Resilient Neighbourhoods

How can residents and alliance partners work together on creating resilient neighborhoods? And what does it mean to be resilient? Is it watering your neighbours plants when they’re away? Or is it alliance partners who fix broken street lights for safety? 
 
The Municipality of Amsterdam and her partners in the alliance want to get a better understanding of resilience, how it shows up in neighbourhoods and what it means to their residents. De Nacht Club is the social design agency that took on this challenge - and invited me to lead a group project in Amsterdam-West. 

We focused on the Delflandpleinplein, a neighbourhood in Amsterdam-West. At its heart lays the blue Delflandplein square, a place that could be the vibrant heart of the neighbourhood, but currently looks forgotten. 

We took to the streets to portray beauty of the square: the citizens who visit their sqaure. While they sat down and posed for us, we spoke to them about resilience, public space, ownership and their connection to the neighbourhood. They spoke freely and honestly - which helped us reflect and get a better understanding of their experiences. Their statements led to the ‘Honesty Shoppers’: a collection of shopping bags inspired by the colors of the square with graffiti text expressing their statements. Given back to the community, these bags now help citizens feels seen and heard - while in the meantime they serve as a tool for the Municipality of Amsterdam to see where they can improve resilience. 

All research was presented in an exhibition that opened on the square and is currently travelling through Amsterdam.