'Stadsatelier' as platform, designs for the city

Abstract

‘As Flemish Government Architect, you can weigh heavily on public opinion and on future Flemish policy, but at the urban level, as a quality controller, you are much closer to the realization on the ground. A strong relationship with the city council is crucial in this respect. Your mandate is given weight by the partners you work with and the way in which policymakers consider your role in the process to be self-evident. You provide arguments in a local dynamic that you usually do not control, but with the right backing you can steer the playing field. The arguments are important, but above all the conversation is indispensable. The ‘Stadsatelier’ (Urban workshop) in Ostend wants to be actively involved in organizing and keeping this conversation going. In my opinion, quality always exists by grace of a well-considered discussion. We conduct it internally among the members of the Stadsatelier, but also with policymakers, building promoters and other stakeholders. One hears what the other says. Intentions are expressed jointly. Shared ambitions are confirmed. New insights are applied. In this way, the Stadsatelier also becomes a platform for synergy within its own municipal services. It is a place where things can be questioned and where connections are made. Not only the word, but also the design is an important instrument in this. We are not a classic quality chamber. We want to weigh on the process as early as possible in order to create the conditions for a high-quality end result. From the start we renamed ourselves Stadsatelier. This means that we help to think about and design the city. We do this in both the short and long term. We give advice on current projects, but we also create a framework for future developments. We do this both technically and in terms of content. We supervise procedures to realize innovative housing projects on private and public land, and we carry out design research into the future of Ostend. Through the projects we set in motion a gradual transformation of the residential fabric. In the ‘Global Strategic Development Plan’ we outline the vision that underpins this transformation. It is a reference document that inspires policy and sets the tone for reflection on the city.’