Sub>urban puts the fringe on the Urban Agenda
Edited on
15 July 2016Since 1 January 2016, The Netherlands preside over the European Union for six months. Making Amsterdam not only a political hotspot, but according to the website ‘Europe by People’ also “the cultural capital and inspiring example for our society, by providing solutions for everyday living and being a canvas on which creatives and citizens can paint a picture of Europe’s future.” The perfect spot to get sub>urban noticed. And so we did.
A new complex urban puzzle on the horizon
The post war fringes are ready for a new interpretation in order to counter suburban sprawl and stimulate compact cities. These areas are in need of renovation, due to their age, function or energy norms. Now is the time to take this opportunity to add amenities, improve public space, dissolve barriers and add quality, adding up to a stronger identity.
But how can interventions be made and new quality introduced? A hard question, with no easy answer. Therefore the perfect focal point of a debate evening amongst experts in urban planning and an audience of interested people. Hosts of the debate were lead partner of sub>urban Isabelle Verhaert and lead expert Maarten van Tuijl.
“What is the urban fringe? I don’t know”
“If there is one idea that lingered on in my mind after the debate it is the illuminating perspective of Ivan Tosics”, Isabelle says. The URBACT programme expert starts his remarkable introduction on reinventing the fringe by answering his own question: “What is the urban fringe? I don’t know.” It is a continuous search to define and capture the essence of the transformation of the urban fringe. The experts and the audience experienced this by reflecting on the theme from different angles and cities. Sub>urban as a network of nine cities not only puts the topic on the urban agenda, but also deepens this urban blind spot.
Get inspired
Don’t worry if you have missed this first public event of sub>urban. You can relive the talk of Ivan Tosics on YouTube.
Or if you like to read, we can warmly suggest our Book of Ideas: 
sub>urban. Book of Ideas. Sustainable Solutions for the Urban Fringe.
Sustainable solutions for the urban fringe is the fourth lecture in the series of the Flexible City at Pakhuis De Zwijger in Amsterdam. The event took place on May 26 at 8 p.m.
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