We need to talk about Quality: the Urban Workshop in Ostend and the Zilverlaan

Abstract

In 2016, the Belgian coastal city of Ostend put a plot of land on the suburban city fringe up for sale at a fixed price. This process was over- seen by the Urban Work¬ shop, a quality review panel composed of ex- ternal experts and local officials. Private devel- opers were invited to submit proposals fea- turing a high-quality design not only for the plot itself, but also for the neighbouring sites, which were occupied by a social housing association and a non-profit organisation providing supported living for people with disabilities. The neighbours joined in the selected design, and a unique collective housing project took shape – founded on shared added value and design quality. Stefan Devoldere, who chaired the Urban Workshop, guided the entire process and offers an analysis of how the tools employed influenced the final outcome, assessing their significance in comparison with the personal commitment of the actors involved.