DRIFT and Amsterdam Smart City find each other in partnership

Research institute DRIFT, the Amsterdam Economic Board and Amsterdam Smart City have been working together for some time now. So it only seemed logical to make this union structural.

DRIFT develops and shares transition knowledge with innovative methods and academic training sessions and gets involved in the public debate. ‘Both at DRIFT and within the network of Amsterdam Smart City, we see opportunities and the necessity to change towards a sustainable society. We are happy to enrich this network with our specific knowledge and experience. But also to learn how to shape these kind of new collaborations. The open, learning approach really appeals to us,’ says Gijs Diercks, senior researcher and advisor at DRIFT.

Leonie van de Beuken: 'We are very happy that DRIFT is structurally committed to the Amsterdam Smart City network. We share a passion for empowering others to actively engage in transitions. From residents to entrepreneurs to governments. This way we can achieve tangible results. The knowledge and experience that DRIFT brings in this area is a wonderful addition to our network.'

Wicked Problems; the underlying barriers within transitions

For some time DRIFT has already been part of the team with partners that is developing an approach to tackle so-called 'wicked problems' better together. An approach aimed at revealing and breaking down underlying barriers within transitions. We use new methods for this and connect what we encounter in the implementation with the strategic level.

Picture credit: Edwin Weers

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Herman van den Bosch, professor in management development , posted Apr 14th

A previous post made it clear that a 15-minute city ideally consists of a 5-minute walking zone, a 15-minute walking zone, also a 5-minute cycling zone and a the 15-minute cycling zone. These three types of neighbourhoods and districts should be developed in conjunction, with employment accessibility also playing an important role.

In the plans for 15-minute cities in many places around the world, these types of zones intertwine, and often it is not even clear which type of zone is meant. In Paris too, I miss clear choices in this regard.

The city of Melbourne aims to give a local lifestyle a dominant place among all residents. Therefore, everyone should live within at most 10 minutes' walking distance to and from all daily amenities. For this reason, it is referred to as a 20-minute city, whereas in most examples of a 15-minute city, such as Paris, it is only about <strong>the round trip</strong>. The policy in Melbourne has received strong support from the health sector, which highlights the negative effects of traffic and air pollution.

In Vancouver, there is talk of a 5-minute city. The idea is for neighbourhoods to become more distinct parts of the city. Each neighbourhood should have several locally owned shops as well as public facilities such as parks, schools, community centres, childcare and libraries. High on the agenda is the push for greater diversity of residents and housing types. Especially in inner-city neighbourhoods, this is accompanied by high densities and high-rise buildings. Confronting this idea with reality yields a pattern of about 120 such geographical units (see map above).

Many other cities picked up the idea of the 15-minute city. Among them: Barcelona, London, Milan, Ottawa, Detroit and Portland. The organisation of world cities C40 (now consisting of 96 cities) elevated the idea to the main policy goal in the post-Covid period.

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Instead of increasing accessibility, the 15-minute city aims to expand the number of urban functions you can access within a certain amount of time. This includes employment opportunities. The possibility of working from home has reduced the relevance of the distance between home and workplace. In contrast, the importance of a pleasant living environment has increased. A modified version of the 15-minute city, the 'walkable city' then throws high hopes. That, among other things, is the subject of my next post.

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Get ready for an exciting experience at the 7th Annual Placemaking Week Europe (PWE) in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from September 24-27, 2024! 🚀

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This year’s festival revolves around four compelling themes:
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Submit your proposals by May 19, 2024, and shape the future of urban spaces with us! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make a difference! Join us in Rotterdam and let’s build better cities, one idea at a time! ✨

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