Around the table!

Around the table!

Ideas for a better The Hague

Thursday 3 June
Lange Voorhout, The Hague

The Hague is growing. The city is considering expansion of its harbour, following other world cities the Spui square is supposed to become a large cultural forum, and traffic is since recently diverted around the city centre. The accessibility and design of the city are determined by the ambitions of the city council, which subsequently hires architects and designers.

‘Around the Table!’ offers creative people and civil servants who live and/or work in The Hague the opportunity to exchange their views about the city’s future in an informal way. On 3 June they will enter in discussion along tables underneath the trees along the Lange Voorhout. The participants will determine the exact subjects, but they should lead to ideas for a better, nicer, more beautiful, cleaner and more clearly defined The Hague.

At the call for entries to creatives and policy makers in The Hague to propose a subject of discussion for the day, 52 responses were counted. A selection was made of the best ideas for a better, nicer, prettier, cleaner of clearer The Hague. Following, the creatives and policy makers were matched together and they were being notified about with whom they would be sitting around the table.

At 3 June, 17 policy makers and 17 creatives took place at lunch tables at the Lange Voorhout. The conversations were engaging; the couples had interesting discussions that lead to surprising and relevant outcomes. While discussing, the table cloth was used as a sketching paper so that anything that came up during the discussion could be written down.

Look here at the resulting table cloths.

Who was discussing what with whoom?
Juan Gisbert de Elio | Van Heerden & Partners
with policy maker Albert Koolma
Idea: Greenplan for The Hague city centre

Mark Graafland | Bureau Kroner
with policy maker Christine Langerak
Idea: urban planning research into a new Spui theatre

Lana du Croq | Ellerman, Lucas, van Vugt
with policy maker Richard Kleinegris
Idea: new housing types in old office buildings

Niek van Vugt | Ellerman, Lucas, van Vugt
with policy maker Tanja ten Berge
Idea: a 'city director' for The Hague

Rene Schuffelers en Roel Wijnterp | Studio Uberdutch
with architect Maarten van Bremen
Idea: sequel for the initiative Around the Table

Vincent van Baar | Buro van Baar
with policy maker Gielijn Blom
Idea: planting of the roads to the dunes

J.M. van Dansik | Van Dansik
with policy maker Lucas van Velden
Idea: Talud housing for seniors

Marieke Tobias | Studio Tobias
with policy maker Ruud Ridderhof
Idea: strengthening the identity of Duindorp

Dora Urai | Dora Unai Vormgeving
with policy maker Marco Esser
Idea: a peace icon for The Hague

Thijs de Vries | Designgoed
with policy maker Gertjan Bunck
Idea: new play elements for children

Nono van der Veen | NoNonsense Architecture
with policy maker Almut Rowenkamp
Idea: community centres and hangouts for young people

Bram van der Meij | Tensen/ Moreira/ Van der Meij
with policy maker Engeli Kummeling
Idea: improving Transvaalwijk

Arn van der Pluijm | Urbanlink
with policy maker Tamar Post
Idea: open-source designing for public spaces

Froukje Sleeswijk Visser | Contextqueen
with policy maker Erik Ronsdorf
Idea: improving citizen participation

A. Mohabir en A. Ros | Groene zoenen
with policy maker Herman Heijkers
Idea: sustainability event

Tjitte de Jong | IbDH stadsbeheer
with policy maker Ageeth Ouwehand
Idea: improving temporary street furniture

Han Dijk | Posad
with policy maker Richard Moerenhout
Idea: alternatives for public transport