Jurriaan van Stigt column
Once upon a time there was a city with a housing shortage. They made a beautifully ambitious plan, brimming with optimism. A new world in which the inhabitants were central. It had to be done quickly because the need was great. The builders saw no problem, but because it involved 13,000 homes, it had to be modular construction, because otherwise it would not be affordable.
They got to work and, well, the modular construction turned out to be 25 percent more expensive. The decision was easily made and some ideals just had to be changed: no communal facilities, no street on the sun side and no large number of lifts. The greenery also had to be simplified, because park maintenance was a bit expensive. And so they built those 13,000 houses at a rapid pace. But, how crazy! The residents that had been built so quickly for did not come, while they were such nice large houses. What on earth had they forgotten? The connection with the city, public transport, facilities and schools. Eventually they did get there, those residents, but they in turn were used to a completely different living environment. After 20 years of hassle, the city decided: we have housing, but no community, so we're going to try again. And so they started to demolish and rebuild, without discussing it properly with the residents. The builders happily cooperated again in demolishing and changing. Once again they had the highest word: oh, how stupid we were then, but now we really know how to do it. No problem, they were allowed to make a quotation for the new plans. Now, another 20 years later, there is again a housing shortage, and once again the builders know what to do. We can easily build 100,000 homes! But with modular construction, otherwise we won't make it. It can be done very cheaply and much faster, and also produced sustainably. Perhaps, dear minister, we should learn from the mistakes of the past. And, oh yes, that city was Amsterdam and the Bijlmermeer was the district.