Through social infrastructure, the government has an opportunity to make smart combinations - for example, by making thematic connections or achieving social and physical goals. But the realisation and operation of this type of facility is not easy. Responsibilities are divided among different departments or lie partly with social and private partners. Veldacademie is launching a design studio on the subject and conducting research into value development.
Social infrastructure in the form of schools, cultural and sports facilities or community centres have great potential for improving the quality of life in a neighbourhood. Whether it is on a social level as a public meeting place, a place to find care and support or an inspiring place to learn. Or as part of a walking network, a safe place to play and sport or as part of green and water structures. These are a part of the social and physical infrastructure. The government therefore holds a key to achieving social and physical goals and enriching the public space through the provision of social infrastruction. However, the realisation and operation of these types of facilites is not easy. Responsibilities are divided between different departments or lie with social and private partners. There is a need for a shared perspective on value creation. In collaboration with the Strategic Team for Social Real Estate of the Municipality of Rotterdam, Veldacademie is therefore launching the design workshop 'Space for Social Infrastructure.’
Renewed attention for social value
In the Netherlands, we find it normal to think carefully about the design and maintenance of physical infrastructure, such as roads, public transport or bridges. These are long-term investments. But what about our social infrastructure? How can we make social real estate and facilities future-proof? What kind of places are they and what function do they have in the neighbourhood? Can we make better use of facilities by combining different functions or by working together more effectively? What goals do we want to achieve and how? And who are our partners in development and operation?
Atelier 'Space for Social Infrastructure’
In the workshop, we want to investigate these questions on the basis of a small number of 'case studies' – projects ongoing in Rotterdam where there are development opportunities, for example, because there are multiple renewal or renovation projects, urban development plans or because there is support for collaboration between a number of parties which could create added value. It is therefore a form of action research in which we want to influence the development of facilities and learn from it.
Trend study, reference research and action research on location
How can you make broad social value development concrete? In March, in collaboration with Dolf Broekhuizen, we completed an international trend study (in Dutch) in which innovative developments in the field of social services were inventoried. We set our sights on facilities that pursue multiple objectives or that collaborate in ways that could be interesting to the Rotterdam context. This trend study now forms the starting point for an in-depth reference study in which we look at what social values are actually being realised and how. Values that we find in the reference projects include health, safety, ownership, accessibility, connectivity, flexibility, economic potential or sustainability. From these values we develop an assessment framework for the Rotterdam tasks. Can we be inspired to link a number of values to these tasks?
Graduation research on infrastructure
Students can contribute to this research in various ways. Students in architecture, for example, can link a graduation design to a concrete assignment; students with an economic or real estate background can research how multifunctional buildings are developed and operated. Students of sociology, health sciences or pedagogy can do research into the scientific underpinning of certain values.
Follow-up
We have started the reference research and are taking the first steps with the workshop. The atelier should eventually develop into a learning environment for the practice in Rotterdam.
Project