Participation: Stationskwartier Helmond
The work was carried out by Zet (wijzijnzet.nl), where I was employed from 2022 to 2023. On this page, I describe the project and my role.
We're almost a year into the Helmond Stationskwartier's participation trajectory. It's progressing successfully and with great enthusiasm. A new milestone has been reached: the first gathering of the Stationskwartier Denktank.
The municipality of Helmond is working to develop an appealing central area between Oranjekade and Suytkade for its rapidly growing city. A delightful blend of residential, commercial, work and leisure spaces transforms this location into the ultimate central and vibrant meeting point for Helmond and the region. The Stationskwartier plays a pivotal role in this endeavour.
In collaboration with partners, we organised the 1st and 2nd Stationskwartier Festivals on behalf of the Helmond municipality. A noteworthy outcome of these participation evenings was that 25 individuals spontaneously expressed interest in joining the Stationskwartier Denktank. This diverse group comprises residents, entrepreneurs, and community partners, all eager to contribute to the Stationskwartier's development actively.
The 1st Stationskwartier Festival
120 partners from Helmond convened to discuss and dream about the future of the Stationskwartier. "Start with a forest ranger." We embarked on this journey through participation, co-creation, and networking.
Over 240 individuals delved into the central question: "How can we collaboratively create a bustling Stationskwartier?" This evening provided ample opportunities to meet, network, and brainstorm, ultimately with the goal of active involvement.
Please see the Visual Report of the 21st Stationskwartier Festival for more information.
The 2nd Stationskwartier Festival
The first Denktank Meeting
The first gathering occurred at the Organ Museum, in the heart of the Stationskwartier. Alderman Erik de Vries extended a warm welcome to all attendees. Subsequently, the Denktank participants received an update on the progress of projects within the Stationskwartier and an overview of the area visioning process. Participants introduced themselves and exchanged ideas: why do I want to contribute to the Stationskwartier, and how can we collaborate most effectively? Practical worksheets were employed to visually represent the wishes and potential of Denktank and its members.
"I see a strong desire to think and contribute to the new Stationskwartier. It could use more life, and I'd love to be part of that."
"What a wonderful evening, and it's great that you're involving the people from the city so effectively."
"I appreciate your efforts to involve the people from the city.
Role
I was involved in the project by designing and assisting the organisation, particularly after the first Stationskwartier Festival. While a colleague from Zet coordinated the overall organisation, my primary focus was designing interventions, creating promotional materials for both online and offline platforms, producing visual reports, and contributing to the analysis of outcomes. Additionally, I regularly attended gatherings to guide and assist participants, ensuring the smooth coordination of the festival and meetings.
This project is a collaborative effort involving the municipality of Helmond, Glowingplaces, the Provincie of Noord Brabant, and Tom van Tuijn Stedenbouw.