Smart concepts for families in the city

Ad de Bont, partner of Urhahn Urban Design & Strategy, is teaming up with the Van Leer Foundation to explore ways of creating more family-friendly cities. Ad: “Families are the canary birds of the city. If they start leaving, it is a sign that something is wrong in the city. This has been the case for many years. But in recent decades, more and more families have started leaving the city. There are simply not enough affordable single-family homes in our cities.”

Those who can afford an expensive single-family house stay in the city. Middle-class families who cannot afford that, but have the money to move, leave the city. Families who cannot afford both are forced to stay in the city. Crammed into small, often poorly maintained homes that do not contribute to one’s health. Feeling unsafe is another reason for leaving the city.

The family as the bedrock of society
Ad says: “It’s really odd that we no longer have an urban living culture in the Netherlands. The period from the Housing Act of 1901 to the interwar years was characterized by relatively urban development. However, the Garden City Movement saw a growing anti-urban sentiment and a push for suburban green spaces. The Dutch residential areas of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s were designed according to the neighbourhood concept. With lots of greenery, light, air and space. And the family as the bedrock of society.”

De Bont believes our task is to bring the suburban ideal to life within an urban setting. This doesn’t mean building traditional ground-oriented single-family houses with their own parking space in front of their door. Instead, it is about designing urban communities that feel more human in scale. With affordable homes large enough for (starting) families. A safe public space and ample amenities nearby. This requires smart concepts and ingenious housing typologies.

Focusing on smart city design
“The mental and physical health of our children is declining,” says Reina de Kinderen, Stakeholders Manager at the Association of Collaborating Health Funds (SGF). “Social networks are very important for children. They need to be able to go to school on their own and play safely outside with their friends.” Ad adds: “It’s therefore important to create movement networks for children. In a 15-minutes city. Where living, working and amenities are no further than 15 minutes apart. With green, car-free zones around schools.”

More families in the city also calls for smart and affordable housing typologies. For example, the 75 m² starter home has that extra little room, allowing young families to stay in the city longer. Easy access to a shared outdoor space is essential. With connections between the different floors. Another solution is stacking single-family houses with raised residential streets.

Behavioural and cultural change
Marcel de Ruiter, ESG Manager at VanWonen: “It’s not only about how you design the city, but also how you live in the city. This is almost a behavioural theme. It’s not enough to just build single-family homes in the city. We also need to add something that draws families into the city (again).” Benedict Kraus, Tender Manager at VanWonen, adds: “It is very difficult to realize the suburban ideal, a house of 150-200 m², as a family apartment in the existing context. We all know the high cost per square meter in our cities.”

Benedict continues: “Over the past few decades, we’ve grown accustomed to having more and more space per person. I believe a cultural shift is needed as well. If you want to live in the city centre, you will have to live in a more compact apartment. But with access to a lot of shared space outside of the home, fostering a sense of community and social sustainability.” Reina says: “A lot of people in a small space can feel very cramped. However, the strong sense of community that develops in these shared (outdoor) spaces fosters that people look out for one another.”

Bringing back inclusiveness
An attractive and safe neighbourhood, where people help each other, contributes to a pleasant living environment. Marcel: “In recent years, we have created neighbourhoods that are very multifunctional. We want to recreate this sense of inclusivity in the city. You do that by involving (future) residents from the very beginning. Together, you can find answers to questions like: ‘Who are you building for? How are you building? And what impact does it have on the neighbourhood?’ These are key themes for social sustainability.”

“Make it possible in a physical sense as well,” Marcel continues. “Ad just mentioned that we’re allocating 37.5 square meters per home for car parking. Let’s do the same for play areas and green spaces.” Benedict adds: “Inner-city areas demand highly customized solutions. The public space is limited. We need to think outside the box and offer alternatives.” De Bont: “This can also be achieved with rooftop gardens, wide walkways around the apartments, or a residential street on the seventh floor.” “Providing ample play space is crucial to getting our kids outdoors again,” adds De Kinderen. “This is where they come together and social cohesion is created. If parents can keep an eye on the play area from their home, we will be one step closer to creating a healthy generation of city children.”