‘LÜLEBURGAZ BISIKLETE BINIYOR – cycling for a better city’ is an integrated cycle strategy and road map for the city of Lüleburgaz, which functions as a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive urban development. In 2017, this medium-sized municipality organized the ‘Cycling Year’ with around 50 activities to promote acceptance of cycling with the emphasis on women. Sustainable Solutions (NL), Artgineering (BE) and Novusens (TR) are continuing the ambitions of the municipality and are developing a cycle plan where they will connect the creative ‘hubs’ in the city. These hubs are the seven social-cultural academies around and in the city centre: ‘Lüleburgaz Stars Motor-Bicycle Academy’, ‘Lüleburgaz Stars Women’s Academy’, ‘Lüleburgaz Stars Football Academy’, ‘Lüleburgaz Stars RC Circuit’, ‘Lüleburgaz Stars Art Academy’ and ‘Lüleburgaz Stars Swimming Academy’. On the basis of three workshops, an integrated framework will be drawn up, comprising three components: A) ‘hardware’ with the infrastructural elements, B) ‘software’ with the cultural, social and religious aspects, including a communication plan and C) ‘orgware’ consisting of an organizational and financial plan. In phase 1, the first two-day workshop will take place in Lüleburgaz, in which relevant policymakers, engineers, urban developers and creative entrepreneurs will participate. In addition, the municipality is planning on introducing a smart bicycle-sharing scheme. The team will investigate which system provides the best solution specifically for the location and will explore this with the users and visitors to the seven academies.

‘Izmir Metabolic Cycling Network’ (IMCN) is a design-based study by FABRICations (NL) and WRI Turkey Sustainable Cities (TR) in which bicycles are seen as a force for sustainable urban development and a way of tackling issues such as waste, gentrification and improvement of the public spaces. The ‘Izmir Sustainable Transportation Project’ by WRI Turkey Sustainable Cities concluded that the inhabitants of Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey, have a strong requirement for better cycle infrastructure. IMCN aims to reinforce this infrastructure by adding various functions to it. During the start phase, the team will analyze the mobility flows based on data collected, carry out field research and organize a workshop. In the subsequent phase, a series of local workshops will play a central role and the team will develop two end products: an interactive city map with the new cycle network and the key locations and an augmented reality interface app to involve the public and stakeholders in the spatial design. The municipality, the Izmir Tarih Project Center/Izmir Tarih Design Studio, TARKEM Association of Kemeralti Tradesman, Izmir Bicycle Association, BISIM Izmir Bike Sharing System and academics from Izmir High Technology University and Dokuz Eylül University will also be involved.

Play the City (NL) and the Faculty of Architecture at Mersin University (TR) are introducing an interactive method for city-making and are setting up the Toroslar Interactive CityLab in the municipality of Toroslar in the Mersin region. Since 1980, Mersin has become a destination for migrants and due to the uncontrollable population growth, various challenges have arisen, such as the social isolation of communities and the degradation of nature and historic areas. The municipality of Toroslar has asked Mersin University how they can create more social and sustainable awareness in inhabitants, investors and developers. In response, Play the City has become involved in the project. With the Toroslar Interactive CityLab, the team is aiming to influence the current practice of property development. In the lab, the team is developing an urban design vision for the archaeological district of Yumuktepe by the river Muftu. The vision will be translated into projects which can be worked on in the lab. With the help of the ‘city gaming’ method of Play the City, a broad spectrum of stakeholders – ranging from children, academics and local politicians to cultural organizations and urban developers – will be given the opportunity to have their say in an informal and playful setting and to participate in the public debate and decision-making processes. During the start phase, the game will be developed and the team will involve Dutch experts in the field of sustainability. The subsequent phase will include 6 game sessions with around 100 participants.

PALANGA is an innovative farming project in which agriculture, livestock farming, science, architecture and art will be integrated. PALANGA aims to create a new, lively, social farming experience and creative ‘hub’ which stimulates social, cultural and environmental awareness. This art and agriculture experiment is an initiative by filmmaker and artist Kutluğ Atama and covers an area of around 1,000,000 m2 near the city of Erzincan. Arman Akdoğan and Felix Madrazo – founders of IND [Inter.National.Design] (NL) – are carrying out design-based research into the possibilities and meaning of a sustainable livestock shed and development of the terrain. The start phase consists of the development of a concept. Here they will combine the latest technologies from the agricultural sector in the Netherlands with the best traditional farming methods in Turkey. The design is a pioneering project in terms of sustainability in Turkey, with the emphasis on recycling, reuse and the health and welfare of animals. The subsequent phase will involve working towards a master plan. Cultural programming forms part of this, in order to experience the area. Besides Turkish farmers, students and academics, various experts will be involved, including Kees van Reenen (assistant professor Animal Production Systems Group at Wageningen University), Peter Mensinga (multidisciplinary designer/engineer), Barış Samir (biogas/biomass expert) and Özgür Şahin (sustainable energy). Just as in many other Turkish farming cities, many young people are moving to the city for economic reasons.

Affordable Housing Casablanca is investigating housing solutions, in particular for rural migrants settling in the suburbs of the city of Casablanca.
At the moment, the ‘informal’ housing sector is larger than the legal new-build. The informal housing lacks well-considered spatial embedding, while the new-build neighbourhoods lack social embedding. The ultimate aim is to design the most tangible possible new urban expansion. The design of this new residential neighbourhood will provide an innovative angle on rapid urban expansion from spatial, social, cultural and economic perspectives. This project serves as inspiration but also as a tangible recommendation for the ‘Villes Nouvelles’. The start phase comprises a quantitative spatial analysis of old and new settlements and a process to identify regulations and opportunities for financing or co-financing. The study is in two parts: a quantitative analysis of urban phenomena and data and a qualitative analysis based on interviews, photography and descriptions. On the basis of the findings, a location will be determined. The implementation in the subsequent phase is an alternative, more social approach and elaborated design for a new urban expansion of Casablanca, taking into account the applicable regulations. Affordable Housing Casablanca is a project by bureau SLA in collaboration with Idmaj Sakan. This organization focuses primarily on the realization of low-income housing and is particularly active in rehousing the residents of ‘bidonvilles’.