by Nadine Roos Birthday present As a birthday present, I got a book that made me laugh, the 'architectuurgids Zoetermeer' ( Architecture guide Zoetermeer). Why did a dull city like Zoetermeer have an architectural guide? I got the book from an old friend. We both grew up in this Dutch New Town and don't remember this city as very exciting. Recognition But still, browsing through this book was a feast of recognition. My mother's house was pictured in it, as well as the parking-deck-houses, where I lived till I was nine. I started to look into this book with more interest. Quickly I stopped laughing. The book is intriguing. It is filled with architectural experiments. The city has been build with a contagious optimism and the ambition to build the best living environment. All the latest ideas and research were used by a whole interdisciplinary team of architects, urban designers, artists and civil servants. They even had an experience expert onboard. Overflowing city Zoetermeer was an answer to The Hague. In the 50's of the previous century, The Hague was a crowded city and didn't have enough room to expand. Inspired by the garden movement the urban planners wanted to free the working-class from the polluted industrial city and to offer them a pleasant, open, and green living environment. In 1962 it was decided that Zoetermeer would become the nucleus in which The Hague could overflow. Zoetermeer transformed from a village with roughly 8000 inhabitants into a New-town with 125.000 inhabitants today. Confusing While reading about the intensity of which Zoetermeer had been built I became more and more puzzled. A lot of the elements I strive for today were implemented in Zoetermeer. For example, I aim for greener cities. Zoetermeer is very green. I aim for more child-friendly streets, where the cars are less dominant and where kids have more room to play. Zoetermeer has child-friendly neighbourhoods called 'woonerven'. How then is it possible that a lot of people talk condescendingly about Zoetermeer. Why do I find this city oppressive? Oppressive principles The city has been built according to the principles of a city model. In the book 'welcome to the urban revolution' the author Jeb Brugmann describes this model. It means that neighbourhoods were planned and executed at once. They didn't grow organically and thus don't have a stratification. This means their flexibility is minimal. It doesn't matter that the architecture and urban design is experimental. The city is rigid. So, for future New-towns, we should lose the inflexibility while we keep the same optimism and urge to experiment. And for existing New-towns let's introduce a stratification and flexibility. This way they can become real cities, ones you can fall in love with.

How to make cities attractive for women We love the city as much as you do. They are places of great diversity, offering opportunities for everyone. But we believe that one major opportunity is not yet being tapped into, for public space is mainly tailored for men, while half of it's users is in fact, female. CIAM Think about it. From a historical perspective, cities used to evolve in an organic fashion without anyone really considering the underlying process. But the foundation of CIAM in the 1920's triggered a more strategic approach to urban development. Members of CIAM aimed to end the widespread existence of slums in European cities and started to actively plan out and design urban regions of the 19th century. Inspired by mass production they held the opinion that architecture had to be functional. From a man's perspective Now here's the thing. The urban planners and policymakers designing our cities for the last decade have predominantly been men. Not only have they thought about cities as mainly functional structures, but they also followed their own ideas and perspectives on what makes a functional city. Even with their best intentions in mind, it can't be denied that they have simply been designing for their own kind without taking the needs of other city users into account all that much. Especially when we look at what this means for women in cities today, it becomes clear that a lot of opportunities have been missed. But here comes the good news: if we can design our cities to be equally appealing to men and women, everybody wins. Getting from A to B So let's take a look at what's going on. The most significant idea behind CIAM was the division of urban functions, meaning that areas reserved for living, working, shopping and recreation are all physically separated from each other. Research indicates that especially women are negatively affected by this because men and women tend to use urban spaces in quite different ways. As it turns out, men mainly get from A to B in a linear way, commuting back and forth between their homes and workplaces. Women, on the other hand, are known to not only take more varied routes through the city but also travel at more distinct hours. As a result, the mono-functionality of urban spaces is most inconvenient for female city dwellers. Street level Male-centered thinking in urban development can also be found in the design of our city's buildings; women have expressed little value for the rather imposing architectural styles that dominate our urban landscapes. They tend to be drawn towards what's happening at street level a lot more. So what exactly is happening at street level? If you want to easily spot the effects of masculinity in public planning and recognize the underlying opportunities, the street turns out to be a place that can't be overlooked. One example is that from a male perspective, public spaces ought to be vandalism-proof, which means design [...]

by Nadine Roos The image that pops up in my mind when I think of a square is of a place that is the nucleus in the urban life. Where chatting old man sit cosily on a bench. Hat on, the crooked legs somewhat apart and a walking stick in between. Tall stories are exchanged, they are laughing and still have a naughty look. Kids run around, playing tag. A group of teenagers lingers in the corner of the square, nonchalant and cool. Next to the fountain stands a couple in love. They only have eyes for each other. Neighbours meet in the middle of the square, they stop and exchange the latest news. In my imagination, this is a place for spontaneous meetings, of seeing and being seen. Also, the weather is always warm and sunny. Because I picture such a place in a Southern European country. Thinking of Dutch squares I think of empty, grey and stony areas. Square-people Why don't Dutch squares have the same urban position as the Southern European ones? What's the reason for this? And would it be possible to give the Dutch squares some of the Southern Joie de Vivre? I always thought it was a climate thing. If the weather over here would be just as lovely, our squares would be lively as well. Nevertheless, when the temperature rises above 20 degrees Celsius all Dutch people head out. The streets become busy, the terraces overflow but the squares remain empty. Are northerners no square-people? Or do squares have a different function in our perception? Or are Dutch squares designed in another manner and is that the reason why they are used differently. Empty places In the Netherlands, squares have a different function. Instead of places where the community comes together, they are just functional places. They are empty places that give room to the market and the fair. Dutch squares are emptier than the Southern squares. But people don't like empty expenses. This is something that has to do with a pre-historical remnant. At an empty plain we feel exposed; in the event of an attack, there is no place to seek cover. Intuitively we don't like walking on an empty square, let alone sit down and have a spontaneous chat with someone. National character Pragmatism is built in the Dutch DNA. A Dutch square is no-nonsense, without frills. The Dutch won't feel an emotional closeness to a square. In the Mediterranean, squares provide in a connection with the local history. It´s the place for historical events and where they are commemorated. At many squares, you can find a statue of a someone who did amazing heroic deeds. A hero of whom everyone knows. In the Netherlands, you can also find bronze horses with a rider on its back. But I bet you that 99% of the Dutch, myself included, have no idea who is so proudly represented. Mediterranean squares are also places for traditional feasts. Celebrations that only are [...]

Nikki Daniëls & Nadine Roos The global environmental crisis is about to threaten each and everyone of us. Natural disasters, economic stagnation, and natural resource shortages warn of a frightening future. The air in cities is polluted. Breathing is equal to smoking several cigarettes per day.  That one short car ride doesn't seem to matter that much, but all those car rides combined have catastrophic effects on our environment. Luckily, the opposite can be done as well. Every environmentally conscious choice we make, how small it may be, is a step towards the solution. And don't worry if you haven't got a clue where to begin. Just get that flowerpot out! Involvement A flowerpot indeed. And in case you live in the city, we're looking at you in particular. Because, if you're a city dweller like 75% of us, chances you are not particularly busy with the environment. And it's only understandable that you wouldn't automatically commit to a case you don't feel very connected to. So if we really want to collectively start making better choices, it is absolutely crucial that we get urban residents involved in urban nature. How do we do that? It all starts with connectivity to where we live, so-called place-attachment. Place-attachment Place-attachment is the person-to-place bond that evolves when we give emotional meaning to a location, turning anonymous spaces into meaningful places where we love to go. We often form close relationships with the places from our childhood; with that tree, we used to climb all the time, the little play square where we made up the biggest adventures or the bakery store our grandmothers always took us for cake. This process of forming an attachment to places still exists in our adult lives. By returning to the same meeting places to see our friends, for instance. Or because a certain place allows for an activity that's important to us – the park we visit to stay in shape, the perfect trail to walk the dog, that bench on which we take a moment for ourselves; it's through these experiences that we form deep connections with the places we would otherwise just guilelessly pass by. The power of active engagement Place-attachment also forms when we contribute to an environment in a positive way. Residents who actively work to make their streets greener have indicated to feel more connected to their neighbourhoods, as opposed to their neighbours who are not actively engaged in local sustainability. Research even shows that repeated 'green activities' can affect the way we see ourselves; by describing ourselves as being 'from a green neighbourhood' or having 'green thumbs', sustainability becomes part of our identities. But something even more remarkable is going on here. When we start considering ourselves as being environmentally conscious people, we do not only start taking better care for our own street. We actually start making better choices in general. In other words; it really does all start with that flower pot. Urban nature So if urban nature [...]

By Nadine Roos # 1 look tempting To be sexy, you need your own enticing style and don't give away everything. Leave something to the imagination. Seductive cities look amazing. The buildings are photogenic, the squares have an allure and the streets are inviting to stroll along. But a city can't be captured at a glance. Wandering through the streets you can discover something interesting around each corner. # 2 live healthy Take good care of yourself. When you're healthy, you radiant strength. A healthy city is in balance. She is resilient and doesn't stand still. At the same time, the city takes care of the well-being of the urbanites. Living healthy is done on multiple levels. For example by exercising and by protecting against harmful elements. Cities where you can easily walk and bike keep you in good shape. Clean streets keep diseases at a bay. And all around the city, the air should be fresh. A lot of cities have work to do in this field to become seductive. # 3 be playful Seduce the other by impulsive, creative and crazy surprises. Show that you enjoy life. A desirable city is full of unexpected events. An afternoon in the city can take another direction by a spontaneous encounter. Street artists make you stop and let you be amazed. The city is a stage for everyone's creativity. # 4 stand tall To create a good impression your posture is important. Stand tall and you'll look confident. Cities reach for the sky. The taller the buildings, the more impressive the city. The skyline is visible from far away and attracts people. # 5 keep it exciting To gain the other's love it's important to be impulsive. Nothing so boring as predictability. A city that makes you fall in love shows each time a different side to discover. She is full of surprises and heeds the mood of the times. She is adventurous and a little naughty. # 6 dance Go crazy and seduce each other by dancing. Sensual from the hips or romantically close to each other. In a city that concurs you, it's possible to dance to any kind of music. The rhythm takes you along to clubs in the late hours. Makes you forget everything during festivals. Or takes you spontaneously into her arms at a park or a square. # 7 aphrodisiac Strawberries dipped in chocolate, tinkling champagne, and adventurous oysters belong to the game of seduction. A seductive city offers all these treats. Sit down on a terrace or dive into one of the restaurants. It's so pleasant to, once in a while, indulge yourself in all these delicious foods. # 8 kick off your shoes and relax It´s lovely to relax together and to do just nothing. Enjoying a lazy afternoon in the park. Spread a picnic blanket, kick off your shoes and let the grass tickle underneath your feet. Give each other a relaxing massage. Cities seduce you with their parks. # 9 [...]

By Nadine Roos Love is measurable. When we fall in love, the composition of our blood changes. The amount of the testosterone hormone decreases and the opposite happens with dopamine. We become more caring, happier and less stressed. When love is mutual and becomes a long-lasting warm relationship, it will have even more beneficial effects on you. Your immune system improves, it's easier to keep a stable weight, and you'll be fitter. These benefits have in the long run such a positive effect that people in a loving relationship, on average, become older than people without such a relationship. A seductive city has the same effect on urbanites. Choice between good and bad We all want a longer and healthier life. But don't just dive into a relationship or just start living in a city. A bad relationship will give you worrying troubles. You'll sleep badly, headaches will press behind your eyes and your blood pressure will jump up. The ingredients to tackle your immune system. The same applies for bad cities. In a city that's not good for its citizens, people will feel rushed. In a city that doesn't offer any chances, poverty and despair will rise. And a city that doesn't look attractive will take everybody along in its gloominess. Active love Find a partner and a city that fits you. One which will strengthen you. But once you've found it, it's not ready yet. Cherish your partner. The same is true for the city. That's why the city needs to be seductive and not only attractive. The city has to be more than a pretty picture. Continuously, she has to make sure urbanites stay in love with her. If that succeeds and the city makes sure you can reach your full potential than the dopamine in your blood will increase. At the same time, the city creates a sense of belonging. Your worries decrease and you'll have a good night sleep. You wake up fit, keep a stable weight and become smarter. You are happier and look younger. All this together will result in you having a longer and happier life. Next week: 10 tips for seductive cities

By Nadine Roos We need love. We aren’t goldfish who can float solitary in a fishbowl and be perfectly fine. Without love, we waste away. Love gives you a warm feeling of security, but it also has these extra benefits.We flourish in a loving environment. We become happier and healthier. Being in a caring relationship brings financial benefits. Together you are smarter because two people know more than one, and problem-solving becomes easier. The strengthening and loving interaction between people also occurs between cities and urbanites. A good city reinforces her citizens like a caring partner. Mutually citizens will treat their city with care. A city can bring out the best of people. This is an active process. Cities have to continuously work on their emotional connection with the urbanites. And that’s why I argue for seductive cities. Cities that are so attractive, that it will be impossible not to fall in love with them. Within a relation, you have to work on keeping the spark alive. The relationship between city and urbanite also asks for a continuous loving maintenance. And if that goes well, the city offers a great life. There are multiple reasons why a relationship with a city is good for us. Hereunder, I will describe the six most important ones. The first three relate to the influence cities have on the working careers of urbanites, the last three describe the influence on our personal well-being. #1 career developing Our careers are important to us. They let us grow and develop. In a village the number of jobs and thus the career opportunities are limited. As a beginner, it is less easy to try a couple of jobs and to figure out which career fits you the best in a village. In a city, you can do that. You can switch work until you’ve found the perfect position. From there on you can start your development within your professional field. #2 higher income Money doesn’t make you happy, but worrying about it will make you unhappy. For our happiness in life, we are seeking for financial security. The chance to establish this is the highest in a city. At first glance, a city looks like a source of costs. Houses are expensive and you often have to pay for parking. But worldwide people get paid better in cities than in elsewhere. The difference is such, that despite the costs, it’s still lucrative to live in a city. #3 concentration of intelligence Imagine you have a plan. You have invented a product and you want to place it on the market. Most of us don’t have all the expertise to do this on our own. We need other people’s knowledge. The chance to find the right person to help you is bigger if you can search in a larger group than in a smaller one. Because this chance is highest in a city enterprising people tend to move to the city. This enlarges the chance to find [...]

By Nadine Roos It's halfway in the nineties. We are on our second holiday together. Travelling through Europe with an interrail pass. We are both students and during our trip, we visit all the architectural masterpieces we have learned about. Standing in front of the Corbusierhaus in Berlin we are approached by a tenant. To our surprise, he is very displeased with his home. He explains to us how unpleasant this architectural highlight is. We look at him as if he is a little crazy. Until then we had heard nothing but praise about Le Corbusier. Years later, we visit another building by Le Corbusier. This time we are walking through Villa Savoye near Paris. Again we are surprised. We read that the Savoye family only lived here for a short period of time. The house was a nightmare to live in. When is architecture good? When it follows a revolutionary new idea or when it is pleasant to be in? And can it be both? Le Corbusier was a great and passionate designer. But the freedom he demanded for his own views and work became a restriction for the people who live and deal with his work on a daily basis. By sticking to his dogma he completely ignored if his buildings and urban structures were beneficial for tenants and users. There is a contrast between theory and practice. Without theory, you can't develop new practices. But too much theory becomes restrictive. This blog is our search for the right balance. We believe that cities should be contributing to the success and happiness of the people who live and work there. Attractive cities have successful people. These people live in neighbourhoods that contribute to their personal development. Those neighbourhoods are flexible and adaptive to new demands, wishes, insights, and dreams. So we will be passionately searching for the right elements to make cities attractive.