Robbert Jan van der Veen: ‘Urban planning schemes are no more complex than they used to be’

Robbert Jan van der Veen graduated in urban planning from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). He founded the urban planning practice plein06, through which he worked on projects such as ZOHO in Rotterdam and the Esplanade in Almere. In 2020, plein06 was renamed ECHO Urban Design, where Van der Veen is a partner and creative director.

Van der Veen sees a shift in priorities within contemporary urban planning. “In the post-war city, safe and efficient traffic flow was a priority. Today, social and ecological concerns take centre stage. When such themes become more prescriptive, that does not mean other issues become less relevant. It calls for a reordering of priorities.”

Are urban planning schemes becoming too complex?

“Urban planning schemes are no more complex than they used to be. With several transitions taking place simultaneously, it may seem that a great many issues have converged, all of which need to be addressed underground, above ground and within buildings. But this is nothing new. Throughout the centuries, during major upheavals and revolutions, cities have also had to contend with transitions in industrial, ecological, social, transport and economic terms.

“It is true, however, that many Dutch cities have reached their limits, and we can no longer—and must no longer—encroach on the open landscape. This means increasing urban density. It is a complex process, but no different in principle from that of the compact cities of thousands of years ago. Roman and Greek cities had ingenious water systems, flexible (semi-)public spaces, diverse building typologies and an adaptable urban layout that could accommodate further densification through well-considered dimensions and a clear street network.”

Is a good urban planning scheme a flexible one?

“A good urban planning scheme is tailored to its context, sensitive to local conditions and a political instrument. The level of detail can vary according to the scale. I see plans in which building dimensions and massing are defined precisely, the architectural style of the façades is prescribed and the public realm has already been fully designed. At the other end of the spectrum are urban planning schemes that leave a great deal open, merely indicating building plots within which buildings may be positioned. The degree of freedom allowed is a political choice.”

“In the past, when laying out new urban areas, we could weave in robust green structures. Now we have to look for opportunities within the existing urban fabric.”

What challenges does urban planning face today?

“Green space must have a place in every plan. This results in an urban landscape in which green spaces are distributed relatively evenly but remain fragmented. In the past, when laying out new urban areas, we could weave in robust green structures and clearly defined traffic systems. Now we have to look for opportunities within the existing urban fabric. This leads us to transform industrial estates, harbour basins and former railway marshalling yards. As a result of market liberalisation, this challenge now falls to developers and builders driven by profit.

Does private interest dominate the public interest in urban planning?

“In many places, the government has stepped back from urban design. Municipalities draw up environmental visions and development frameworks, and the market fills them in with ‘neighbourhoods’. What remains is a patchwork of isolated urban planning schemes. Market pressures also tend to preserve a particular typological approach: typically, a continuous, socially oriented green outdoor space at neighbourhood level, surrounding infrastructure with a mobility hub serving the neighbourhood, and a number of mid-rise residential blocks set in greenery.”

“The government should pay greater attention to carefully considered design that connects different scales.”

“The result is a fragmented urban landscape. Yet in a densifying city, maintaining control over the details that give the city coherence and legibility is crucial. The government should therefore pay greater attention to carefully considered design that connects different scales and enables good transitions between buildings and outdoor spaces.

“In addition, it would be beneficial for architectural practices to assume greater responsibility in the role of building contractor. They would then manage and contract subcontractors, as is already common in countries such as Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, allowing them to retain control over design, quality and delivery.”

Affordability and the housing shortage play a major role in discussions about architectural quality. How do these issues relate to urban planning?

“High construction and living costs make area and project development more difficult, while so many people need affordable housing. Both municipalities and market players are placing strong emphasis on affordability and feasibility. The same was true in the 1920s and 1930s and again in the 1980s. These periods are precisely the ones that drive innovation, standardisation and efficiency, but they also carry the risk of diminishing spatial quality, for example through the use of standardised, factory-made products.

“In some cases, this efficiency supports faster construction, higher sustainability targets and affordability. But when there is little choice in building typologies and residential floor plans, opportunities to achieve higher quality are missed, particularly at the interface between buildings and outdoor spaces. This is an area in which the government should exercise stronger oversight.”