Placemaking Week Europe 2024 - Rotterdam

This session explores the transformative practice of placemaking through a series of dynamic, TED-style talks. Each speaker will have 12 minutes to share practical examples and insights. They will illustrate the journey from conceptual inspiration to real-world implementation, highlighting how modest beginnings, like benches, can evolve into significant community landmarks and large project initiatives. This panel aims to inspire attendees with actionable strategies for creating engaging, functional, and vibrant public spaces. Let us discover how innovative placemaking can foster community connection and revitalisation on both small and large scales. Speakers are encouraged to share how they are applying the principles of placemaking on a larger scale. Please focus on one or two clear examples that outline the storyline and process, avoiding a broad array of examples.

Building bridges between people is crucial in today’s interconnected world. Trust and empathy are the foundations of these bridges, enabling us to collaborate effectively and create inclusive, resilient communities. Bridging organisations is particularly important as it facilitates the sharing of resources, knowledge, and best practices, fostering innovation and enhancing the impact of collective efforts. To foster these qualities, we must explore innovative partnerships that transcend traditional boundaries—not just between organisations but also across concepts and communities. For instance, how can the 15-minute city model, with its focus on creating accessible neighbourhoods, and tactical urbanism, through its low-cost, community-driven projects, empower individuals and communities to take ownership of their spaces? By integrating these ideas with broader strategies for trust-making, we can cultivate environments where collaboration flourishes, and empathy becomes the driving force for positive change. Additionally, building bridges across diverse communities encourages a sense of shared purpose and mutual support, which is vital for addressing complex urban challenges. When communities come together, they can pool their unique strengths and perspectives, leading to more sustainable and innovative solutions that benefit everyone.
Following a discussion on building bridges between organisations, communities and across concepts, we invite you and members of the audience to join us for our evening activity, the Empathic Debate Club. Here, we will delve into fun and thought-provoking debates centred around our four core festival themes. Together, we’ll explore the intersections and challenges that shape our collective future, and challenge ourselves to find common ground between polarised positions. Are you brave enough to participate in the debate?

Four core themes (for the debate):
(1) Creating place and making it last 
(2) Climate adaptation: together towards change 
(3) Living with water: the flow of the city 
(4) Local power and the battle of space