Instatements - The discussion

Tobi van Sambeeck from Stichting Ruimte

Discussion themes and presenters:

** Herbestemming, not monumenten*
the law cannot protect buildings erected in under 50 years’ time. This
results in a gray area in which buildings of worth are still in danger.
Herbestemming or tijdelijke herbestemming can provide a solution, provided
there is a means to sidestep the (direct) logic of the market.

* *What makes a building worth reusing?*
Jan Verrelst, one of the architects of the Lichttoren revitalization,
mentions two leading criteria for adaptive reuse: 1) structure’s strength &
firmness 2) public interest. Given that these parameters are measurable, who is
responsible for their grading and where does the local cultural context come
in? Are other criteria forthcoming? (based creative cultural, social,
educational directions)

* *Proposals for the city center?*
Adaptive reuse & Brownfields reclamation are inseparable with planning the
city center. Industrial real-estate within ‘ring’ limits share similar
attributes. What is the policy on urban scale regarding the shift from
industry to residence & retail? how does the city deal with common problems
and consequences of investing in reclaimed territories? What are the
Gemeente’s goals regarding industrial heritage on a general / urban
perspective?

* *Basic* *Problems of Herbestemming*
Little or no standard - each building is a test-case in itself / higher
costs / longer process / more paperwork if changes counter the
bestemmingsplan (plan denoting land use by functions) / How does
herbestemming fit in the criteria and the process of a building attaining
monument status?

* *Alternative forms of reuse*?
Temporary reuse, playground landscaping, social meeting points, ‘artists in
residence’ - reflect the city’s haphazard planning policy, the lull in the building
market, and a general ‘decision not to decide’ - at best, they create some
interaction and serve as facilitators between demolished lots and future
building sites, at worst they become a source of insecurity and contempt
from neighboring groups. Can these forms of infill be upgraded from their
current role? If so, what would be the desired path to coordinate between the
public, social and private sector?

* *”Creatief beheer”*
Two words connecting two populations, two modes of thinking about space in
the city.
Stichting Ruimte is an appointment to mediate between real-estate and the
creative community. The work combines access to municipal information and a
network of local users. Can the Stichting’s activity in the past years be
summarized? What numbers arise from the economic recession? How is a
balanced treatment of owners / users developed?

* *Going international* - Emscher Landschaftspark, Distillery District - Toronto, Ancoats - Manchester:
other european and non-european cities are busy remodelling huge swaths of industrial zones according to the guidelines of mix-use, high-density and (inevitably) higher-than-moderate prices. What common conclusions can be drawn from the decisions being made to foster, frame or ignore industrial heritage outside the Netherlands?

Presentations by Niels Groeneveld,  Ryanne Janssen, Gertjan Rohaan & Raoul Vleugels
(TU/e School of Architecture | bouwkunde), Tobi van Sambeeck from Stichting Ruimte. Amongst those present were Architectuur Centrum Eindhoven, Freek Lomme, the contributors to the exhibition and more.

Freek Lomme speaks about getting behind facades and working with structures from the inside

Slides by Uri Ben-Ari