Ground for Wellbeing
Project
The neighborhood Tuindorp Oostzaan was built 100 years ago consisting of temporary housing for workers at the NDSM site. Today, these characteristic houses are still standing, but they are suffering from soil subsidence. Some houses even have moisture problems on top of that, because the groundwater level is very high. The project 'Ground for Wellbeing' (Dutch: Bodem voor de Buurt) has been launched to make the soil more climate-resistant and to preserve this beautiful neighborhood for the future. The Creative Media for Social Change research group closely follows all the steps involved.
Bodem voor de Buurt (Dutch)
'Bodem voor de Buurt (opens in new window)' is researching ways to tackle problems in the neighborhood. What's important in all of this is that these solutions are appropriate/fitting for the neighborhood and its residents. The project also involves collaborating on the renovation of a specific square in Tuindorp Oostzaan, called 'het Plejadenplein'. Project partners are working with residents to create a design that makes the soil more climate-resilient while at the same time providing more plants, animals, health, and a nicer neighborhood.
Learning, observing, and listening
As a research group, we are involved by recording the evaluation and outcomes of the co-creation process within the project. Using visual methods and techniques such as photo reflection cards, video walks, and self-reporting, we capture the expectations and experiences of residents and project partners. In this way, we will follow all changes over the next three years from different perspectives. During the video walks, for example, residents show us relevant places in the neighborhood and talk about their impressions of the co-creation process. We share these videos with project partners in work sessions in order to jointly develop (new) insights with them that they can immediately use in the rest of the project.
Goals
In the first six months of the project, we saw that the relationships between residents, project partners, and the (proposed) measures are very important for the success of the project. That's why our research focuses primarily on those relationships between the three parties and the extent to which they change over time.
At the end of the project, we will produce a documentary, podcast, and exhibition to showcase the project's results to a wider audience. We will also share the lessons learned with other cities facing similar problems, because there are many places in Europe and around the world that need to address soil issues now that more extreme weather and longer periods of drought are a reality. In densely populated areas, it is an additional challenge to do this in a way that does justice to the people who already live there and want to stay. With 'Bodem voor de Buurt' we hope to contribute to this issue.
External Partners
The project bodemvoordebuurt.nl (opens in new window) runs from December 2024 to June 2028 and is funded by the EU (subsidy: European Urban Initiative). The project partners are: de gemeente Amsterdam, GGD, Amsterdam Weerproof, Waternet, Ymere, One Architecture, Muzus, Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Universiteit van Amsterdam, het Zoönomisch instituut, Kenniscentrum voor Bodemdaling en Funderingen. They are working together with the residents, entrepreneurs, and institutions of Tuindorp Oostzaan.
Project team
Nick Verouden (contactpersoon, e-mail: [email protected])
Yomi Hitijahubessy