Podcast review by Jol Abels
Many events in public space that we as Dutch people consider normal stem from laws and regulations about this public space. Legislation determines the (im)possibilities and can therefore leave an enormous mark on the atmosphere and culture of a city or community. For example, did you know that street artists in Paris can audition to perform in the metro halls? And that there is a rule that espresso must be able to be ordered for €1 in every Italian café? In the new podcast series 'algorithm of the city', the most remarkable international rules are discussed and it is investigated whether they could also work here.
Figure 1: Cover of the podcast. (Source: RAUM)
The company behind this podcast series is RAUM, a foundation that is already working in many ways to change the view of public space in the Netherlands. They do this, among other things, through the cooperation with the Berlinplein in Utrecht around the Leidsche Rijn area. With the square as a living lab, creative placemaking is tested: How can a public space stimulate community and encounters? How can we use that space to learn things from and with each other? Around this, they offer a growing community the opportunity to contribute to the transformation and multifunctional use of the square. For example, local residents can organize their own initiatives for the square, there is a community café and there is also this podcast.
Figure 2: Berlijnplein Leidsche Rijn. (Source: Jelmer de Haas)
In the podcast, various themes are addressed with varying compositions of speakers. Each episode works from a different case from abroad in which regulations have had a positive influence on community building. This is discussed with both (experience) experts and stakeholders, with an emphasis on solving problems from the residents themselves: a bottom-up approach. In the episodes, personal experiences are shared, the speakers dream of solutions together, and concrete examples are given of how things are done differently in other countries. Due to the unique set-up of this podcast, you as a listener are taken to think beyond the well-known framework of the Netherlands. The stories all show that so much is possible with each other when the conversation is entered into, and freedom is created. In this way, nuisance from street musicians becomes an opportunity to connect, or parking spaces can be formed in swimming pools. Within the jungle of current policy and regulations, this way of thinking stimulates people to keep dreaming. The sky is the limit. Without this being at the expense of the more down-to-earth side of spatial planning. Policy protocols, tipping drawings of examples from abroad, or reasons why this is not (yet) possible in the Netherlands are discussed in detail. Still, as a listener you are left with a euphoric feeling about the opportunities and malleability of life. And it is precisely this playful enthusiasm that is so necessary for every designer. You would prefer to let this podcast be heard by every despondent designer, to be able to talk perspective again.
Figure 3: De podcast makers in the studio. (Source: RAUM)
The episodes lack some structure. In some episodes, this leads to the conversations being dominated just too much by personal anecdotes or that there is too much discussion among themselves about utopian dream images. In these cases, the episodes could have been more compact to avoid the desire for meetings or kitchen table conversations. Still, as a designer, it is stimulating to hear these stories from all points of view. That is what makes the podcast unique: the speakers all sparkle with enthusiasm as only pioneers can. And they are: the producers of the podcast all contribute to Berlinplein in their own way and experience on all sides what it means to think outside the box. And you can feel it.
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