Urban acupuncture

Abstract

How can small scale spatial interventions in public space, by means of citizen participation, strategically contribute to regenerate a deprived neighbourhood in the Netherlands? The main objective of this project was to search for an innovative method for the regeneration of public space by strategically applied and designed small scale interventions. A detailed design was drawn up for three places in Bergpolder. These places differ from each other in many ways such as target group, lifestyle, citizen involvement and objective. The small scale interventions in public space anticipate a decreasing need for large scale transformations. By means of reuse and redevelopment on the smallest scale of the building block, the existing spatial identity is preserved by setting qualitative requirements rather than quantitative demands. Within the process of intervening on a small scale, the residents are involved in order to create greater engagement and commitment among its users. Not only the municipality and developers but especially residents can play a large role in the transformation of their residential environment.