Newsletter August 2016


> International New Town Day
Videos Now Online <

On June 30th, INTI brought together speakers from 12 New Towns on 4 continents in the Netherlands. During the conference, city representatives, academics, architects, sociologists and planners discussed the priorities within the New Urban Agenda for New Towns worldwide.

Innovations and challenges were discussed in cities as diverse as Tema and Ningo Prampram (Ghana), Guangming (China), Nakuru and Tatu City (Kenya), Spijkenisse (Netherlands), Vinge (Denmark), Aspern Seestadt (Austria), Alamar (Cuba) and many more.

Click here to see the conference videos on the INTI website.

The priorities for these existing and future New Towns within the New Urban Agenda include:

> Use no universal model and no export of urban models: <

There is no one-size-fits-all model for New Towns. Models from one part of the world don’t guarantee success when exported to another part. Local capacity building is necessary, so any country can develop its own urban models, based on local culture, climate, politics, social needs and financial possibilities.

> Emphasize innovation: <

The nature of New Towns is forward looking, with an emphasis on innovation and experiment. This ambition is optimistic and should be fostered. For future New Towns this means looking for inventions, not only technological but also social, cultural, political and financial innovation. New Towns are excellent laboratories for implementation of the New Urban Agenda.

> No city is an island: <

Reinvention of the existing New Towns requires re-evaluating the position of the city in the region and nation, and the changing relation to the mother city. Future New Towns should be based on a national spatial policy and not be planned as an isolated project.

> New Towns should be inclusive: <

Because contemporary New Towns are mostly undertaken as commercial projects they are often not able to provide for the lowest incomes. There is a need for new financial models to achieve inclusiveness. In the Global South there is a need to incorporate or facilitate self-built settlements, since they will make up the largest part of urbanization.

> Infrastructure and mobility for all, from the start: <

The urban plan should not only cater for cars, but also for slow traffic, carts, bicycles and pedestrians. The provision of public transport from the immediate start of development has proven to be a main factor in the success or failure of New Towns.

> Plan for flexibility: <

The urban plan should be flexible, adjustable and able to cope with new insights and developments over time. A lack of reserved space, possibilities for transformation and adjustment will threat any New Town with becoming outdated soon.

> Adopt green and water networks as the basics for the urban plan: <

In the light of climate change and ecological threats, the importance of a network of green open spaces and water is of the utmost importance. This network should underpin every urban plan, combining ecology, flood prevention, water retention with public space and leisure.


> Combine top down and bottom up: <

New Towns are the product of a top down approach, with a fixed relation between the residents and the government or private party developing the city. To become more sustainable and fair, and to unleash the vital dynamics that can develop the city, New Towns should provide for a more inclusive and participative approach.

> Regeneration based on existing qualities: <

Older New Towns share a lack of diversity in housing, services, cultural and commercial facilities, and a lack of jobs. The regeneration of these cities needs to take into account the local culture that has developed and build on the characteristics and qualities that exist.

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Excursion to regeneration projects in New Town Hoogvliet

This International New Town Day 2016 is the start of an exchange platform. It aims to produce realistic and concrete future projects by creating partnerships between New Towns.

During Habitat III in Quito, INTI organizes an event showcasing these new partnerships and starting the actual implementation of the New Urban Agenda. What are the innovations that New Towns are developing and how can they share that with other cities?

Excursion to the transformation of Hofbogen Viaduct, Rotterdam

Curitiba is a forerunner when it comes to waste management and recycling, and especially in effective social campaigns and strategies to make recycling successful. Almere aims to become a zero waste city. Can Almere tap into the successful innovations that Curitiba already developed? Guangming and Tatu City are both eager to improve the ecological quality of its green spaces and its water network. Dutch New Towns and engineering firms have a lot of experience in dealing with water management. Can Guangming and Tatu City profit from this knowledge? Ningo Pram Pram proposes new flexible urban planning principles. Are they useful for other cities developing in the Global South?

Next year, the International New Town Day will take place in Milton Keynes, the city which is celebrating its 50th birthday in 2017.


If you want to be involved in the Quito event (17-20 Oktober) or in next year’s International New Town Day (June 2017), please contact info@newtowninstitute.org