intervention strategies for renovation of social housing estates

A Dutch case study. The Bijlmermeer, Amsterdam Zuidoost. Chapter 5
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
about 70% of the inhabitants in the high-rise buildings were non-Dutch (van Hoogstraten et
al, 2002).
According to Wassenberg, ‘most of the planner’s ideals changed into disadvantages’ (see
table in the previous page). Despite all the interventions realized so far, the bad reputation
of the Bijlmermeer is still unchanged. More has still to be done.
5.2.3) MOST RECENT ACTIONS
The Bijlmermeer is currently among
those areas of intervention selected
by the Big Cities policy (BCP). The
BCP aims to create ‘the complete
city’; a city with thriving economies,
jobs, pleasant living conditions, safe
streets and integrated communities
(Aalbers et. al., 2005). At the basis
of such a policy, there is the
‘integrated approach’ which combines
economic, social and physical
aspects 5 .
The Big City Policy is a matter of the
central government, but Dutch cities
have their own strategies and visions
in multi-years development
programmes. The cities can
designate target neighbourhoods
themselves. In this case, the local
government decides on which
objectives money has to be spent
whereas the single districts develop
and implement the plans.
In Amsterdam, the BCP is partly
based on the ‘Amsterdam Complete
Stad’ (Complete City). In this
document is described the seven
major city’s problems and the
corresponding proposed solutions.
The suburbanization of the middle
class has been classified among those
problems. This suburbanisation is
caused by the mismatch between
housing supply and demand, and
poor housing environment. The
identified and proposed remedy
consists of investments in demolition
and new developments, housing
rehabilitation and improving the
housing environment.
All the Amsterdam’s districts receive
funds from the BCP-budget according
to the stated priority. The Southeast,
thus the Bijlmermeer, has been
5 The BCP is based on four main pillars: employment and economic, physical developments, social and safety. For what
concerns the second pillar, among the others, it includes measures for the revitalization and restructuring of the
housing supply, fine-tuning open space planning and other physical interventions to improve safety in traffic, physical
environment and society.
12. E
THE BIG CITY POLICY
INTEGRATED APPROACH