Empowering commons

Throughout history there have been many examples of a successful collective use of spaces and resources. Shared pieces of land, commons, had to be used in a balanced way to not become depleted, requiring specific spatial and social circumstances.

We are searching for fresh ideas on how to use this principle in the cities of today. How do we organize neighborhood collectives around energy, the reuse of water or the collection of recyclable materials? How can we make a viable connection between the initiatives of enthusiastic individuals and the directions the municipality wants to go? Can we collectively make a city happier and healthier? The question for an inclusive city calls for an integral approach encompassing research, policy recommendations and thoughtful urban design.

In cities the division between private and public space tends to be sharp; an increasing number of people lives alone while crowded public spaces are not always ‘social’. When too open, a city can evoke feelings of anonymity and indifference. In the inner city of Rotterdam lie many opportunities for the shared use of spaces that are now too broad and empty to use or not yet possible to reach. These can be smartly occupied and thus become key in organizing contemporary urban collectives, bringing people together in sharing and protecting values.