Between dream and reality

Course Report by Jasper de Vries

Throughout history spatial planners, urban planners, designers and landscape architects have been occupied with (re)shaping space for the better. These plans were often infused with ideas of how one should live, behave, recreate etc. Influential movements inspired planners across the globe. Movements, groups, schools and associations like the CIAM, Bauhaus, Garden Cities or De Stijl had large impact on how our cities were shaped. While various nature conservation waves have resulted in the Naardermeer or the Oostvaardersplassen, and ideas on recreation and leisure in the 1970s resulted in large scale, easy accessible recreation areas such as Spaarnwoude and De Wielen. Maybe stronger than today, planners from these times were socially engaged and had a strong vision on how people should live and translated this directly to their designs in order to impact how the living environment of people should look like. And, more importantly to contribute to social improvement or uplift of the people living in these newly designed areas. Because, if the windows of buildings were smaller and could only be opened a little in the new area of Amsterdam-Zuid, Berlage thought, people would not hang out of the window and shout to each other or perform any other publicly unwanted behavior as seen in the Jordaan. 

In the Van Eesteren Museum (Amsterdam), ten plans from across the globe, developed by female (urban)planners were gathered. Looking at these plans the question arises what the original ideas were behind it, to what extent they are still visible and how do these plans respond to present day challenges such as climate change, social unrest or economic decline? Is the dream still alive or is reality cruel. This paper highlights the four projects selected by students from the course Concepts and Approaches in Planning Practice, their findings and creative products.

Eulie Chowdhury: Chandigarh 

Eulie Chowdhury is by many described as being among the first female urban planner of India. Inspired by Pierre Jeanneret, from 1951 to 1960 she was highly influential on the design of the city of Chandigarh. Started working from the idea of super blocks for this area, Eulie Chowdhury focused largely on urban areas that had a pleasant climate for its residents, resulting in buildings and public spaces with attention for ventilation. Building designs for instance focused on natural ventilation and limiting the effect of intense sunlight. Though revolutionary at her time, in present day parts of the city and buildings face a lack of maintenance. However, the areas are often still used as they were once designed. The ideas and vision of Eulie Chowdhury are captured by the first group of students in this video.

Source (left): Sarbjit Bahga, n.d.

Renée Gailhoustet: La Liéget

Renée Gailhoustet wanted to move away from standard building styles in the 1950s and 1960 in France. Le Liégat is a prime example of her thinking and ideas, where she herself lived for a long time. The aim of Gailhoustet was to design social housing in a intimate manner, where public fluidity within and around the building are key. This mend that the line between public and private is not always clear and that there are intimate green spaces. In current day the building is still there and recognizable, and for many a pleasant place to live. Rooftop gardens and green walls are still present, and while social structures of the neighbourhood changed, the building is still very much in use as it was planned over 50 years ago. Her ideas and work at La Liéget are creatively summarized by various groups in the form of a viewing box and puzzle (see pictures), a poem, and a video.

Source (left): Discover Paris!, n.d.

The making of the viewing box and the final result.

The viewing box from the highest to the lowest level (left to right).

Living homes – Le liégat

(1) In Oran, where the sun always shined,

her story began, full of warmth and hope.

From the busy classrooms in Paris to the suburbs beyond,

she imagined homes that felt alive,

where walls didn’t just divide but opened up to the sky and nature.

(2) Terraces full of plants,

gardens taking over concrete,

spaces where people could connect,

and nature made cities feel softer and more welcoming.

(3) Le Liégat emerges from the urban fabric,

a labyrinth of terraces and green spaces,

where walls do not divide

but flow into courtyards, into streets,

into the lives of those who dwell within.

(4) In the post-war period, previously,

Gailhoustet imagined something different from the customary,

homes that related to its residents, and to the city,

balconies full of plants and greenery,

spaces alive with creativity, full of connectivity,

a culmination of humanity.

(5) Artists once painted here,

in light-filled studios woven into the structure,

where concrete met imagination.

Children played in courtyards

that seemed to stretch endlessly,

blurred boundaries between private and public,

between one life and the next.

(6) Today, the building stands resilient,

its edges softened by the passing of years.

Some spaces are silent,

art studios now apartments,

greenery faded in places

but alive in others,

tended by those who call it home.

(7) Here, the echoes of Gailhoustet’s vision remain

fluidity, connection, participation.

Shared moments blossom in public spaces,

an open window connected to a courtyard conversation.

(8) As the future develops

The economic reality unravels

Those houses that stood tall

Are now wanting to fall

Yet the people remain

Fighting for Le Liégat's aim

(9) As they share in its vision

They work on various decisions

The ones above combine

They embrace the changes of time

Working as the economy whines

The many need work as one

To preserve the what has become

But the future is not yet won

(10) She wasn’t famous, but her ideas grew quietly,

spreading like roots underground,

showing us what better cities could look like.

Renée Gailhoustet created spaces that cared for people,

her influence lives on in every vibrant, green space her work has inspired

The puzzle

Jane Drew: Volta River project

Close to its capital Accra, the government of Ghana planned a new and modern harbor, the Volta River project in the 1950s. Part of the plan was to re-locate inhabitants of the village of Tema to create space for the harbor. Revolutionary for her time, Jane Drew designed the new village with chiefs and the residents of the, soon to be demolished, village of Tema. Guided by tropical modernism, Jane Drew aimed for a village that would fit everybody’s needs, sustainable designs and usage of local materials. Currently, the village has become part of the ever growing city of Accra. And, while the houses are used differently nowadays and informalized, street patterns are still visible. Most striking is however, the effects of climate change and erosion as the coast is slowly approaching the houses. This is nicely pictured by a video and visuals by one of the groups. 

The visuals to accompany the presentation

Blanche Lemco van Ginkel: Movement in Midtown. 

With New York becoming a city designed for the car, resistance was in the making in the 1950s and 1960s. Blanche Lemco van Ginkel was one of the urban planners resisting against car-centric planning. In her Movement in Midtown pedestrians were leading. The idea behind the plan was to exclude car traffic from the city and partly close Madison Avenue, with transport being organized through small vans, the Ginkelvan, accessible for everyone. In present day New York, not much is visible of the plan, as the plan was never executed. However, Van Ginkels key-argument to implement more green spaces, limit the space for cars and more attention for mixed land-use and public transport found its way in the public debate and how cities were planned afterwards. Experience the walkable city in Wageningen? Follow the tour!

From dream to reality?

Overlooking the four examples, surprisingly many plans, ideas and thoughts remained visible through time. Approaching this from a creative angle, truly brought to the fore the values and underlying dreams of these plans in a clear and accessible fashion. Although not all plans were executed, their underlying ideas found their way to other plans, designs and debates. Other plans changed as their usage changed, as the example from Ghana showed, contributing to their resilience. In other words, after so many years dream and reality are not that far apart. However, the cases also show that external forces like climate change pose a real threat and that themes like community engagement, importance of green spaces and livable car-free areas are still relevant today.