Week 17: Workshop with inhabitants 50+

A shortage of local amenities, especially shops, remained a crucial point raised by everyone, from young children to adults. The site is clearly zoned as a ‘park’. This means it cannot later be used for construction. To remedy the lack of shops to a certain extent, an area of the park could occasionally be used for a market and as such put on the wish list. Initially, the group was only barely interested in designing something for the elderly.

But after consulting them (Arnold Ruijter 65+ submitted his wish after seeing their design with a note: “The ideas the children have come up with for the age category 50-100 are very dull and standard.”) the imagination did loosen up and they came up with an underground parking garage for scootermobiles (drivers could then use a lift that came out next to the fountain), swings for older people (a public variant of the rocking chair) and a special toilet users have to clean themselves (otherwise they can’t get out!).