The New School Graduate Program in International Affairs

Begins	30 Apr 2009 - 6:00pm
Ends	30 Apr 2009 - 8:00pm
Location	66 West 12th Street. Room 510

The Graduate Program in International Affairs presents;

Dutch Spatial Planning and Hierarchy: Making Differences, Think-Do-Act and Renewed Reactivism

A Presentation by Henk W. Ovink

Thursday, April 30th

6:00 - 8:00PM

66 W 12th Street, Room 510

 

With a large portion of its territory located below sea level, the Netherlands is among the most vulnerable countries when it comes to the effects of climate change. Bordered by the river Rhine and Maas, the Randstad faces multiple complications in the shape of shifting urban spaces, rising sea levels and global warming.  In an effort to mitigate these effects, the city has embraced a strategy to recalibrate Dutch urban planning in order to account for the potential effects of climate change.  As countries throughout the world struggle to adapt to the effects of climate change, what lessons does the Dutch example hold and how might it be applied in other environments?

Henk Ovink, the Director for National Spatial Planning and the Director of Research, Design and Strategy at the Dutch Ministry of Environment, will present on the long term vision of strengthening the Randstad, and broadly on the individual qualities of cities.  He will present specific themes and methodological concepts that are aimed at accomplishing this vision.  These include; an ideological shift towards emphasis on making real differences instead of accepting mediocrity; the think-do-act normative approach; and renewed reactivism.

 

Henk W Ovink serves as the Director for National Spatial Planning and of Research, Design and Strategy at the Dutch Ministry of Environment (VROM).  In his position as director, Mr. Ovink is responsible for all aspects of the spatial planning process including strategy, design and research & development.  As advisor to the Minister of VROM, Mr. Ovink directly consults on the long term strategy and policy for the Randstad (Randstad2040), the new Architecture Policy (a culture of Design), the new Planning Act (Wro) and the Research & Development Agenda.  In addition, he advises two chairs at the University of Utrecht on planning issues, as well as on design & politics at the Technical University Delft. Mr. Ovink has also given numerous public lectures and presentations about these pioneering efforts.

 

For more information, email gpiaevents@newschool.edu