RAUM Utrecht conference: Onze Stad, Ons Canvas

On Thursday 20 April 2023, RAUM Utrecht is organizing the second edition of their annual conference “Onze Stad, Ons Canvas” (“Our City, Our Canvas”). The focus of this edition is on how creative rules lead to more connection within the city.

Together with the Open Cities Platform, [urban interfaces] organizes a creative workshop “I spy with my little eye and the rule is ……” In this walking-thinking workshop we explore together the immediate environment of RAUM. What written and especially unwritten rules determine how the space is designed, how it is used and by whom? How do these rules consciously or unconsciously guide our behavior? While walking through the environment, participants are invited to share what they see from their own perspective, background and experience. On the basis of this collective inventory of visible and invisible rules, we then enter into a conversation: which of these rules stand in the way of a livable and inclusive public space? And how might we hack or redesign some of these rules in such a way that they actually contribute to an open city?
This workshop is organized in both Dutch (11:00-12:30) and English (14:30-16:00). Keep an eye on the weather forecast and bring rain gear and/or umbrella if necessary.

What can you expect?

— Keynotes by (inter)national pioneers Raymond Ramdihal (Freedom City Festival Utrecht) and Fran Edgerley (Assemble, architecture and designcollective from London and Turner prize winner)

— Creative workshops by and deepening conversations with one of our partners STIPO (team for urban development), Creative Bureaucracy Festival (Berlijn) or Open Cities Platform (Utrecht University).

— Stroll around with Utrecht Expodium and think about what the city would look like without rules

— Meet, connect and share your experiences, successes, and fuck-ups with professionals at Wijkrestaurant Venster

The conference is in Dutch, but some workshops are offered in English.