WS Development’s Post

HOW TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL INNOVATION DISTRICT? At the Dutch real estate fair Provada yesterday, two sessions stood out for their focus on innovation districts. AM Vastgoed presented plans for the station areas in Zwolle and 's Hertogenbosch, highlighting how these areas are being reimagined to drive future growth and innovation. In a seminar hosted by Arup, attention was given to innovation areas in transition, with a primary focus on the development and challenges of innovation districts. It became clear that creating such districts is no straightforward task. It requires a long-term vision and a great deal of flexibility. The Netherlands is witnessing a surge in initiatives to develop innovation districts. This concept resonates well because it aligns with the needs and expectations of young professionals regarding their workplaces. However, given the complexity and significant impact of these projects, it is essential to carefully consider the actual development opportunities before proceeding. Innovation districts are not merely about constructing new buildings but involve creating dynamic environments that foster collaboration, creativity, and sustainable growth. The sessions at Provada offered invaluable insights into the essential elements required for a successful innovation district. This includes integrating community needs, ensuring multimodal accessibility, and maintaining affordable space for start-ups and small businesses. For those interested in the practicalities and strategies behind creating thriving innovation districts, follow this link to an article that explores the key requirements for a well-planned innovation district: https://lnkd.in/etRFZX3c Shortly summarised: Key characteristics of innovation districts include dense, mixed-use environments that connect educational institutions with entrepreneurial entities and are well-integrated with transport and digital infrastructure. Economic viability demands a solid foundation of innovative companies and start-ups. The physical environment must also support high-density, compact areas facilitating interaction and collaboration with multimodal accessibility and multifunctional public spaces. Management and organisation are essential, requiring public-private partnerships and a clear, flexible long-term strategy. Ultimately, the feasibility and potential of innovation district initiatives in the Netherlands can be accurately assessed only through thorough analysis. Paul Jansen Vivian Scheepers Benny Ng, PhD Marcella Wiffrie Marius Woldberg Walter Stam Paul Guldemond Ralph Geers #InnovationDistricts #UrbanDevelopment #RealEstate #Provada #AMVastgoed #Arup #SustainableGrowth #YoungProfessionals Photo: Belval Innovation District, Luxembourg (copyright iStock / Jacques van Dinteren)

“Irresistably exciting” and “an industry of enthusiasts” is how Jane Hutchins describes working in science innovation, and I could not agree more. What a time to be alive! Spent the day in Cambridge for the Cambridge Wide Open event, and a few things stood out for me - signposting is such an underrated activity, yet it’s transformational for innovation clusters. Just knowing where things are. Even just putting pins on a map, giving people an excuse to pop in. We are all busy, and need that push. I’m a big fan of ecosystem maps. - This Cambridge ecosystem continues to feel to me like a tight-knit village, in a good way. Very connected. The same stories are celebrated across different parts of town by different players. Seemingly unencumbered by competition. Maybe there’s more than enough going around for everyone? - getting around the city, however, can be a challenge for the uninitiated/ not-with-car, and so I didn’t pack in as much as I’d have wanted from this trip: maybe do this event over two days next time? - really interesting slick presentations at The Bradfield Centre and warm community feel at Canopy (CISL) this buzzy and BREEAM excellent retrofit which is home to 20 Sustainability startups. They got their furniture from the second-hand market yet it feels so curated. They fought hard to keep existing floors. It turn out that great sustainability credentials are less about great technological inventions and more about standing your ground with contractors when they say “it would be easier/cheaper/faster to get a new floor in”. How did they do it? Speak to Zoë Loughlin to find out, and the story about their reception desk is pure gold, literally. #cambridgewideopen #cambridge

Much needed, a new City in Bradfield over 50 years is not an ambitious enough time frame given the affordable housing crisis in Sydney., vagueness on the amount of affordable dwelling set aside on "Public Land", the "gold standard" by the Mayor of London is up to 50% must be set aside on surplus London council land sold off suitable for residential use. New construction methods must be considered in "speed to market" that is sustainable; the emphasis should be on a more "walkable new city", creating a series of urban villages connected to heavy railway stations. One of my past major urban project involvements as Executive Chairman was a master planning and development strategy for a new Eco-City in Central Asia. A planned new midrise apartment walkable eco-city (a grid plan with light railway ) of up to 400,000 people in stages over 10 years, 1st stage is a destination Resort/Casino of up to 1m sqm=$7bn (plus accommodation for 12,000 permanent staff $2bn), and a new International Airport out to 40m+ passengers per year, 1st stage up to 12m Passengers per year, A380 capable in this stage $3bn. #sydney #bradfield

So nice to see this work on integrating human activity with nature.

In our latest Collabor-eat by Arcadis, we focused on urban development with our partners and clients. The question of the day: How can we optimize and kickstart a long-term vision via short-term quick wins? During the session, my colleague Jo Van de Sype stressed the importance of smart and sustainable city planning with the incorporation of quick wins to make complex urban projects less overwhelming and to achieve results with a faster turnaround. To give a tangible example, peter tanghe, Project Manager at Stad Kortrijk, shared how the Casino and Conservatory Square project fits into the bigger picture of revitalizing Kortrijk's city center. Discover some highlights in the video below. 👇 #CollaborEat #UrbanDevelopment #CityPlanning

Helsingborg has a brand new Centre for Innovation – Parken. When we say we are one of Europe's most innovative and sustainable cities, we mean it 🤝 Parken, located in Oceanhamnen, will be the meeting place for the public sector, businesses, and academia - a place where we can shape the future through innovation and collaboration. Parken's inauguration highlighted the dedication and strives Helsingborg has already made in the way of innovation initiatives and sustainability. A newly developed and electrified mobility solution from The e-Miles Company was showcased. With its 3D-printed and different design, it could shape sustainable urban mobility of the future. Want to know more and be involved? On March 5, in collaboration with Campus Helsingborg, Lunds universitet - Parken will host Forskardagen 2024, a practical example of how research and innovation are connected and can contribute to developing the city. 📖 Read more about Parken here: https://lnkd.in/d2jj4fP9 📅 More info and sign up for Forskardagen 2024 here: https://lnkd.in/dhKq83je #Helsingborg #HelsingborgInnovation #SustainableCities #UrbanInnovation #CollaborativeInnovation #FutureMobility #SmarterCities

The CTBUH Americas Conference in Miami was an enlightening experience, beginning with the CTBUH Leadership Meeting on day one and the launch of the City Advocacy Program, which its aims to address key challenges facing global cities, including density, urbanization, climate resiliency, social equity and housing. My key takeaways from the conference include: - In Singapore, 80% of housings are public housings, highlighting the importance of public housing in addressing housing needs. - Miami has 80% low density zone, indicating a need for densification strategies to accommodate growth. - Toronto is focusing on adaptivity and sustainability in housing to meet future needs. - London is working towards creating a resilient, green, and adaptive city. - Miami emphasizes the importance of transparency and predictability in urban development. - Singapore prioritizes connectivity and community creation in finding solutions that work for the community. Overall, the conference provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing cities today and the importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing them. #design #construction #architect #engineering #dvocacy #global #cities #density #urbanization #climate #resiliency #sustainibility #decarbonization #social #equity #housing #ctbuh #americas #miami #realestate #building #developer

Check out this testimony by the occupant of our very first oPEN Lab dwelling under renovation, a privately owned dwelling in the Garden city of Waterschei, Genk: "Honestly, I wasn't into energy efficient living at all. It wasn't until we bought our new house, this house, and I came into contact with Stephanie that I started thinking about it. And yes, heat pumps, solar panels: that's the future. I definitely don't want to go back in time, but look into the future and move forward" Some take-aways: 👉 Offer trust-worthy renovation advise through renovation coaches such as Stebo vzw to help end users understand their options and increase their renovation ambitions 👉 Make use of pivotal moments such as buying or inheriting a property 👉 Invest time (and in our case: coffee and waffles ☕🧇 ) in convincing end-users, it does pay off! Stay tuned for more updates from our #livinglab! oPEN Lab - Stebo vzw - Stad Genk - VITO - EnergyVille

(Washington Post Week in Ideas) Europe has something far more enviable than historical sites and good cheese: its streets. "Compared with the United States, European cities tend to be more walkable and pedestrian-friendly. Rotterdam gave its post-war roads back to cyclists. Paris converted an expressway into public space. Dublin banned automobiles in its city center. These efforts make streets charming and vibrant — and also make them healthier. Many of these European initiatives were made possible thanks to a significant historical advantage: urban design that predates the automobile. That’s harder to apply to for sprawling, car-centric U.S. cities." https://lnkd.in/gU4DZNwe

Curious about the intricate connection between cities, wellbeing, and culture? Professor Ricky Burdett and author Paul Goldberger offer a deep insight into the interplay of them. How exactly do cities shape our lives and communities? This enlightening video invites you to explore the symbiotic relationship between architecture, societal wellbeing, and the cultural fabric that defines our urban environments. 🔗 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/eUNBZxBt