Prototyping Degrowth Urbanism

Reimagining long-term resilient neighborhoods

Creative Industries Kick-start Grant Scheme | Stimulieringsfonds | ongoing

This project translates post-growth and degrowth literature into concrete urban design strategies focused on long-term resilience and independence from economic growth. Aiming to inspire urban professionals and city-makers, it proposes urban degrowth as a necessary future. The project contributes to a slowly expanding body of knowledge, by providing studies on the Rotterdam context to support other designers in building upon the post-growth paradigm, and encouraging them to experiment with degrowth-oriented interventions.

As a preliminary study, the kick-off phase develops three speculative design scenarios for a Rotterdam neighbourhood: (1) Informal Collectivisation of Civil Society, (2) Community Land Trust, and (3) Neighbourhood as Eco-Village. Using scenario thinking and a research-by-design approach, the project merges academic theory with potential urban interventions. It produces practical tools in the form of a booklet/pamphlet to inspire, educate, raise awareness. An additional project goal is to establish a network of future implementation collaborators by disseminating the material generated by this initial phase.