Small group talk - Urban Regeneration (Part 1)

- Sangki Kim
Part 1 Part 2

“Placemaking Alternatives
“Play it again”
in the Netherlands”
 BOAN motel was built in 1942
and was a place where people
from culture and arts stayed and
made various stories. The old
building was re-opened in 2017
under the name Artspace
BOAN1942 as a new complex
building maintaining its identity.

Urban Transformer & Professor Kim Jung-Bin of Seoul University and the Dutch Embassy in Seoul introduced the
process of creating seven urban regeneration places in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Arnhem in the Netherlands and
the stories of nine people.

This exhibition showed not only the urban regeneration cases of the Netherlands, but also the background,
values ​and role of creative urban regeneration spaces created by people from various fields. They hoped that this
exhibition will not only introduce the case but also provide inspiration and clues to the future for those who dream of
making a 'good place' in Korea.
Prof. Bin Kim &
Initiative Group, Urban Transformer
Destination
4) De Ceuvel

1) Haarlemmerstraat Netherlands

Amsterdam

2) De Hallen

3) OT301

Rotterdam
5) 169 Klushuizen, Wallisblock

Arnhem 7) Arnhem Fashion Quarter

– Modekwartier

6) Fenix Food Factory

People & Interview

Street Manager Spirit Father Social Developer

- Nel de Jager – Pieter Jongelie – Berry Keseels

The interesting thing about the Netherlands case is that both private
and public (government) are full of willingness to cooperate with
patience to develop and look at the area with a long breath.
Artist with Action Archi-Educator Process Manager
– Ivo Schmetz – Ineke Hulshof – Frans van Hulten

Neighborhood Architect Archi-preneur Catalyst Brewer

– Andre van Stigt - Sascha Glasl – Tsjomme Zijlstra
1) Haarlemmerstraat (Amsterdam)
Haarlemmerbuurt(neighbourhood) is located in Amsterdam-Centrum and as it is in the
North West of the central station, train line passes through the area.
The road from the beginning of Haarlemmerstraat to Haarlemmerplein (square) at the
end of the street is about 890 meters long where over 250 stores are set close to one
another along a 5 meter-wide road.
It is a small neighborhood yet filled with a variety of shops. Those include not only
cosy cafes, bakery, restaurants operating by cooks from all over the world but also
shops specialize in clothes, home décor, craft shop, art product, movie film, and wine.
Moreover, daily shops such as super market and pharmacy are located.
There is no large SPA brand which people can find in other cities easily, the
area has an authentic atmosphere with mixture of shops that fulfil the
residents’ daily need and attract tourists.
In 2012, Haarlemmerstraat, the winner of ‘the best shopping street in
Netherlands’ (Leukste Winkelstraat), is not just a commercial street with some
small and big shops. It is a street remade by a strong socioeconomic group of
shops and residents to create placeness for the whole neighborhood.

Street Manager
- Nel de Jager
2) De Hallen (Amsterdam)
Unique cultural space is situated in Amsterdam. That space is De Hallen
where tram garage was transformed. De Hallen is the first tram garage built
in 1905 and is the only place maintains original form of historic tram cargo
till today. It was used as garage over a long period of time till 1996. However,
the place has been no longer used as garage since trams do not fit anymore
due to its bigger size along with development of technology.
In 2014, De Hallen was transformed and reopened as a cultural space. The
building was transformed and reopened as a cultural space. The building retains its
historic forms of 1900s, which are the exterior and the unique internal structure of
the garage where halls are attached closely to one main passage. Unlike the
remained form, program of the building was altered to include a variety of functions
such as food court, library, hotel and craft shop for welcoming people to stay and
enjoy.
Even the building is now located in the central part of the city, it was not before as
the city was not sprawled like today. De Hallen was the central point in the area
then. Therefore, it undertook responsibility for offering a job and a place for
community gathering. In this regards, De Hallen has been the important place for
the community.
Today, it is the place where a lot of people come and visit. In order to become
how it is now, it went through very bumpy ride. It had lots of fails which gave
a chance to try varied methods. The reasons why De Hallen is unique are not
only because of well-maintained exterior and internal structure but also the
role of its transformation process.
3) OT301 (Amsterdam)
In 1960s, Amsterdam had been through serious problems of housing shortage and
vacancy due to speculation. Young and poor artists and social activists in Amsterdam had
carried out their culture and art activities by squatting vacant building in the city.
In 1998, one group of artists squatted empty hospital building, OLVG (Onze Lieve
Vrounwen Gasthuis) located in Amsterdam-Oost. OLVG quickly became haven for many
other artists. In the building, they made workspace and gallery and organized varied
events. Vegan kitchen ‘De Peper’ was opened and a lot of people were gathered at the
night party which took place every day. Squatting that were started with 10 people quickly
got bigger to have around 100 people. However, in 1999, they faced eviction as OLVG got
reconstruction permission.
Hence, some registered artists of OLVG made a new organization in order to draw up a
plan to squat another place within the city center to make it as an alternative culture and
art space. First of all, they, together with remained 20 ~ 30 artists, organized EHBK
(Eerste Hulp Bij Kunst) association which means ‘the first Aid for Art Society’. EHBK
discovered old film academy building situated in Overtoom 301, Amsterdam Oud0west.
The building was empty for about two months as film academy moved out to the city
center. Since the building was used by film academy, the building consists of theatre,
sound studio and hall which were tremendously attractive to artists.
Therefore, EHBK decided to squat the building. On November 14th 1999, finally, they
trespassed on the building which they named OT301. This is how OT301, the
producer of experimental and independent culture and art as the nucleus of
Artist with Action
subculture in Amsterdam, has started.
– Ivo Schmetz
4) De Ceuvel (Amsterdam)
Utilization of underused space is also big issue in the field of urban regeneration. In the case
of underused spaces located in the city centre, they receive public attention. So that, there
are flourished ideas how to utilize it as well as many people wish to develop them.
However, a lot of underused spaces are inaccessible unlike the ones in the city centre
and the government does not have enough capacity to find the best suitable ideas for
all underused spaces. In this regards, as an alternative, the government invites ideas
on utilization of underused spaces through a tender. By holding a tender, the
government gathers creative ideas and young people gain an opportunity to realize
their ideas.
De Ceuvel in Amsterdam is a project occurred in a polluted underused space which was
once a closed dockyard in a twilight neighborhood. The city of Amsterdam government
wanted to regenerate the surrounding neighborhood by utilizing the underused space where
De Ceuvel is now located. For this, the city government invited tenders for giving a
mission to transform the space to an office area for creators along with the right to
use the space for 10 years to the winner.
The group of 7 people from varied fields, including architect, artist, workers of creative
industry and even chef, won the tender, They transformed the space creatively with limited
period for using the space and insufficient budget. De Ceuvel was a place people did not visit
even it is near to the city center.
However, today, De Ceuvel is a vigorous office area for workers in creative industry, a
place for Dutch hipster and, at the same time, a testing ground for technology of
sustainable energy. Consequently, people, nowadays, go across the river to visit the
north side of Amsterdam.
5) 169 Klushuizen, Wallisblock (Rotterdam)
The architect who was responsible for the 169 Klushuizen Wallisblock, Ineke Hulshof, said
that “I thought of a project renovating buildings with future users, but at first no one
believed it”. She sued to work on construction project together with future users, but it was
the first time to renovate the existing building in this way.
Not only Ineke Hulshof played a big role but also Frans van Hulten who is a consultant for
project process. In the early 2000s, when they investigated on the efficiency of
constructing a new building together with future users, they came across the question of
“can we adopt this method on the exiting building?” Their answer was to try the way they
just thought of and 169 Klushuizen Wallisblock could have been developed.
The way of renovating building is to make future users’ own house with DIY(Do It
Yourself) method along with the help of professionals. In order to carry out the
project in this way, the future users have to obtain corporative ownership on
neglected or deteriorated building and, consequently, through the process, they are
under legalistic control and have to take responsibility to renovate the building.
Wallisblock was in a bad shape and had been through a variety of problems such as
drugs and unlawful occupants and so on. However, when the project was
completed, it became a dream home for 42 families and it helped to revitalize
Spangen where the building is located.
6) Fenix Food Factory (Rotterdam)
Fenix Food Factory shows possibility of private actors in urban regeneration.
Katendrecht, where Fenix Food Factory is located, is in south of Maas river in Rotterdam.
The area had been known as notorious area for alcohol, prostitute and crime since
before the Second World War.
In this regards, a large Dutch developer, Hijmans, Woonstad Rotterdam and the city
government made partnership in order to regenerate the area.
During the development process, due to the finical crisis, Fenix 2 warehouse could not
be developed.
Instead it looked for temporary activities for vitalizing the neighborhood. At that
time, people who were looking for a place for their own businesses such as
brewery and café and so on rented Fenix 2 warehouse.
As a result, they transformed Fenix 2 to ‘Fenix Food Factory’ which has character
of eating and drinking space. Today, this place became food hall and event space
and the most popular place for people in Rotterdam.

Catalyst Brewer
– Tsjomme Zijlstra
7) Arnhem Fashion Quarter – Modekwartier (Arnhem)
Arnhem Fashion quarter was urban regeneration project which had a goal to
circulate fashion industry in the area for revitalization by attracting graduates from
ArtEZ (Institute of the Arts) and other people who work in fashion related industry.
This project took place in Klarendal located in the north-east side of Arnhem where
has about 7000 inhabitants and has been known as an area of workers with long
history.
In 1950-60s, the area was the center of art along with many art performances and
exhibitions. However, it got poorer since the 1970s in earnest, as residents who can
make a lot of money left the area and the poor could not leave.
Since then, the area was aired on the news many times about its varied crimes
such as drug and alcohol. So, it was branded as a dangerous place to people.
Through Arnhem Fashion quarter project started in 2005, Klarendal was able
to be a safe and vibrant area where has more than 50 business of fashion
designers and creative people.
This was possible with the efforts of initiative, Pieter Jongelie, and Volkshuisveting
Arnhem (Housing association Arnhem). As a result, Arnhem Fashion quarter project
became a successful regeneration case received two awards: ‘the Golden Phoenix’
for the best area transformation at The National Renovation Platform and a
prestigious award ‘Golden Pyramid State Prize’ in the filed of area development in
2013.
1) Let’s share your cases of urban regeneration in
your city or country
2) Let’s discuss what would be important to create
a sustainable model of urban regeneration
3) Anything to want to discuss more!