What if lab
What if the industry stays in the city?
Space&Matter was invited by the Dutch Design Foundation's What if Lab to collaborate with Sweco on the question: What if industry stays in the city? When faced with multifaceted questions, the research introduces a multi-stakeholder engagement process, emphasising in-depth problem understanding and user input for socially valuable designs. We believe that combining desk research with the input of current and future users is essential for crafting spaces that meet their needs and harness the social values of the places we design for.
Aga Biedalak
Hannah Rudner
Bas van Bentum
What if Lab
Sweco
Stakeholder engagement
Cities have long been pushing industries away, distancing work and living areas, leading to social and economic challenges. Just societies require mixed-use neighbourhoods for job access, energy transformation, and circular economies. Through stakeholder engagement, involving the municipality, local businesses, and residents, we asked: "What if industry stays in the city?" Our key insight revealed that the primary challenge lies in managing the transitional phase, focusing on mobility in transformed industrial zones.
The Third Zone
Introducing THE THIRD ZONE concept—an innovative approach that introduces intermediary spaces between industrial and residential areas. These zones foster the coexistence of sport, culture, hospitality, and services, infusing places with temporal activation, social cohesion, and vibrancy, thereby initiating positive transformations within industrial neighbourhoods.
THE THIRD ZONE not only addresses the need for mixed-use neighbourhoods but also promotes inclusivity, circular economy and sustainability, making cities more vibrant, just, and environmentally responsible.
Events
The exhibition ran during Dutch Design Week 2023 with a presentation at the New Institute, and continued at Graz Design Month 2024 with an adjoining event, Kitchen Talks.
