which involve people making use of

empty properties and projects of adaptive

re-use of vacant buildings according also

to the new needs of immigrants and elder

people.

It implies we, as young planning profes-

sionals, have to look at new forms of deci-

sion making, social networks, alternative

production methods and new concepts of

habitat: the formulation of new relations

and ideas. Such new ways of planning and

design also demands of us to reformulate

notions in regard to ! nancing, property

and responsibility.

This also asks for a shift in role, engage-

ment and responsibilities of the public

institutions, real estate companies and

project developer in managing the emerg-

ing dynamics of transformation of the city.

A cooperation between all these actors is

fundamental for the formulation and im-

plementation of a strategy for small scale

and progressive transformation of the

urban environment. In Trasnvaal we will

work to activate this transformation.

I WISH THIS WAS

I wish this was…And the story begins. It is

the story of a place and of what it could be

in the future. In Transvaal there are many

vacant and unused spaces. There are also

many people who need and want things.

The planning professionals could play a

meaningful role in listening, understand-

ing these di" erent hopes and imaginations

and translating them into the space.

The key word in this process is transforma-

tion. Not only the transformation of the

use and of a space but also the

transformation of concepts and values.

This is translated in activating vacant

buildings or making wastelands produc-

tive, using temporality as a strategy in

transformation process, changing our

perspectives on planning.

In terms of housing strategy this approach

can take the forms of restoration projects

that have to respond to the impacts of

climate change, to improve the energy-ef-

! ciency or to install forms of energy micro-

generation; self-help housing solutions

TRANSVAAL

Transvaal is a multi-ethnic area in the

Hague with about 20,000 inhabitants. It

was built as an extension of Hague be-

tween 1890 and 1935. In the 50s and 60s

the community was divided into streets

where Roman Catholics and (separately)

Dutch Reformed families lived. Foreign

immigration began in the 70s; currently

the 90% of the inhabitants are immigrants

(Turks, Moroccans, Surinamese and Antil-

leans). The district had to contend with the

stigma of being an ‘impossible commu-

nity’. Since 1999 The Hague and housing

corporations have worked together to

“restructure” the district. This projects

called for the demolition of 3,000 rental

dwellings and their replacement with

1,600 dwellings, 70% owner occupied.

Transvaal today is an area undergoing a

radical, long-term transformation. Dutch

urban policy has shifted from urban re-

newal (rebuilding) to urban restructuring

(a more comprehensive approach).

The focus of Dutch urban renewal was on

providing housing for ethnic families but

this have contributed to segregation.

Current e" orts to achieve income and

tenure mixing are likely to succeed but

they probably will not lead to ethnic mix-

ing. The Hague is marketing itself as an

interesting multicultural city: Toronto and

American Chinatowns are used by The

Hague planners as models of the type of

multiculturalism that the city is trying to

attain.

URBEGO AND IFHP

The International Federation for Hous-

ing and Planning (IFHP) is a worldwide

network of professional institutions and

individuals of many signatures active in

the broad ! elds of housing, urban devel-

opment and planning.

Currently IFHP is facilitating the develop-

ment of Urbego , a platform for young

planning professionals (<35 years old)

to discuss and share knowledge about

urban issues, to engage new generations

as agents of change in planning and to

provide a space for young professionals in

the international planning debate.

Urbego aims to provoke a re" ection on

the future role of planners in the changing

context. The network is also an opportu-

nity to create synergies and work together

on speci! c development projects and to

create a new intermediary body which

has the capacity and the commitment to

develop collaboration or partnership with

private actors or public institutions.

WORKSHOP PROGRAM

Within the framework of the IFHP Housing

Conference 2013 in The Hague, Urbego,

Staedion and The Hague Municipality

organize a ! ve days’ workshop on an hous-

ing case study. The workshop participants

will present their proposals and ideas

for the area during the Conference on

the 14th of February. The workshop will

explore di# erent scenarios for the transfor-

mation of the physical environment and

promoting cultural exchange among)

• a junior consultants (participants)-

clients(local authorities) relation

•an opportunity to contribute to a local

decision making process and at the same

time to take part to an international

debate

APPLICATIONS should contain a short

CV and a motivation letter. The applica-

tion should be sent to: g.maci@ifhp.org or

j.milder@ifhp.org

Deadline for applications is 20 January

2013

Successful applicants will be informed by

30 January 2013

For further information, please contact

g.maci@ifhp.org

young professionals from di# erent coun-

tries and ! elds (architecture, planning,

housing policy, geography).The group of

young experts will explore and rede! ne in

creative terms the nature of the relation-

ships that take place between di# erent

social groups and the physical space, un-

derstanding the users’ real needs and the

aspirations of the local stakeholders.

The participants have the possibility to

join the neighborhood assembly, meet lo-

cal and international housing experts, local

and NGOs political representatives. The

characteristics of the workshop are:

•diversity of participants’ pro! les: profes-

sional/study ! elds,nationality;

•young age of participants (<35)