Tim is project manager at Maastricht Lab.
WHY IS MAASTRICHT-LAB ESTABLISHED?
In 2012 Maastricht-LAB was established by the Municipality of Maastricht to give an impulse to urban (re-)development in Maastricht. The main reason is that existing structures and instruments for urban challenges do not suffice in the current social-economic context. Recent trends show that Maastricht is dealing with an economic decline and demographic stabilization. Also local citizens and local organisations are more and more interested in to influencing urban development processes. Maastricht-LAB is the tool for the city to stimulate the quest for new ways of urban development.
WHAT IS NEW URBAN DEVELOPMENT?
New urban development refers to new and innovative ways of thinking, working and organising of today and tomorrow’s urban challenges. Central themes are vacant real estate, repurposing of buildings, temporary usage, gradual transformation, sustainability and co-creation. The cooperation with (partly) new partners en local initiators is an important aspect of this. Maastricht-LAB experiments with new urban development by working on projects located in the city, such as a (vacant) building or area, a park or public space. Maastricht-LAB is involved in these projects as an advisor, intermediary or partner.