The Role of Urban Quality in the Planning of International Business Locations: The Case of Amsterdam Zuidas

Abstract

Urban quality is increasingly considered important for long-term urban competitiveness. Diversity, in a broad sense, is an essential aspect of this. However, in the development of large-scale international business locations, urban quality may easily suffer from efficiency requirements. Based on an extensive case study of the Zuidas project in Amsterdam, this paper addresses the questions as to how urban quality, and in particular diversity, is taken into account in the planning of large-scale international business locations, which actors are responsible and to what extent they base their actions on a distinct long-term perspective on urban quality. It is concluded that even in such a prestigious, quality-oriented project the role of urban quality is not necessarily guaranteed; the paper therefore advocates a more flexible and open development process.

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank Luca Bertolini, Frank Bruinsma, Robert Kloosterman, Erik Louw, Hugo Priemus and the anonymous referees for their valuable comments on earlier versions of this paper. Furthermore, thanks are due to all the interviewees. The research on which this paper is based is co-funded by NWO-Connekt.

Notes

1. These entailed representatives of: Bouwfonds Property Development; De Architekten Cie; Dutch Railways, Department of Commerce; Fortis Real Estate Development; ING Real Estate; Municipality of Amsterdam, Development Corporation; Municipality of Amsterdam, Department of Spatial Planning (2x); Zuidas Project Office.

2. Despite these seemingly precise figures, it is difficult to say exactly how large each project is and what its functional mix is. Both are subject to continuous changes as plans are adjusted to changing insights, market conditions etc., and because both may be calculated in different ways (e.g. including or excluding certain fringe areas). However, these figures provide a good indication and a basis for comparison.

3. Quotations are taken from authorized interview reports and translated from the Dutch.