5 August 2025 – To mark the 750^th anniversary of Amsterdam, the Association of Friends of Amsterdam’s Inner City (VVAB) is organising an international conference on the historic city as a source of inspiration for urban renewal, in collaboration with the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism (INTBAU).

Where large-scale plans – such as the Canal District, Plan South and the General Expansion Plan (AUP) – once created a structured and humane environment, we now see a colourful patchwork of unrelated buildings. In the rapidly growing residential areas of Amsterdam-Noord, for example, the city is in danger of losing its cohesion, and we are currently seeing something similar everywhere else in the Netherlands.

The new neighbourhoods follow the road pattern of the former harbour areas and are being developed in plots. The utilitarian character of the harbour landscape was never intended as a residential area and does not in itself provide the basis for a comfortable residential city. But urban planning is also minimal. The quality of the buildings and public space is at odds with privacy requirements, sustainable use of materials and living comfort.

Is this the inevitable outcome of our times, or can we learn something from the ‘European city’ in this respect?

Under the title The art of building cities, a return to the human scale, architects, architecture critics and urban planners discuss the quality and direction of current urban development. Architect Hans van der Heijden has invited designers and researchers from across Europe to participate. Two internationally renowned keynote speakers will present an alternative. Based on his extensive study of the tradition of the European city, Milanese architect Prof. Vittorio Magnano Lampugnani will talk about his urban design practice. Prague architect Prof. Miroslav Šik will focus on architecture, seeking connections with historical urban images in his research, teaching and design practice. The full conference programme can be downloaded here.

After their lectures, they will engage in discussion with colleagues and new voices from home and abroad.

 

Conference The Art of Building Cities, a return to the Human Scale 

Thursday 18 September 2025
KeizersgrachtkerkKeizersgracht 566
Amsterdam

You can register here.