- Arts Contributes to Liveability in Carnisselande    click here to open paper content595 kb
by    Nijenhuijzen, Aafke | aafke.nijenhuyzen@xs4all.nl   click here to send an email to the auther(s) of this paper
Short Outline
Arts, in different forms, can contribute to quality in fast growing urban areas. This case study shows the results of an Art plan, the works of art and the role of art in the process. Art is in this case not only a decoration of public space.
Abstract
In 1993 the municipality of Barendrecht, a quick growing village south of Rotterdam, got the commission to build 10.000 houses, a plan called Carnisselande. The municipality wanted to do it very well in all respects and to avoid clichés of gray and monotony. In the Dutch planning tradition it is customary that when developing new residential areas also place bound art works have to be realized (like statues). In 1998 two artists got the commission to give an advice, an Arts plan, for Carnisselande to contribute to its identity. They called the result “The Elastic Perspective” because the plan is made for 10 years and has to be flexible. This Arts plan must not culminate in a static plan as an extension of the spatial plans. Then works of arts would be reduced to 'decoration artworks of public space'. They consider the social context very important. They defined the following six dimensions in their plan: the historical, planning, architectural, social dimensions and the dimensions of landscape and environment. For every dimension or scope, they formulated a number of descriptions. An Arts Commission implemented the plan. Right now the result is visible and the plan is ‘finished’ after nearly 15 years. It resulted in 25 works of arts. The results are not only statues but also films and an outdoor theater performance. Carnisselande is a beloved and award-winning residential quarter.
I want to show the results of this plan and the role of art in the process of getting a good urban area.

Keywords
Art, social process, quality urban area
Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2012: Fast Forward: Planning in a (hyper) dynamic urban context
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