Placemaking Week Europe 2024 - Rotterdam

The notion of the 15-minute city has become a prominent approach thanks to its ability to create walkable and sustainable neighborhoods. Building on that approach, this 30-minute session aims to delve deeper into the idea of applying mixed-use and close-proximity principles on a smaller scale.

During the session, we’ll:
- Highlight case examples of the best mixed-use spaces we’ve seen yet
- Share concrete tactics for mixing up your places; combining offices with schools, shopping malls with libraries, and airports with forests.

This vision challenges traditional standards of zoning and spatial organization, advocating for a seamless integration of work, education, culture, play, and nature – within the same close quarters. At its core, the conversation is driven by the belief that by embracing the 1.5-minute place concept, we can create more inclusive, liveable and loveable places that enrich the lives of those having a relation to them.

How do we encourage organisations to see engaging communities around place as more than a ‘nice to have’ - or worse, as something to avoid for fear of basic design feedback? An answer may be in using market-focused organisational mechanisms such as ‘ESG’ and ‘corporate social responsibility’.

This session will highlight examples from Australia which we hope will bring new perspectives on engagement and community development, demonstrating ways projects can harness organisational aspirations and commitments around ‘the S in ESG’ (i.e. social impact) to help drive better local engagement and a more inclusive place outcomes.

The session will be focused on a new methodology designed to help organisations better understand what the new consultancy Amplifier Collective refers to as ‘the five P’s’ - place, people, policy, politics and partnerships - and drive more targeted local responses to social impact and engagement. These might include strategies and partnerships for purpose-driven procurement, community development, corporate giving/volunteering, creating employment pathways, and economic development – and importantly find
ways to build internal capacity to deliver places for people.

Through Sê Bairrista (a project developed by a consortium of an architecture office, NGOs, community groups, and public companies, and funded by European and national partners) R/C proposed the qualification of 5 public spaces in a municipal housing neighborhood in Lisbon for activities such as playing, cultivating, chatting, or debating, aiming to improve the quality of public space and increase social cohesion in its different dimensions: sense of belonging, relationships of trust between residents, and between residents and local institutions.
 
The project was monitored and evaluated by the Lisbon Institute of Social Sciences and had the following impact: 30% increase in trust in institutions; 26% increase in social cohesion and the feeling of belonging to the territory and the group; 29% increase in interest in participating in citizen initiatives; 32% increase in the frequency of use of public spaces.

With this short presentation, we would like to discuss questions of methodology of co-design and impact assessment involving different groups and local entities and the importance of design in creating a sense of belonging in the specific context of a municipal housing neighborhood.

In this concise 15-minute presentation, Bart Cardinaal will explain the discounted cash flow method to his 16-year-old daughter Twila, making this complex financial concept accessible and engaging for placemakers. The discounted cash flow (DCF) method is essential for investors and developers worldwide to assess project feasibility and returns.

For placemakers, mastering this method is key to understanding the possibilities of placemaking in large-scale developments. Bart Cardinaal will explain the DCF method in a relatable way by teaching it to his 16-year-old daughter, Twila, showing its value both professionally and personally.

Participants will gain practical financial skills that are directly applicable to their work and everyday life. And don't expect any pretty pictures or drawings in this session—just hardcore Excel and percentages! This presentation is a must for PWE '24, offering attendees crucial insights and skills to enhance their placemaking projects. The straightforward, hands-on approach ensures everyone walks away with a solid understanding of the DCF method.