed by denying and ignoring the slaughterhouse as a legacy from the industrial past and a strategical element for the neighbourhood’s future. With this Manifesto, we want to shift this paradigm, this logic. We want to put the most important element of the Dam’s neighbourhood under the spotlight, the one that gave the neighborhood his identity: the ‘Slachthuis’. [01] This claim goes along with a deeper understanding of what a city should always have: industry. This makes the city more resilient and adaptable to the economic crisis. Hence more socially equal. It provides employment and opportunities for the workers and enterpreneurs. The most important cities have grown along an industrial and economic development, like Antwerp and the Dam neighbourhood. Today they need to look at the future in the same way. Considering that industrial activities and infrastructure as a key asset for their future. Nowadays, looking at the models of other Europeans cities, we find that they try to keep an industrial tissue within the city itself, providing spaces, infrastructures and connections. Industry is a vital part of the rich economic and urban fabric of a vibrant city. [01] Slachthuis: Dutch word for Slaughterhouse. -5-
AMBITION
Madrid, Copenhagen or Brussels are developing models in which their industrial heritage areas get a new future. These old infrastructures are suitable to be reused for new economic activities that provide employments for a constantly growing population. Hence keeping the city with a good balance between life and work. We are today in the decisive moment, and this is the reason of this manifesto. We aim to create a debate about the use of the old slaughterhouse of the Dam neighbourhood. This industrial infrastructure - urban heritage from its glorious past - is being constantly forgotten from all the actors involved, suffering a real pressure from real estate actions. We believe that this key infrastructure can be the economic engine that contributes to the renewal of the Dam. The identity of the Dam needs to be reinforced to boost its economy. We have here all the elements in place. We just need to see them as our best opportunity for the future, learning from our past.
‘WE CLAIM THE ‘SLACHTHUIS’ SITE AS THE ENGINE OF DAM, A HUB, A SLACHTHUB!’
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AMBITION
CLAIM
WE CLAIM THE ‘SLACHTHUIS’ AS THE ENGINE OF DAM, A HUB! A SLACHTHUB!
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STRATEGIC
DAM
HUMAN CAPITAL
DAM - SLACHTHUIS STRATEGIC LOCATION
INNOVATIVE PROGRAM
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STRATEGIC
‘The Dust of Forgetfulness’ The forgotten succession of the Dam The forgotten vestiges of the Dam Following the traces, uncovering the dust The promising fate of the Dam The avenir of the Dam, uncertainty into certainty
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STRATEGIC
HUMAN CAPITAL
‘THE NEIGHBOURHOOD HAS MOVED BACKWARDS. IT USED TO BE MUCH MORE BUSY AND LIVABLE NEIGHBOURHOOD. NEVERTHELESS, I LOVE THE DAM, I THINK IT IS STILL A COZY AND COMFORTABLE PLACE TO LIVE’
Femke (Local inhabitant)
‘THERE ARE NO JOBS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. PEOPLE HAVE TO LEAVE TO FIND A JOB. IF THE COMPANIES START GROWING, THEY HAVE TO LEAVE, THEY DO NOT GET THE RIGHT TO STAY HERE’ Mustafa (Local inhabitant)
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STRATEGIC DAM
- The population is our greatest resource. In a world where the urban population will increase more than 70% by 2050, the population has to be considered as an asset, rather than a liability, as an engine for sustainable societies. People are at the core of the development of a city, of a country and in larger scale of the world evolution by producing and developing various facilities and services. Like we do protect our natural resources, we do have the same responsibility to consider our human capital with the greatest care and ensure liveability for people as a way to attract and maintain them in a city, neighbourhood. - The diversity is an asset for the growth of the city. European cities are more diverse than ever before, therefore nowadays there are various ongoing studies financed by different institutions, as the European commision, that intend to provide evidence on the positive contribution of diversity to social cohesion and equality. Because of that, the goal is to recognise urban hyper-diversity as a positive factor. (https://www.urbandivercities.eu/, 2016) - Dam population; a diamond in Antwerp. With a high density, the population of the Dam is becoming younger and more diverse as a result of migration and rising birth rates in comparison to the ageing population in the city. Based on the facts that the population is the greatest resource a city has, and that the diversity represents an asset for the economic growth, we are convinced that the Dam neighbourhood, thanks to the most growing working-age workforce rate, possesses the key for boosting the economy in the region of Antwerp. Therefore, we are convinced that the population of the Dam neighbourhood is the beating heart of Antwerp.
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STRATEGIC
LOCATION
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STRATEGIC DAM One of the main aspects about Dam Neighbourhood is its strategic location. The Dam neighbourhood is located in a strategic zone between the city center and the suburbs of the city. Located next to the Albert Kanaal which is one of the most important nodes in the flemish region that links all the old industrial areas of Limburg with the port of Antwerp and further to the North sea. It has a link with the ring of Antwerp that is also an international communication line between Amsterdam and Paris. Besides its metropolitan influences, the Dam neighbourhood is an important asset within Antwerpen City. Similar locations in the city like ‘het Eilandje’, ‘het nieuwe Havenhuis’, or the Park Spoor Noord have been developed with new urban renewal concepts. Some of these interventions are situated in a walkable distance from the Dam. The Dam neighbourhood as well as its neighbouring areas are waiting for a renewal project that strenghts its urban qualities. Simultaneously, the Dam neighbourhood has an enviable position as a link for the city of Antwerp and its 20th century Belt. Some arteries sew the city and its outskirts though the DAM. This neighbourhood has a fundamental role in this connection between Antwerp Noord and Deurne or Merksem. (Schrijnpoortweg and ingenieur Menneslaan) We can argue that Dam neighbourhood has benefited from this location in its history. It grew parallel with the city and with a clear identity within the industry world. The canal, but also the railtrain with the Dam train station showed a glorious past. Nevertheless, this past is getting behind and the Dam neighbourhood is about to suffer a forgetfulness. This glorious past needs to be back and its potentials be read towards what Dam has never lost: its key location for the city and beyond. The city and province of Antwerp are aware of this potential that has been analyzed and showed in several studies and researches like Labo XX, Labo XX_Work or Albertaknaal. All those researches showed us that there has been already a framework in which population, stakeholder, and policy makers have shared their knowledge and concern about this location. Those researches have created an awareness within the population. Now it is the moment to put all those studies and researches in action. It is the moment to see materialised all those important and relevant outputs. - 13 -
STRATEGIC
INNOVATIVE
‘WE HAVE TO FIND THE WAY TO SHOW TO THE ENTREPRENEURS THAT THEY BELONG TO THE CITY, THAT WE NEED THEM’ Ward Verbakel (Plus office architects)
‘A CITY IS A LIVING BEING THAT MUST BE ABLE TO EVOLVE. IN PARTICULAR THE MIXITY, THE FUNCTIONS AND THE ENTIRE PROGRAM MUST BE ABLE TO EVOLVE OVER TIME ‘ Steven Beckers (Lateral Thinking Factory)
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STRATEGIC DAM
The city of Antwerp is at the forefront in the search for innovation in terms of new economy and new industries. These initiatives are grouped around several campaigns as ‘Stadslab’ engaged and organized by the city or ‘Divercities, Turas, Urbact’ (THE EU campain) at an European scale. The northern districts of Antwerp, rich from their multi-culturality and their dense population in search of employment, are kept out of these initiatives. Nevertheless, we are convinced that these neighbourhoods are the most suitable for welcoming and giving support to these hopeful projects capable of revitalizing such neighbourhoods through their ambitious programs. We can recognize in the various initiatives created in Antwerp remarkable poles that shows us the guidelines of a future economy. Thus, sectors such as textile, food and the ecological are almost omnipresent in the current innovation programs. Our goal is to create an infrastructure capable of hosting such projects in the Dam neighbourhood. We are convinced that bringing together so many innovative projects can create a new momentum between not only within these various industries but as well between the neighborhood and in the city of Antwerp.
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SETTING UP THE
AGENDA 1951
Remodelation of the old Slachthuis
1951 > 2007 Meat related economic activities End of activities
2007 2013
$$$$$$$$$
Selling slachthuis to Land Invest Group
Eerst DamcomitĂŠ
2014 NO
2016
YES
YES NO
Final Masterplan
2017
RUP - land use plan city
2018
Advies DAM
Future development Masterplan as it is defined now
2020
What if the Slachthuis is taken into account? New possible future for the Slachthuis Impacting positively the entire neighbourhood
2025
60 %
80 % destinated to housing
80 %
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2030
80 % destinated to other use rather than housing
SETTING UP THE AGENDA
CHALLENGES As it was mentioned before, the Dam is in a crucial moment in its history. Since 2012 there is a Masterplan that will be approved in 2017 in order to define the land use plan (RUP). In this masterplan we want to point out some reflections or challenges that are essential to define the future of the neighbourhood. These challenges should be understood as priorities in order to better define the area. - To avoid the speculation about the program for the Slaughterhouse In the Masterplan that is proposed there is no clear vision to develop or to manage the slaughterhouse. We consider this is a fatal mistake that leaves the developers the possibility to choose the future of this important infrastructure and as a consequence to decide on the dynamics of this area of the city. Therefore, we claim that clear criterias should be defined in the masterplan that allow and create a social and economic model of development. - To involve the local inhabitants and enable a greater social cohesion. This model of development that we claim for the slaughterhouse should enhance and strengthen the social networks of the community. Therefore, the definition of the new activities will be crucial. - To guarantee the existence of the iconic Slaughterhouse. The history of Dam is linked to the history of the slaughterhouse since its inception. The identity of this working class neighbourhood refers to the activities that were taking place in the Slaughterhouse in the past. The new Masterplan argues that keeping the two halls of the building is not affordable, without any previous research about it, consequently they argue that only one hall can stay intact. We think that the two halls should be kept as a symbol that connects past and future. A thorough research should be conducted in a economic and structural frame.
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SETTING UP THE AGENDA
LEARNING FROM...! - case study 01 >
Abattoir in Brussels (Belgium) - case study 02 >
Kødbyen in Copenhagen (Denmark) - case study 02 >
Matadero in Madrid (Spain) - 18 -
SETTING UP THE AGENDA In order to understand how the Slaughterhouse site could be developed we analysed three case studies with similar characteristics. They represent a revival of the public spaces, where the project is an engine of the neighbourhood. From those samples, we will extract 4 dimensions or specific problematiques-strategies that can be an example for Dam. -Ambition (Scale-program): The example of Abattoir in Brussels. The ambition of the project in the Abattoir site in Brussels (in process ...) is to combine a local and a metropolitan program. Therefore, the intention is that it benefits the neighbourhood but also becomes a reference at a city level. The project defines a gradual densification along the site, that will be formalized as a big urban plaza. Around this plaza, the former slaughterhouse as a new building will host the Brussels market. The aim is to keep the industrial past of the site and the activities related to the slaughterhouse, but also to add new programs. -Management (Private-public ownership): The example of Kødbyen in Copenhagen. The city council owns this industrial complex. Therefore, the public sector is the one that organizes the rent of the properties. By doing so, the prices are protected from the private market speculations and ensure the implementation of the long-term strategy defined in the masterplan by the authorities. The city council also turn the dynamic of the site from industrial to mixed use. As a consequence, it attracted the interest of different stakeholders and initiatives, opening up short and long term operations. Additionally the intention of the city is to sell part of the properties in the future to the neighbours, in order for them to become shareholders. -Solid (existing infrastructure): The example of Matadero in Madrid. The case of Matadero is very inspiring as the big infrastructure of the former slaughterhouse was listed as a monument. The whole site as the building was listed as protected heritage and protected through a special urban plan of the city one year after the end of the activities of the slaughterhouse. As it is listed as a monument, the restoration was financed by public funds, by the European Commission and by the city. -Void (the common spaces) : The example of Abattoir in Brussels. As it was mentioned before, the Abattoir project defined a big urban plaza. This large common space is intended to become a hub of multicultural exchanges. The connections with the existing urban fabric are kept, but also new connections with the surroundings as the rest of the city are created. - 19
SETTING UP THE AGENDA
STATEMENTS Masterplan
Statements
‘OLD WAREHOUSES HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO LOFTS OR CO-WORKINGS SPACES WHILE FINDING EMPTY PLACES DESIGNATED FOR PRODUCTION HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT’
NOT GIVING THESE OLD INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE CONSUMPTION BUT KEEPING THEM FOR PRODUCTIVE SPACES IS A VERY STRONG ALTERNATIVE’ Ward Verbakel (Plus office architects)
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SETTING UP THE AGENDA Based on the challenges and priorities that were expressed before and, taking as references the case studies previously mentioned, we have defined 5 statements or claims should be taking into account in the final definition of the masterplan as well as in the development of the slaughterhouse. 01. THE ‘SLACHTHUIS’ AS THE ENGINE OF DAM, NEEDS TO HAVE A STRONG PROGRAM, WITH A STRONG VISION. Indefinition and speculative approach as in the masterplan should be avoided. The program should combine the existing activities of the urban fabric as new initiatives. 02. THE LOCAL COMMUNITY SHOULD BE INVOLVED AND BENEFIT FROM THE REVIVAL OF THE ‘SLACHTHUIS’. The community should benefit from the development of the area in social but also in economic terms (job opportunities, option to be shareholders, social cohesion... ). The reappropriation of this old infrastructure can be also seen as an instrument that allows and enhance the social cohesion in Dam. 03. THE ‘SLACHTHUIS’ SHOULD HAVE A MODEL OF MANAGEMENT FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST. A development that not only benefits the private sector but also the public interest. 04. THE TWO HALLS SHOULD BE KEPT. All the building should remain as symbol of identity. 05. THE PUBLIC SPACES AROUND THE ‘SLACHTHUIS’ SHOULD HAVE A PROGRAM THAT RELATES TO THE NEW ACTIVITIES OF IT. The private and common spaces should have the same socio-economic dynamics, linking the existing fabric with the new activities of the Slachthuis. This common spaces will be a platform of social relations in between the existing Dam and the new ‘Slachthuis’.
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CONCEPT
the slacht HUB
HUMAN CAPITAL
economic engine social cohesion & equality
STRATEGIC LOCATION
new economy
the slacht HUB innovation as a bridge
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knowledge center
INNOVATIVE PROGRAM
CONCEPT The slacht HUB MODEL The ambition is to revert the image of one of the most deprived area of North Antwerp into a successful, sustainable & economic HUB. In order to achieve this ambition, we have developed a model: the slacht HUB. Through the slacht HUB we aim to regenerate the Dam neighbourhood while keeping its identity as a legacy from its industrial glorious past. Furthermore, such a model can become a source of inspiration for other neighbourhoods, a model inscribed on the future. The slacht HUB will be the heart of a new economic model that brings human, nature and economy in balance. This model is fueled by existing resources in the Dam as detailed previously: a hyper-diversified and growing population, a strategic location and a dynamic in terms of innovative programs in line with new economic models such as circular and blue economies. A MODEL BY AND FOR THE DAM INHABITANTS - A precious Economic Engine! Antwerp is the engine that drives the Belgian economy. However, the population is nowadays decreasing & ageing facing a threat to loose this position. Paradoxically, the workforces in the Dam present all the successful factors – young population, growing density, hyper-diversity, including a high number of creative profiles – but many locals suffer from a lack of employment. It seems that the Dam has the potential to be the possible neighbourhood to remain and to face the future challenges. - A leverage for social cohesion and equality! The slacht HUB is a model that will be defined by and for the local inhabitants of the Dam, taking into account all the existing rich and diversified skills, expertise and culture of the neighbourhood. Implementing sustainable economic activities in the slacht HUB will create significant benefits to the local inhabitants of the neighbourhood. It will mean, for each individual, the opportunity to be involved in a program that links all the community members and that aims to improve well-being and social equality. Moreover, it will contribute to a dynamic economy that attracts new settlers into the area who enrich the existing social tissue. Consequently, this economic diversity will create inclusive opportunities. - 23 -
CONCEPT The slacht HUB MODEL A MODEL AS A SHARING PLATFORM CONNECTING THE DAM AND BEYOND - A knowledge center! A regional sharing educational platform! The future challenges are ambitious and such a place with the potential of a strong economy at a strategic location, needs to be prepared for it. The slacht HUB model will fulfil this function too. The potential, the capacities present in this young population of the Dam neighbourhood is a real resource that need to be preserved and instructed, providing them access to knowledge. The sharing of the knowledge is a real challenge for a productive city. This can be illustrated by some paragraphs of the Labo XX analysis: ‘Industry has plenty of jobs opportunities, but not all the right profiles are always available on the labour market’. Currently in Antwerp, there is an important unemployment rate mostly in disadvantaged groups. Regarding this situation, the economic mismatch constitutes a major challenge for the city. The slacht HUB will provide educational programs, in line with the slacht HUB innovative programs, in order to respond to the focus on ‘low skilled people’. It has the ambition to become a reference as an innovative knowledge center for the entire region. ‘ THIS MIXITY IS TRULY A WEALTH. ALL THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE IS USEFUL FOR WORKING IN SHORT CIRCUIT SYSTEMS’ Stevens Beckers (Lateral Thinking Factory) - Innovation as bridge between the Dam and the outskirts! Through innovative activities, the slacht HUB will act as an attraction pole for diverse stakeholders, boosting local dynamics. A new pole of attraction will have impacts on the development of the neighbourhood. Thus, it can generate mobility evolutions, new connections with the city as exchanges trades, and positive changes and opportunities for the local inhabitants.
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CONCEPT
A MODEL IN LINE WITH NEW SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIES - Sustainable economy! Blue economy! The slacht HUB is a model that inspires itself from the nature in terms of creation and that considers waste as a resource. In ten years, through hundred of innovations, the blue economy generated more than one hundred billion jobs. In the future, the largest employment potentials will come from projects inspired by natural ecosystem that do not generate waste. For what seems to be waste, we can create food, energy, jobs, clean water, cheap healthy housing, and more. The blue economy does not recycle, it regenerates. It ensures that the ecosystem maintain its evolving set of rules and therefore, allows that everybody can benefit from the infinite flows of the Nature in terms of creativity, adaptability and abundance. (Gunter Pauli, 2010) - Nooconomics! The economy of knowledge! The slacht HUB will be the economic center of the ‘nooconomics’, the economy of the knowledge. The knowledge is an infinite resource that will be the base of the economy of knowledge. An economy where everyone is born with a purchasing power, that is even greater when being poor or unemployed thanks to his larger amount of available time. It will allow anyone to participate in this economy by exchanging knowledge’s. The money will be substituted by knowledge transfer, creating a whirlwind of enriched and consolidated knowledge. A similar initiative has taken place in India allowing people from all casts to increase their knowledge power and therefore, create an economic dynamic as well as social cohesion. (Idriss Aberkane, 2016)
The slacht HUB will reconnect economy and society through innovation. As the engine it will drive the neighbourhood into the future, carrying away its precious resources, provoking a whirlwind in the region and even beyond.
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CONCEPT
THE SlachtHUB AS THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES THE AVENIR OF DAM FROM UNCERTAINTY TO CERTAINTY!
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NOTE This manifesto is the result of our research for the studio course of the Master of Human Settlements and Urbanism and Strategic Planning of the University of KU Leuven. The quotes that we refer to are the result of a series of interviews that were taking place with different stakeholders along the month of December of 2016. We have selected different actors in order to cover the inhabitants voice, the knowledge by research and the expertise by practice: Femke de Knoller (local inhabitant), Koen Moens (local inhabitant), Mustafa (local inhabitant), Steven Beckers (Lateral Thinking Factory), Lieve Custers (Buro Boris), Isabelle Verhaelt (Labo XX, city of Antwerp) & Ward Verbakel (Plusoffice architects). The summary of this interviews can be seen on the website of the slacht HUB:
slachthub.wixsite.com/slachthub In order to create a sense of awareness about the model of development of the slachtHUB, we developed a campaign composed by a poster, a logo and this manifesto. Along the month of January a series of stickers and pins with the logo and the link to the website will be distributed in Dam as well as in other areas of the city.
the slacht HUB
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REFERENCES - www.urbandivercities.eu/about-divercities/ - www.turas-cities.eu/ - urbact.eu/ - stadslab2050.be/ - www.antwerpen.be/nl/overzicht/born-in-antwerp - idrissaberkane.org/index.php/fr/ - Labo XX, Labo XX_Work: www.antwerpen.be/nl/info/577bc9d7bb42c47b4b247ada/ labo-xx. Stad van Antwerpen. - Kaderplan Albertkanaal: Antwerpen - Schoten - Provincie Antwerpen. - Ruimtelijk Structuurplan Antwerpen ( Secchi, Bernardo & Viganò, Paola). Bibliographic references: - Pauli, G. A. (2010). The blue economy: 10 years, 100 innovations, 100 million jobs. Paradigm Publications. - Aberkane, I. J. (2015). LibÊrez votre cerveau!. Ed. obert Laffont.
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS We want to express our gratitude to the people that we have interviewed: Isabelle Verhaelt, Mustafa, Femke de Knoller, Koen Moens, Ward Verbakel, Steven Beckers & Lieve Custers. Special thank you to the Dam comite for their close collaboration with us, also to the enthusiastic inhabitants of the Dam neighbourhood. Last but not least, to our colleagues and teachers from Strategic Planning Studio. The slachtHUB team 23/12/2016 Christel Mayalian, Ernesto Diez, Elvia G. Costas & Lucas Lerchs.
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Dam neighbourhood - Antwerp - Belgium
the slacht HUB
Christel Mayalian, Ernesto Diez, Elvia G. Costas & Lucas Lerchs. Master of Human Settlements & Urbanism and Strategic Planning KU Leuven