This semester, students from various study backgrounds have returned to work on social spatial issues in the city. Graduates, minor students, trainees and interns are doing action research with a fresh perspective, in several neighborhoods of Rotterdam including Bospolder-Tussendijken and Tarwewijk. We work together with TU Delft, Hogeschool Rotterdam and Erasmus University on themes like resilience, community building, safety, health and welfare.
Resilience and social networks
In the programme Veerkrachtig Bospolder-Tussendijken 2028 (Resilient Bospolder-Tussendijken 2028), the municipality, inhabitants and partners work together to make the neighborhood the first resilient neighborhood of Rotterdam within a ten year period. Veldacademie is monitoring this long term programme in collaboration with various students. This semester, Sociology students will concentrate on evaluating ‘Social Impact by Design’; a strategy to devise new ways of working together in order to allow a new resilient neighborhood to emerge. Other students will focus on researching ways in which vulnerable groups in the neighborhood can be activated and study the impact of social entrepreneurs.
Photo: Jan van der Ploeg
Inclusive public space and safety
As part of the programme Nationaal Programma Rotterdam Zuid (NPRZ), Veldacademie is conducting multiple research studies. Within this program, several partners collaborate to increase the level of education, labor participation and quality of life in seven focused neighborhoods within a period of twenty years. Tarwewijk is one of the neighborhoods in focus, the research themes include the design of public space, social cohesion and safety.
Design contest Tarwewijk Campus
With the municipal initiative ‘Tarwewijk Campus’ a defined public space route will be redesigned and made greener. This route consists of a series of places that connect Maashaven and Ahoy (Zuiderpark). Veldacademie will draft a Program of Requirements for the reorganization of public space together with inhabitants and professionals from the neighborhood and the municipality. This will result in a design contest focused on two specific locations, in which young designers can take part. Architecture and Urbanism students will graduate within this project concentrating on related questions like skills development, sports, social cohesion and inclusiveness of public space.
Sound shopping areas
Last semester, students of Hogeschool Rotterdam studied the development and branching of a shopping street in Zuidwijk-Pendrecht on request from the police department. This semester this particular research will be broadened by including two other shopping areas in Oud Charlois and Tarwewijk.
Ouderenhubs (‘elderly hubs’)
The municipal program Rotterdam, Ouder en Wijzer aims to prepare for the increasing numbers in the city’s elderly population. For example. this happens though the creation of elderly hubs; central facilities for elderly in a neighborhood where living, well-being and health are organized more effectively. The first elderly hub has been realized in Prinsenland. In the long term, twenty to forty hubs will be built throughout the city. Veldacademie is researching these elderly hubs together with graduates of Expertisecentrum Maatschappelijke Innovatie (EMI)..
Photo: Jan van der Ploeg
Veldacademie methodology at TU Delft
Since the last semester, we now offer an elective at the faculty of Architecture at TU Delft, where students learn about the living labs methodology for analysis at the neighborhood level and conducting research in the field. After the elective in the first quarter of the year, students are offered the possibility to apply acquired knowledge and insights in a design studio.
Deelnemende onderwijsinstellingen en opleidingen
Hogeschool Rotterdam/EMI: Communication & Multimedia Design, Ruimtelijke Ordening & Planologie, Vastgoed & Makelaardij
Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam: Sociologie, Criminologie
TU Delft: Architectuur, Stedenbouw, Science Education & Communication
Universiteit voor Humanistiek: Humanistiek
Universiteit Leiden: International Relations