On various sites in Amsterdam a transformation is occurring. Oostenburg, the Cruquius, Centrumeiland, Buiksloterham and Osdorp; these areas used to be business or (former) industrial areas or undeveloped building sites, but now they are changing from monofunctional areas to lively, diverse neighbourhoods where people work as well as live. Arcam is involved in making these neighbourhoods, as co-producer and connector of stakeholders and between the different areas. In addition, the changing role of stakeholders is analysed. A flexible, more organic way of building is encouraged by the municipality, so that development plans are more sustainable for an uncertain future. Loose ‘rules of the game’ are established, but no strict building laws. In addition, ownership of space is increasingly fragmented, divided over corporations, self-builders, municipality and private parties. But who, with a retreating municipality and the restricted powers of building corporations, is still responsible for the quality of the development of the area as a whole? And who organises this development?

It is also identified which identities steer the development of the areas. The Buiksloterham, for instance, is a pioneer area, where new forms of energy supply and other infrastructure are experimented with. In the Cruquius the topic of development is building with nature, to provide an urban milieu where human, animal and plant can live alongside each other. Centrumeiland has another unique position: this newly constructed island is meant to be an extension of Ijburg, but due to the crisis the developments here have momentarily been cancelled by the municipality. Arcam collects alternative ideas for the development of this as of yet undeveloped peninsula without a history, in the hopes of finding a suitable destination for this new plot of land. All these areas thus present special insights into new, changing forms of area development.

After the analysis of these areas, Arcam brings together professionals, stakeholders and those interested at themed evenings, where the different areas will be addressed and compared. Here, the knowledge gained on the diverse forms of area development will be exchanged, and the questions asked by Arcam on identity, quality and organisation of these developments will be answered.