Post-Growth City
Post-Growth City
Design research for a sustainable and just city beyond the economic growth paradigm.
Goal
A design research into whether a fundamentally different form of urban development is possible that goes beyond the current economic growth paradigm of our society and city.
Result
A research report that consists of a historical perspective, a diagnosis of the current system, a manifesto with 10 principles, an Action Agenda with a roadmap, and conclusions for the next steps.
Research partners
Gemeente Amsterdam, Gemeente Rotterdam, Independent School for the City
Thinktank
Arda Basak, Christian Lamker, Jan Jongert, Crelis Rammelt, Edwin Buitelaar, Maarten Hajer, Theo Stauttener, Erwin van der Krabben, Atto Harsta, Sanne van Manen en Marleen de Ruiter
With support of
Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie
BURA
Marco Broekman, Jordy Stamps, Yunshih Chen, Frank de Boer en Bruna Pessoa
Crimson
Ewout Dorman, Mike Emmerik, Annuska Pronkhorst, Michelle Provoost, Simone Rots, Wouter Vanstiphout, Cassandra Wilkins en Oscar Vaessen
Post-Growth City is a self-initiated design research project by BURA and Crimson, focused on creating a sustainable and just city. This research approaches the design of urban regions in a fundamentally different way, searching for methods of development that reduce the dominant influence of economic growth, while making room for other forms of growth.
When we critically examine the field of spatial development, with the knowledge that CO2 emissions in the Global North must be reduced to zero by 2030, it becomes clear that the sustainable plans we are currently making are simply insufficient to meet this ambitious goal. With this research, we aim to create open mental space to better understand how spatial designers and urban planners can contribute to a truly sustainable and just city, and to engage in an active debate on the subject.
Post-Growth City is not a standard research project, but an exploratory and agenda-setting initiative that raises new questions driven by societal urgency. We recognize that within the current spatial-financial system, we cannot move forward with our projects in terms of social and sustainable ambitions. Post-Growth City explores a fundamental alternative and a new moral ambition for urban planning, illustrating how spatial design can increase its impact on society.
The research focuses on three main themes: Land and Value, Material and Space, and People and Planet. These themes help us organize six spatial-financial themes that highlight the system’s flaws, the ten design principles that outline the contours of the Post-Growth City, and the measures from the action agenda that link these principles to practical application.
This research was developed in collaboration with the municipalities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, various experts, and with support from the Creative Industries Fund.