Purpose: The authors provide a personal insight into how they see the potential of urban culture as a vehicle for creative placemaking. The purpose of this study is to highlight the opportunities for the tourism industry to embrace this global youth culture now that one of its pillars, breakdance, is on the brink of becoming an Olympic discipline in 2024, thus nudging this youth culture from underground to mainstream. Design/methodology/approach: The authors interviewed two Dutch pioneers in the field of urban culture: Tyrone van der Meer, founder of The Notorious IBE (IBE), an international breaking event, and Angelo Martinus, founder of the urban scene in Eindhoven and initiator of EMOVES, an urban culture and sports event. Findings: The authors illustrate the added value of urban culture to creative placemaking by addressing the initiatives of previously mentioned Dutch pioneers. Their urban culture events on Dutch soil, yearly attract thousands of participants and visitors from the urban scene, covering over 40 nationalities, to the South of The Netherlands. Originality/value: This study provides a glimpse into a global youth culture that is primarily invisible to the tourism industry and a foresight in how the tourism industry and other stakeholders (e.g. policy makers, city marketeers, tourism managers and event organisers) can pick up on this evolving trend. The study is meant as a wake-up call.
The crossroads of living in cities on the one hand and ageing of the population on the other is studied in an interdisciplinary field of research called urban ageing (van Hoof and Kazak 2018, van Hoof et al. 2018). People live longer and in better health than ever before in Europe. Despite all the positive aspects of population ageing, it poses many challenges. The interaction of population ageing and urbanisation raises issues in various domains of urban living (Phillipson and Buffel 2016). According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD 2015), the population share of those of 65 years old is expected to climb to 25.1% in 2050 in its member states. Cities in particular have large numbers of older inhabitants and are home to 43.2% of this older population. The need to develop supportive urban communities are major issues for public policy to understand the relationship between population ageing and urban change (Buffel and Phillipson 2016). Plouffe and Kalache (2010) see older citizens as a precious resource, but in order to tap the full potential these people represent for continued human development (Zaidi et al. 2013), the world’s cities must ensure their inclusion and full access to urban spaces, structures, and services. Therefore, cities are called upon to complement the efforts of national governments to address the consequences of the unprecedented demographic shift (OECD 2015). Additionally, at the city level there is a belief to understand the requirements and preferences of local communities (OECD 2015). An important question in relation to urban ageing is what exactly makes a city age-friendly (Alley et al. 2007, Lui et al. 2009, Plouffe and Kalache 2010, Steels 2015, Moulaert and Garon 2016, Age Platform Europe 2018)? Another relevant question is which factors allow some older people in cities to thrive, while others find it hard to cope with the struggles of daily life? This chapter explores and describes which elements and factors make cities age-friendly, for instance, on the neighbourhood level and in relation to technology for older people.
The debate on tourism in cities, both academically and in practice, has for a long time taken place in relative isolation from urban studies. Tourism is mostly addressed as an external agent and economic force that puts pressure on cities rather than as an interdependent part of city systems. The recent debate on city touristification and excessive dependence on the visitor economy, as well as the associated processes of exclusion, and displacement of local city users, serves to highlight how tourism is an integral part of urban developments. A wider urban perspective is needed to understand the processes underlying the tourism phenomena and more transdisciplinary perspectives are required to analyze the urban (tourism) practices. The current article seeks to contribute to such a perspective through a discussion of the literature on urban and tourism studies, and related fields such as gentrification, mobilities, and touristification. Based on this, theoretical reflections are provided regarding a more integral perspective to tourism and urban development in order to engage with a transversal urban tourism research agenda.
“Empowering learners to create a sustainable future” This is the mission of Centre of Expertise Mission-Zero at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS). The postdoc candidate will expand the existing knowledge on biomimicry, which she teaches and researches, as a strategy to fulfil the mission of Mission-Zero. We know when tackling a design challenge, teams have difficulties sifting through the mass of information they encounter. The candidate aims to recognize the value of systematic biomimicry, leading the way towards the ecosystems services we need tomorrow (Pedersen Zari, 2017). Globally, biomimicry demonstrates strategies contributing to solving global challenges such as Urban Heat Islands (UHI) and human interferences, rethinking how climate and circular challenges are approached. Examples like Eastgate building (Pearce, 2016) have demonstrated successes in the field. While biomimicry offers guidelines and methodology, there is insufficient research on complex problem solving that systems-thinking requires. Our research question: Which factors are needed to help (novice) professionals initiate systems-thinking methods as part of their strategy? A solution should enable them to approach challenges in a systems-thinking manner just like nature does, to regenerate and resume projects. Our focus lies with challenges in two industries with many unsustainable practices and where a sizeable impact is possible: the built environment (Circularity Gap, 2021) and fashion (Joung, 2014). Mission Zero has identified a high demand for Biomimicry in these industries. This critical approach: 1) studies existing biomimetic tools, testing and defining gaps; 2) identifies needs of educators and professionals during and after an inter-disciplinary minor at The Hague University; and, 3) translates findings into shareable best practices through publications of results. Findings will be implemented into tangible engaging tools for educational and professional settings. Knowledge will be inclusive and disseminated to large audiences by focusing on communication through social media and intervention conferences.
De veranderingen die op ons afkomen, bijvoorbeeld digitalisering en de energietransitie, brengen vragen en onzekerheid met zich mee over de toekomst. Hoe kunnen we die toekomst begrijpen en ermee omgaan Een ontwerpende aanpak voor toekomstverkenningen kan helpen.Doel Hoe kunnen organisaties toekomstverkenningen verbinden met adaptief anticiperend handelen in het heden om betekenisvol te innoveren in de huidige veranderlijke wereld? Het onderzoek draagt bij aan de kennisontwikkeling over adaptieve organisaties. Ook worden er tools ontwikkelt voor de praktijk. Resultaten Dit onderzoek loopt nog. Na afloop vind je hier de resultaten. In de praktijk De inspiratie voor dit onderzoek ontstond tijdens een aantal toekomstverkenningen waarin de ontwikkeling van future probes centraal stonden: Future Health Battle in 2014, Urban Futures Lab in 2015 en Healthy Inclusive City Challenge 2016. Tijdens meerdaagse interactieve programma’s werkten teams met o.a. studenten en beleidsmakers samen aan provocatieve “wat als” -vraagstukken. Deze werden omgezet in visuele ‘probes’; verbeeldingen die een concrete impressie geven van een mogelijke toekomst. Probes zijn vaak speculatieve producten of diensten, maar zonder de intentie om ze in productie te nemen. Ze bieden de mogelijkheid om te leren van de toekomst door discussies te voeren met betrokkenen over de (on)wenselijkheid van dit soort toekomstige ontwikkelingen. De onderzoeken leveren altijd inzichten op in waarden en drijfveren. Download de volgende publicaties voor een indruk en overzicht van Urban Futures Lab en Future Health battle. Download publicatie Urban Futures lab Download publicatie Future Health Battle Bekijk ook de video's voor een sfeerimpressie. Video Urban Futures lab Video Healthy Inclusie City Challenge Looptijd 01 april 2019 - 01 april 2023 Aanpak Future probing zet verbeeldingskracht en systemisch ontwerpen zodanig in dat betrokkenen van een innovatievraagstuk mogelijke toekomsten daadwerkelijk ervaren. Met deze ervaring en bijbehorende inzichten, kunnen innovaties in het heden betekenisvoller worden vormgegeven. We gaan onderzoeken hoe deze complexe processen precies werken. Nieuws Jezelf lokaal verwarmen in plaats van je hele huis stoken Probing duurzame warmtevoorziening ten behoeve van energietransitie in samenwerking met Energie U en studenten Communicatie en Multimedia Design. HU Studenten Future lab presenteren de toekomst Probing the future is een onderwijsmodule bij de opleiding Communicatie en Multimedia Design. The Future is Calling - Werken, leren en mobiliteit Vervolg op het probing traject met Ministerie I&W omtrent toekomst van (non-)mobiliteit. Van inzichten naar inspiratie naar concrete experimenten Resultaat van dit vervolg traject: near future experimenten. De mobiele toekomst in beeld gebracht Probing the future of mobility in samenwerking met Ministerie I&W, studenten minor Co-design. Studenten ontwerpen amfibisch huis Amfibisch zelfvoorzienend wonen als NL overstroomt, studenten werktuigbouwkunde, technische bedrijfskunde en elektrotechniek. Verslag Community Meeting 3 - Smart Urban Mobility Toekomst van mobiliteit op Utrecht Science Park in samenwerking met Community Smart Urban Mobility van CoE SSC. Het boek Smart Sustainable Cities is uit Caroline Maessen en Marieke de Roos schreven samen een hoofdstuk.
Cycling booms in many Dutch cities. While smart cycling innovations promise to increase cycling’s modal share in the (peri-)urban transport system even further, little is understood of their impact or cost and benefit. The “Smart Cycling Futures (SCF)” program investigates how smart cycling innovations ─ including ICT-enabled cycling innovations, infrastructures, and social innovations like new business models ─ contribute to more resilient and liveable Dutch urban regions. Cycling innovations benefit urban regions in terms of accessibility, equality, health, liveability, and decreasing CO2-emissions when socially well embedded. To facilitate a transition to a sustainable future that respond to pressing issues, the SCF research project runs urban living labs in close collaboration with key stakeholders to develop transdisciplinary insights in the conditions needed for upscaling smart-cycling initiatives. Each living lab involving real-world experiments responds to the urgent challenges that urban regions and their stakeholders face today. The proposed research sub-programs focus on institutional dynamics, entrepreneurial strategies, governance and the socio-spatial conditions for smart cycling. Going beyond analysis, we also assess the economic, social, and spatial impacts of cycling on urban regions. The research program brings together four Dutch regions through academic institutions (three general and one applied-science universities); governmental authorities (urban and regional); and market players (innovative entrepreneurs). Together, they answer practice-based questions in a transdisciplinary and problem-oriented fashion. Research in the four regions generates both region-specific and universally applicable findings. Finally, SCF uses its strong research-practice network around cycling to co-create the research and run an outreach program.
