placemakingplus.com
ARCHITECTURE Retail properties Kalanderstraat, Enschede
PLACEMAKING Playground CS, Amsterdam
BFAS Architecture + Placemaking + Urbanism BFAS works on urban development within 3 disciplines: Architecture + Placemaking + Urbanism With our expertise, flexibility, and involvement in the field of architecture, urban design and placemaking, we aim to inspire various stakeholders and bring them together on the same platform. From investors to residents, from municipality to partners. The aim of BFAS is to create or re-create locations and cities into pleasant & sustainable living, residential and work environments. BFAS, Livable + Lovable Placemaking Plus is part of BFAS
URBANISM Shopping Center Terwijde, Utrecht
Placemaking Plus As Placemaking Plus we are passionate about Placemaking and hope you are or shall be as well. From Livable to Lovable, Placemaking Plus is the Amsterdam based department of BFAS architecture + placemaking + urbanism which focuses on Placemaking. From a Place Game, co-execution of Place Game outcome and Place Management Plans to formation of Place Management teams we look into all the aspects of city making. Furthermore
Placemaking Plus features extensive experience in the fields of Markets, Urban Development and Destination Development. In the Plus of Placemaking we connect the communities’ dreams and desires with other players in the city; such as Local Entrepreneurs, City or Regional Departments, Developers and Brands. Together we form the coalition, which jointly moves from space to place.
What is Placemaking? Making a place is not the same as constructing a building, designing a plaza, or developing a commercial zone. As more communities engage in Placemaking and more professionals come to call their work “Placemaking,” it is important to preserve the meaning and integrity of the process. A great public space cannot be measured by its physical attributes alone; it must also serve people as a vital community resource in which function always trumps form. When people of all ages, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds can enjoy a place and also play a key role in its creation, identity, and maintenance, that is when we see genuine Placemaking in action.
Placemaking is: • Community-driven • Visionary • Function before form • Adaptable • Inclusive • Focused on creating destinations • Dynamic • Trans-disciplinary • Transformative • Flexible • Collaborative • Sociable
Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper There is growing momentum to get “back to the basics” of what makes cities thrive. Many of the most effective and immediate solutions are lighter, quicker, and cheaper than traditional top-down approaches to improving cities. The quality of a public space has always been best defined by the people who use it. The growing success of “Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper” (LQC) projects all over the world is proof that expensive and labor-
intensive initiatives are not the only, or even the most effective, ways to bring energy and life into a communities public space. “Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper” is a phrase first used by Eric Reynolds of Urban Space Management, in order to describe the simple, short-term, and low-cost solutions that are having remarkable impacts on the shaping of neighborhoods and cities.
Power of 10+: Applying Placemaking at every Scale The Power of 10+ is a concept PPS (Project for Public Spaces) developed to evaluate and facilitate Placemaking at multiple city scales. It is a powerful tool for generating constructive conversations to identify targeted Placemaking efforts. Cities succeed or fail at the human scale – the place scale – and this scale is often overlooked. The Power of 10+ shows how paying attention to the human experience when building a city’s destinations and districts can have immediate and widespread impacts. The idea behind this concept is that places thrive when users have a range of reasons (10+) to be there. These might include a place to sit, playgrounds to enjoy, art to touch, music to hear, food to eat, history to experience, and people to meet. Ideally, some of these activities will be unique to that particular place, reflecting the culture and history of the surrounding community. Local residents who use this space most regularly will be the best source of ideas for which uses will work best. Further, when cities contain at least 10 of these destinations or districts, their public perception begins to shift amongst both locals and tourists, and urban centers can become better equipped for
1.Identify community
2. Determine places in the area
generating resilience and innovation. The layering of activities generated by the Power of 10+ model ensures that no single type of use or user dominates the space. We have found that whenever we introduce this idea to a community, citizens quickly become more motivated to turn their places around. The Power of 10+ offers an easy framework that encourages residents and stakeholders to revitalize urban life, and it shows big things can be accomplished by starting at the smallest scale. The concept also gives people incremental and tangible goals, and it helps them to visualize, and collectively work towards, a truly great end result. It is the role of Placemakers to encourage everyone to think about what’s special in their communities. How many quality places are located nearby, and how are they connected? Are there places that should be recognized but aren’t? Answering these questions can help residents and stakeholders determine where they need to focus their energies, both individually and collectively.
3. Place Game with inhabitants, entrepreneurs...
4. Short term projects
5. Long term projects
6. Continuous evaluation
Place managment team
2-3 months
2-3 months
1/2 day
meeting once a month
1-2 months
1-2 years
..... years
All year long programming
Bryant Park, Power of 10, summer
Bryant Park , Power of 10, winter
Inspiration
“Benches are objects to decorate architecture photos. They are not always comfortable to sit on. “
Priority for pedestrians!
“One of the best things about water is to look at it and feel it... It’s not fair to give people water and keep them away from it.”
“If you want activity in a place, arrange food there!”
Projects “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.� Jane Jacobs
Machinepark, Aalsmeer Place Game + Placemanagement Client: Gemeente Aalsmeer Commissioned by the municipality of Aalsmeer and in collaboration with Green Park Aalsmeer, Schiphol Living Environment Foundation and the landscape architects of ZUS Rotterdam the Placemaking process started at Machinepark this time as a kickstart to an urban design process. Machinepark is located between the Machineweg, Aalsmeerderweg and the Hornweg near Schiphol Airport. The local stakeholders came together to share their experiences of the large green and water spaces strategically situated in an industrial area. The main results included improvement of the accessibility road, relocation of youth club, requirement of a greenhouse and handball zone. The aforementioned suggestions are on board now with the Placemanagement team and ZUS to transform into short term and long term design solutions.
Schalkwijk, Haarlem Place Game + Placemanagement Client: VVE Winkelcentrum Schalkwijk After many successful years a lot of major shopping centers are facing difficult times. Their shopping concept no longer meets nowadays needs. Shopping became more than ever a recreational activity and therefore should be very pleasurable. Additional activities and various functions are becoming an integral part of shopping. Declining amounts of visitors worsen this situation even more as these places loose their function of a social meeting - with less visitors, more shops become vacant spinning the shopping center into a downward spiral. To turn this process in another direction Placemaking Plus started to work on this shopping center as the placemaking project was initiated.
Pop-Up Shop, Schalkwijk, Haarlem Placemanagement The second placemaking project in Schalwijk tackles the vacancy problem. The empty commercial space in the main square of the shopping centre is given to Tripple Threat. A Pop-up store was opened in May 2016 and not only offers basketball attributes to sell, but also has other facilities such a hairdresser. It serves as a place to meet for local people merging together with the shopping mall square. The original Pop-up store has now moved to a better location and offers a variety of possibilities for winter and autumn. This will ensure DAK and the community a year round program.
DAK, Schalkwijk, Haarlem Placemanagement Client: VVE Winkelcentrum Schalkwijk An inspiring project in cooperation with the owners of Shopping Center Schalkwijk, the Shopkeepers Association, The City of Haarlem, Triple Threat Community, Dock Haarlem and more. A tremendous turn-around in one year; from space to place!
2017 + 2018
2016
OnderDAK, Schalkwijk, Haarlem Placemanagement Client: VVE Winkelcentrum Schalkwijk After the success of DAK Schalkwijk and the pleasant collaboration with Triple Threat, DOCK and the local authority, shopping centre Schalkwijk launched the project OnderDAK in March 2017.
OnderDAK offers all activities of DAK under one roof, including sports, workshops, religious services and readings. With a lounge area including its very own bookshelf the mall is turning into more than just a shopping area. Its is now a meeting point for all ages.
Gibraltarbuurt Amsterdam Place Game Client: Gemeente Amsterdam Working with community, local enterprise, The City of Amsterdam, Housing Corporation on re-activating the Community. Community Playground and reactivating community shops. Kids Place Game
De Plekken die we bezoeken: 1 - Van Gentplein, Gibraltarstraat 2 - Haarlemmerweg/ Gibraltarstraat 3 - Livornostraat
Boomkerk - de plek van het PlaceGame
4 - Parkeerplaats, Kavel X 5 - Bos en Lommerweg/ Haarlemmerweg 6 - Willem de Zwijgerlaan 7 - Ventweg Bos en Lommerweg
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Next to demonstrations of the Kung Fu school, music, art activities, warm soup and so many games, we gathered enthusiastic kids and their parents and listened for the insights from locals. How can we improve this place? What is missing? What program would you like to see here?
8 - Kijkduinstraat voetbalkooi 9 - Zwembad Gibraltarstraat 10 - Wiltzanghlaan van Gentstraat bij Pistou
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During the Winter feast in Playground New Gibraltar, Operatie Periscoop together with Placemaking Plus had a chance to organise a special Place Game for kids and their parents. This is a part of Placemaking Gibralatar proces.
Delflandplein, Amsterdam Placemaking Client: AH Delflandplein is the center of the neighbourhood, but already for a while liveliness is lacking and the square is facing problems because of vacancy, decay of street furniture and loss of community events. Local inhabitants are looking forward to changes as they want to feel at home in their own neighbourhood. Placemaking Plus in cooperation with Ahold is working in bringing this square back to life. In collaboration with:
On July 19 we organized its first Painting Day. The children of the neighborhood filled the square with colorful works of art.
Delflandplein, Droombaan, Amsterdam Placemaking Client: Gemeente Amsterdam Together with local entrepreneurs and the residents of the Delflandplein neighborhood, the public space in Delflandplein, Amsterdam Nieuw-West was completely transformed into a real ice rink with ‘koek and zopie’ (hot chocolate and cookies). The ‘Delfland DroomIJsbaan’ is the special step of a series of placemaking initiatives to make the square flourish more and more. The ice rink worked on the principles of Placemaking Plus to make a place livable to lovable. The Delflandplein square sets an example of an effort to spread happiness towards city making and temporary urbanism.
2018 Visualisation into reality
In collaboration with:
Visualisation
Reigersbos, Amsterdam Place Game + Placemaking + Virtual Reality Client: Gemeente Amsterdam In collaboration with the REB, Amsterdam municipality, Stadgenoot, Cordaan and Sectie 5 Placemaking Plus organized a Place Game on January 22nd, 2018 at the Reigersbos shopping center with the aim of exploring opportunities for this area. More than 30 people were involved, including local entrepreneurs, local residents, developers and civil servants participated in the event. A successful placemanagement team was formed and Placemaking Plus is in a process to implement the quick wins. A few illustrations here show the desired plans.
In collaboration with:
Hondsrugweg, Amsterdam Placemaking
In collaboration with:
Client: Wonam & Gemeente Amsterdam Due to the transformation of Amstel III, there is an urgent reason to do something about its now liveliness for current and future residents, businesses and employees, and visitors of the six hotels in this area. An important connection between all sub-areas in Amstel III is the intended Hondsrugwegpark. In the meantime there is a need to liven up this connection axis. Wonam and the municipality of Amsterdam have therefore taken the initiative, together with Placemaking Plus, to come again this year with a temporary interpretation.
2018
Free zone Hondsrugweg This offers the chance to many people to run events like The Passion, World Gospel Festival, Biggest street football tournament, De Dubbel Dapper vs Bijlmermarket (1.7 km long), etc.
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EG Buurt, Amsterdam Place Game + Placemaking
In collaboration with:
Client: Gemeente Amsterdam Although the figures for the quality of life and social economic position of residents in the Bijlmer have improved in recent years, the EG-neighborhood North is actually facing a socio-economic disadvantage and the quality of life is decreasing. The EG Neighborhood North is an area that has been designated as a development area by the municipality. The aim of the development is to improve the quality of life, and to connect the existing residential area with the new buildings. On assignment from the municipality of Amsterdam, Placemaking Plus organized a Place Game on September 13th, 2018 around the EG-Noord neighborhood. The purpose of this meeting was to explore opportunities for this area. Almost 25 people involved, including local entrepreneurs, local residents, developers and civil servants, participated. Many interesting quick wins, short terms ideas and
long term ideas came out from this Place Game. One of the ideas that was discussed was the building of a swimming pool. Apart from this swimming pool many other ideas such as more seating, food trucks etc. were also discussed.
Playground CS, Amsterdam Placemanagement Client: Gemeente Amsterdam Playground Amsterdam Central Station. From July 15th, 2015 until the end of August 2015, directly in front of Amsterdam Central Station we co-created a beautiful pop up beach: Playground CS™. For children, moms and dads, and grandparents! Open for playing and relaxing 7 days a week! Sand from the WC Beach Volleyball, buckets & spades, beach chairs, hammocks and parasols gave the place the look and feel of the beach. Playground CS™ was the kick off for a project to create more places to play in the city.
Placemaking Week 2017, Amsterdam Time period: October 10 - 14th, 2017 Building upon the momentum of the Placemaking Leadership Council and 2016’s Placemaking Week in Vancouver, Project for Public Spaces collaborated with their Dutch partners – STIPO, Placemaking Plus and Pakhuis de Zwijger – to create a dynamic forum for attendees to develop and share concrete strategies to advance placemaking locally and globally - the Placemaking Week 2017. Public space is located at the intersection of many global issues - from health to sustainability, innovation to equity. Placemaking Week is all about leveraging this convergence. The Placemaking Week was closely looking into the
case of Amsterdam, trying to reach out to existing processes here and bring its expertise. Therefore, 6 Place Games were organised based on ‘Koers 2025’ – the strategic plan for building 12.000 housing units up to 2025. Urban development is not only building houses, but also about creating pleasant public spaces for the new residents and the existing users of the new neighbourhoods. That’s why the Place Games were held in these area’s in preparation to all these new developments. As co-producer of the Placemaking Week Placemaking Plus was host and organiser of different events and sessions.
Place Game Sloterplas
Place Game Sloterdijk
Place Game Reigersbos October 10th, 2017 Host: Cordaan Reigersbos Participants: 25 varying from local entrepreneurs and inhabitants, international placemakers to government officials.
EXPEDITION - THE HAARLEM SAFARI Time period: October 11th, 2017
WemakeThe.City 2018, Amsterdam Time period: June 20-24th, 2018 A 5-day festival connecting the public with experts to work on the urban challenges of the Amsterdam metropolitan area. Working together, since we believe that co-creation between different stakeholders creates the best results. This way of collaborating is known to be the Amsterdam Approach, which earned Amsterdam the title of European Capital of Innovation. During WeMakeThe. City we celebrated this title and created a platform for everyone who can and wants to contribute to solve urban challenges. Big or small: together we are working on a city that is better, smarter and healthier with equal chances for all its inhabitants.
Training Placemaking, Amsterdam Time period: May 31st- June 1st + November 1st - 2nd, 2018 The main objective of both these two day trainings was to deliver a clear step by step process of converting a place from “livable to lovable�. The training addressed the various steps involved in the placemaking process and also offered insight into various tools that could be used in the process. The training event was organized in the heart of Amsterdam and participants were taken to closeby locations on a mini Place Game. Various speakers addressed important topics of Placemaking and provided an overview of the Placemaking process. The training was well received and the feedback was positive. We hope to successfully organize many more such training programs.
Destination Development & National Tourist Organizations We have extensive experience in the Travel and Tourism Sector in Europe, in The America’s and The Caribbean. In the disciplines of Product Development, Destination Development and Branding as well as Marketing. Starting with travel agency chains, Tour operators and Airlines such as Nordair and Canadian Pacific Airlines in Canada and The United States of America. We also worked with Tourism Canada in the Benelux Countries, Scandinavia and Finland. As well as representing the State of Florida in Canada for the Florida Division of Tourism, based in Toronto, Canada. Some exciting highlights of this period were: Taking Treasure Tours from an average tour company to becoming the largest tour operator. By focusing on one destination: Florida. From 35.000 pax to 275.000 pax annually in three years’ time. Whilst working for The Florida Board of Tourism we undertook some great promotions, such as Miami Vice contests with Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine. Canadian Pacific Airlines
Tulip festival Ottawa, Canada Based on an annual gift of 250.000 tulips from the Netherlands to Canada we were part of the founding of the Annual Tulip Festival. Still a very popular Spring Festival in Ottawa.
Race of eleven cities Whilst working with Tourism Canada in The Hague we met with the organizers of The Netherlands’ most famous speed skating event: the Skating Marathon of The Eleven Cities. (Elfstedentocht). We worked with them to move the event two times to Ontario & Quebec, Canada. During the coldest time of year: February. Live TV Broadcast in The Netherlands.
Winterlude, Ottawa, Canada Founding Committee of this, still very popular, Winter Carnival in Ottawa, Canada. The first Festival was opened by Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau with his son Justin Trudeau, the current Prime Minister of Canada.
Muziekplein, Utrecht Place Game Client: Gemeente Utrecht December 13th, 2017 Muziekplein is a piece of public space, strategically located between the NS Rail Station Terwijde, Waterwin Park, the High Streets, and the Terwijde residential area. Together with the Community the City is looking for Programming on Muziekplein (former location of a temporary Albert Heijn Supermarket). From Livable to Lovable. Currently the focus and attention is for Water, from the Utrecht Hills to the Dunes, with the impressive Pump Building as connector. It is destined to become a place to meet for inhabitants, entrepreneurs and visitors alike. From just space to a place where you would like to spend a bit more time on the way home from school, or work, or just some shopping in the neighborhood.
In collaboration with:
Stationsplein, Nunspeet Place Game Client: Gemeente Nunspeet The station area in Nunspeet lies central and forms a separation between the village and the Veluwe nature reserve. The station area has lost part of its liveliness because the area has an unclear function and is not fully used. Residents and entrepreneurs would like to see a change in this and see the station area flourish again.
On September 28th, 2017 Placemaking Plus organized a Place Game around the station area of Nunspeet with the aim of exploring opportunities for this area. The participants presented several improvement strategies of short-term interventions, but also solutions aimed at the longer term.
Museumplein, Amsterdam Place Game Client: Gemeente Amsterdam About 30 participants came to the placemaking session, including the Director of Concertgebouw, the Alderman, urban planners, entrepreneurs, and cityand neighborhood-level leaders. The key question is how to transform Museumplein: From: Formal, Tourist Focused, Big Events Toward: Diverse, Dynamic, Exciting, Community Driven, Daily Use, Year-round, 18h. What were the goals of the day? It was basically a reconnaissance mission: we were trying to connect the institutes, users, (residents, entrepreneurs,
institutes, visitors), with the space of the Museumplein. We wanted to rediscover and reconnect the different parts of Museumplein to the places and destination they have the potential to be. We also had in mind the Power of 10, to take it down a level and think in terms of programming the space. What were some immediate results, quick wins of the day? No doubt about it: a growing energy and a growing network between the participants. A sense that it doesn't have to be difficult: it can be simple, short-term, experimental solutions that make the difference. In the end, iterative place-based strategies means that nothing is permanent.
Zaanstad places Place Game Client: Gemeente Zaandstad On June 17th, 2014, the City of Zaanstad, together with Placemaking Plus and Stipo initiated the idea to do a community placemaking workshop at the area of De Burcht and the Sluiskwartier (historical area). The workshop was guided by Fred Kent and Kathy Madden from Project for Public Spaces. Just below 30 participants from local businesses, residents, institutions and government officials participated. The Project for Public Spaces described an improvement strategy that focuses on “lighter, quicker, cheaper” interventions that are lower risk and lower cost. The local, very active community envisions their area as a network of places that will transform from a shredded, not-so-used system of public space into Zaandam’s waterfront; a well-bonded, diverse, dynamic, exciting and community-driven place, where people will enjoy it on a daily basis, all year-round.
Plek 1: Burcht / green area - plan Vision: Create an active and attractive square
Plek 2: In front of the theater Vision: Create an inviting and multifunctional place for the whole day.
For us, this project is a great example of how a group of “zealous nuts” can push things further, and actively change their living habitat; by transforming from “thinkers” and “tellers” into “doers”. In the case of De Burcht, the community is already implementing a number of Quick Wins. The first Escorted Walk of the neighborhood was scheduled, immediately. And a number of benches and flowerboxes near the Zaan River were pimped.
Katowice, Poland Place Game At the request of local communities, local politicians, and the University of Katowice we conducted an inspiring Place Game in the miners’ community of Nikiszowiec, Katowice, Silesia. Together with Local Placemaker and Professor at the Technical University of Katowice, Majiec Zacher, we presented “Katowice Places” at UN Habitat, Future of Places Conference in Stockholm in June 2015.
In collaborating with, among others: