Abstract
In the planning of Almere special attention was paid to establishing attractive
surroundings for modern middle class living. Accordingly the city was developed as a
network of suburbs with ample space for gardens, parks etc., and with an infrastructure aimed
at keeping different forms of transportation separate. For years the main attraction of the area
was, that it provided comfortable housing in a relatively cheap way. Hence the population of
Almere has grown to 185.000 inhabitants over the last 30 years, and it is now amongst the 10
largest cities in the Netherlands. Moreover, as a consequence of the governmental policy for
future regional development, agreed upon in the 1990es, Almere remains a kernel for future
growth. The population of the city is expected to extend further in the next decades. In 2030 it
should thus have 350.000 inhabitants, becoming by then the fifth largest city in the country.
Presently, the population’s satisfaction with living in Almere is relatively high, and
emigration from the region to the “old mainland” is sparse. So the city faces the challenge of
remaining an attractive place for its present inhabitants, while at the same attracting new
dwellers, and also new segments of citizens with other preferences and more pronounced
expectations (esp. upper middle class, which at the time being are largely absent). To face
these challenges, the city council in 1995 decided to develop a new city centre, which should
enhance Almere’s regional appeal and create a truly modern and attractive urban environment
in what used to be a symbol of suburbia. The plan focused not only on building office space
and commercial sites but also explicitly on generating opportunities for urban experiences.
The famous Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas (OMA) was commissioned to make the master
plan and supervise the project. By now the project is reaching completion, and the aim of our
paper is thus to evaluate in how far the plan has succeeded in creating urban experiences.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 2009 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
| Event | Regional Studies Association Annual Conference - Leuven, Belgium Duration: 6 Apr 2009 → 8 Apr 2009 |
Conference
| Conference | Regional Studies Association Annual Conference |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Belgium |
| City | Leuven |
| Period | 06/04/2009 → 08/04/2009 |
Keywords
- experience design
- experience economy
- urban experiences
- urban design
- Almere
- Rem Koolhaas