Community Planning Weekends deal with urban development issues, ranging from site-related designs to structural concepts for entire parts of a town.

Non-local, independent chairpersons and planners supervise a process of communication between highly varying interest groups which may have had opposing agendas for a long time – be they residents, planners, investors, politicians, administrative bodies, public authorities, associations and societies. Preliminary talks and preparatory steps help establish a climate of trust in which, during the public Community Planning Weekends, all parties constructively cooperate towards realistic attempts at a solution.

During the following days, our interdisciplinary on-site team will produce a synthesis of all the suggestions, condensed into an integrated vision for the site from an urban planning, socio-ecological and economic point of view. This result, plus the means by which it was achieved, will be presented publicly on the fifth day of the Community Planning Event– a memorable moment for all. In the final presentation, the participants experience their individual contributions as a piece of the puzzle that is the bigger picture. This paves the way for a co-operative and speedy implementation of the vision.

During Community Planning Weekends, things are moving incredibly fast, thus creating the impression : where there’s a will, there’s a way. In this sense, the method also works against the political apathy. Everyone can experience that commitment is worth it, and that their actions help to make seemingly deadlocked circumstances mobile once again.

In addition, every Community Planning Weekend is a contribution towards a new planning culture which could be dubbed the Third Way: a case of neither “top down”, nor “bottom up” but of “integral win win”.

→ To the project reports
→ Download Community Planning Weekend Brochure
→ Download Community Planning Weekend Flyer
→ Download De Bouwplaats Flyer [dut]
→ Download Community Planning Flyer [it]