Roles revealed - Wageningen UR
Transcription
Roles revealed - Wageningen UR
Roles revealed The position of landscape architects in participatory processes “Mijn ervaring is dat creativiteit net zo goed bij allerlei deelnemers in zo’n proces zit en dat ontwerpers niet per definitie creatiever zijn.” Respondent 1, R221 “De tijd van een plan maken en uitvoeren is voorbij.” Respondent 3, R28 “De omgeving wordt weer onderdeel van de maatschappij.” Respondent 4, R331 “Participatie betekent dat mensen invloed kunnen uitoefenen wat betekent dat je als overheid een beetje invloed moet inleveren” Respondent 5, R334 “Landschap staat veel te ver van de mensen.” Respondent 7, R283 “Je kunt geen landschap maken zonder andere partijen.” Respondent 7, R173 Iris Zwartkruis 870724-996-050 May 2011 Master thesis landscape architecture Wageningen University Supervisors: Ingrid Duchhart, Wur Jeroen Kruit, Alterra 2 Roles revealed The position of landscape architect in participatory processes Author Iris Zwartkruis iris8707@hotmail.com Supervisors Ingrid Duchhart Chair group Landscape architecture Wageningen University Jeroen Kruit Alterra Wageningen UR Master thesis landscape architecture Wageningen University May 2011 3 Table of content Part one, theory 12 1 Introduction 14 1.1 Global changes 1.2 Loss of identity 1.3 Slow movements 1.4 Influence on the field of landscape architecture 1.5 Significance of the research 1.5.1 Scientific significance 1.5.2 Significance for society 1.5.3 Personal significance 1.6 Summary 14 14 15 15 16 16 16 16 17 2 Procedures 18 2.1 Philosophical assumptions of qualitative research 2.2 Qualitative research strategies 2.3 The purpose statement 2.4 Research questions 2.4.1 The central question 2.4.2 The sub questions 2.5 Relation theory and practice 2.6 Role of the researcher 2.7 Group work 2.8 Supervisors 2.9 Language 2.10 Summary 3 Participatory processes 24 3.1 What is a participatory process 3.2 Participatory processes in the Netherlands 3.3 Levels of participation 3.4 Goals of participatory processes 3.5 Roles in participatory processes 3.5.1 The role of citizens 3.5.2 The role of action groups and NGO’s 3.5.3 The role of politicians 3.5.4 The role of experts 3.5.5 The role of landscape architects 3.6 Differences in thinking 3.7 The importance of continuation 3.8 Summary 24 24 26 26 27 28 28 28 28 29 29 30 30 4 Interviewing 32 4.1 Qualitative interviews 4.1.1 Open interviews 4 18 19 19 20 20 20 21 21 21 22 22 22 32 32 4.1.2 Half structured interviews 4.1.3 Closed interviews 4.2 Roles interviewer, respondent and reader 4.3 Selection of the respondents 4.4 Ethics and the validity of interviewing 4.5 Strategies for validating findings 4.6 Procedures of the interview 4.7 Language 4.8 Summary 5 Landscape architects narratives 34 34 35 35 35 36 36 37 37 38 5.1 Type of interview 5.2 Selection of the respondents 5.3 Procedures of the interviews 5.4 Questions and content of the interviews 5.5 Processing the data of the interviews 5.6 Results of the interviews 5.6.1 Experiences of landscape architects 5.6.2 Roles and tasks of the landscape architect 5.6.3 Knowledge and skills 5.6.4 Positive and negative aspects of participatory processes 5.6.5 Commissioning 5.6.6 Different approaches participants 5.6.7 Selection participants 5.6.8 Role of governmental organisations and politics 5.6.9 Influence of the history participatory processes 5.6.10 Future developments participatory processes 5.7 Summary 38 38 38 39 40 42 42 43 45 46 48 49 50 51 51 52 52 Part one, lessons learned 56 Part two, practice 58 6 Zutphen the Mars: Introduction 6.1 The Assignment 6.2 The location 6.3 The actors 6.4 Guiding committee 6.5 Summary 7 Zutphen the Mars: Process 7.1 Interviews actors 7.1.1 Objective of the interviews 7.1.2 Interview questions 7.1.3 Results of the interviews 60 60 60 63 63 64 66 66 66 66 66 5 7.1.4 Evaluation interviews 7.2 The first workshop 7.2.1 Objective of the workshop 7.2.2 Lay out of the workshop 7.2.3 Results of the workshop 7.2.4 Evaluation of the workshop 7.3 Vision 7.3.1 Objective of the vision 7.3.2 The vision 7.3.3 Evaluation vision 7.4 Design alternatives 7.4.1 Objective of the design alternatives 7.4.2 The design alternatives 7.4.3 Evaluation design alternatives 7.5 The second workshop 7.5.1 Objective of the workshop 7.5.2 Lay-out of the workshop 7.5.3 Results of the workshop 7.5.4 Evaluation of the workshop 7.6 The design 7.6.1 Objective of the design 7.6.2 Design of the IJssel boulevard 7.7 Continuation of the process 7.8 Summary 68 70 70 71 72 72 75 75 75 76 76 77 77 81 82 83 83 83 83 88 88 90 93 93 Part two, lessons learned 94 8 Conclusion 96 9 Discussion 6 98 9.1 About this research 9.1.1 Participatory processes abroad 9.1.2 The results of the participatory process Zutphen 9.1.3 Different levels of participation 9.2 About the methodology of the research 9.2.1 The interviews 9.2.2 The case study 98 98 98 98 98 99 99 Literature list 100 Appendixes 102 7 8 Preface After a bachelor degree in Garden and Landscape Design I decided to follow the master program Landscape Architecture. This master program provided me with additional knowledge and academic skills. With this master thesis I finish the master program Landscape Architecture. One of my personal goals to do the master program was to learn more about some topics I was interested in. I used the available space for optional subjects to get to know more about historical geography. There was little opportunity to gain more knowledge about participatory processes, apart from some guest lectures. This master thesis was a good opportunity to learn more about this subject. It was difficult to find a focus for my master thesis and the possibilities seemed endless. Finally I decided to focus on the role of the landscape architect within participatory processes. The topic was interesting because there was a knowledge gap about landscape architects and their role in participatory processes . I used three different methods during my research, a literature study, interviews with landscape architects and a case study. The process was chaotic because I worked on all three at the same time. Since I had no experience with interviewing I did a research about it before I could start the interviews. It took some time but I learned a lot from it. The landscape architects I interviewed were enthusiastic and willing to tell their stories. They provided lots of information, stories and opinions. The case study, a participatory process in Zutphen, was a welcome distraction from all the theory and I enjoyed the cooperation with the local parties very much. I liked evaluating and observing the meetings and workshops. In some cases it led to surprising insights and conclusions. I want to thank my supervisors Ingrid Duchhart and Jeroen Kruit for their support, guidance and all their help to improve this thesis. I want to thank the nine landscape architects I interviewed. I thank them for their time and effort but most of all for their enthusiasm. Some stories really inspired me and gave an insight in the kind of landscape architect I would like to be. I also thank the participants and the guidance committee of the case study in Zutphen, their input was really valuable. Furthermore I will thank my family and friends for their support and advice. Iris Zwartkruis 9 Abstract This research focused on the role of landscape architects within participatory design or spatial planning processes. A participatory process can be defined as a process where all relevant parties interact from the start or an early stage of a project to prepare, determine or execute a plan or policy. Changes like globalization, individualization, the shift from government to governance and the increased complexity of spatial problems influence the position and role of landscape architects. Landscape architects have to deal with those changes. Involving citizens and other parties in participatory plan and design processes can be a way to deal with those changes. The main research question was: What is the role of the landscape architect within a participatory design process? The research is split up in a theoretical and a practical part. The theoretical research was done through literature study and half structured, face-to-face interviews. The literature study shows the diversity in participatory processes, participants and opinions. The nine interviews with landscape architects about participation resulted in an impression of participatory design processes and the role of landscape architects in the Dutch practice. The practical part describes and evaluates a participatory process in Zutphen, commissioned by the Wetenschapswinkel of Wageningen UR. Based on the results of this research we can conclude that there is no such thing as “the role” of landscape architects. The research shows different roles depending on the process, the phase in a project, the project group or the personal preference of the landscape architect. Roles mentioned are; the expert with the ability to design or visualise future situations. This makes plans more concrete en therefore discussable. Another role is to integrate different professional fields, integrate in space, different scales and time. The roles described above enable the landscape architect to educate and guide participants during participatory processes. A successful participatory process can lead to an increased involvement of the participants and can result in less resistance, more support, care and responsibility for the landscape. Because of the professional skills a landscape architect can play a leading role during a participating process. Nevertheless communication and managing the group dynamics are important qualifications which depend strongly on the personal skills or experience. 10 Samenvatting Dit onderzoek gaat over de rol van de landschapsarchitect in participatieve ontwerp en ruimtelijke plan processen. De definitie van een participatie proces is; een proces waar de betrokken partijen vanaf het begin of een vroeg stadium samenwerken om een plan of beleid te bepalen of uit te voeren. Veranderingen zoals globalisatie, individualisatie, de verschuiving van ‘government to governance’ en de toegenomen complexiteit van ruimtelijke opgaven beïnvloeden de rol van de landschapsarchitect. Landschapsarchitecten moeten omgaan met deze veranderingen, één van de manieren om er mee om te gaan is het betrekken van locale en externe partijen in een participatief plan of ontwerp proces. De hoofdvraag van dit onderzoek is: Wat is de rol van de landschapsarchitect in participatieve ontwerp processen? Het onderzoek is opgedeeld in twee delen, een theoretisch en een praktijk deel. Het theoretische deel bestaat uit een literatuur onderzoek en half gestructureerd interviews. De literatuurstudie maakt het verschil in participatie processen, participanten en meningen daarover duidelijk. De negen interviews met landschapsarchitecten in Nederland geven een goed beeld van de verschillende rollen in de praktijk. Het praktijk gedeelte beschrijft en evalueert een participatie proces in Zutphen. De opdrachtgever van dit project is de Wetenschapswinkel onderdeel van de Universiteit Wageningen. Aan de hand van dit onderzoek kunnen we concluderen dat er geen vaste rol bestaat. Het onderzoek laat zien dat een landschapsarchitect verschillende rollen op zich kan nemen tijdens een proces. De rol hangt af van het project, de projectfase, de samenstelling van de projectgroep of de persoonlijke voorkeur van de landschapsarchitect. Een mogelijke rol is de landschapsarchitect als de expert die kan ontwerpen en toekomstige situaties kan visualiseren. Dit maakt de plannen concreter en maakt discussies mogelijk. Een andere taak van de landschapsarchitect is de verschillende vakgebieden, schalen en toekomst, heden en verleden met elkaar te integreren. Bovenstaande rollen helpen de landschapsarchitect tijdens een participatie proces. De landschapsarchitect kan zijn kennis en vaardigheden gebruiken om participanten te begeleiden en helpen tijdens een participatie proces. Een participatie proces kan leiden tot meer betrokkenheid, meer draagvlak, minder weerstand, meer zorg en verantwoordelijkheid voor de omgeving en het landschap. De landschapsarchitect kan ook een leidende rol hebben tijdens een participatie proces. Communicatieve vaardigheden en vaardigheden met betrekking tot groepsdynamiek zijn belangrijke vaardigheden die vaak afhangen van de ervaringen en persoonlijkheid van de landschapsarchitect. 11 Part one, theory 12 13 1 Introduction In this introduction I will describe some global issues that influence the field of landscape architecture. Those influences have led to new topics and views on our profession. One of those new views are the motive to study the subject of this thesis namely: participatory design processes. 1.1 Global changes 1.2 Loss of identity The world is changing; change is an essential part of life and reflects the underlying shifts in values and expectations. Change influences many aspects of our lives and goes rather fast these days. This is one of the reasons that change sometimes has a bad reputation (Devane & Holman, 1999). Changes like globalization, individualization and the shift from government to governance are ongoing processes that, among others, influences the field of landscape architecture. Globalization is caused by new technologies and techniques for example in the field of communication and transport. Borders in time and space disappear. Individualization is a tendency that takes place since the last centuries but has increased the last few decades. Individualization is partly caused by the increased welfare. Due to this the popularity of traditional views, norms and values also decrease (Dam et al, 2008). At the same time there is a shift from government to governance (Jonge, 2009). The way individuals and institutions, private as well as public manage their affairs is changing. The educational level of citizens increases and knowledge is spread faster by internet and other media. The result of this is that the knowledge of professionals is not by definition superior to that of citizens (Jonge, 2010). Processes are handled bottom up, stakeholders with a shared wish, want to transform their wishes into shared ambitions with the help of a participatory process (Nieuwe Gracht, 2008). The effect of the ongoing globalization and individualization is a loss of identity or a loss of belonging. Identity is the source of meaning. Identities are created by history, geography, biology, institutions, collective memory, personal fantasies and religious revelations. Those factors are used by individuals, groups and societies to rearrange their meaning. Not longer bound to time, place, traditional institutions and views, people have to develop a new personal identity (Dam et al, 2008); (Castells, 2004). The physical living environment (landscape) can be an important factor for people’s identity. Words like ‘place attachment’ or ‘sense of place’ express the strong emotional relation between a person and its surroundings. Due to processes like globalization (uniformity) the places specific diversity in the landscape is threatened. Impersonal developments change the landscape, and in this way threaten people’s identity. A result of the individualization is that people want to reach their own interests. The landscape is an important factor for people not only because of the usability (production) but also for the satisfaction, security; happiness and emotional attachment local people (Dam et al, 2008); (Castells, 2004). 14 1.3 Slow movements A counter reaction on globalization is the slow regions, slow life, cities and slow food movement. Those movements react on the rushed way of living and threads our identity, environment and landscapes. The slow food organization started in Bra, Italy in 1986. Local inhabitants prepared a traditional regional pasta dish for the community. In this way they were protesting against the opening of a fast food restaurant in their town. The slow food organization was officially founded in 1989. They wanted to preserve local foods and traditions and protest against fast life and food (www.slowfood.com). The slow city movement started in Italy in 1999. A group of mayors wanted to create principles to reach a calmer and less polluted environment, preserve local aesthetics, traditions, crafts and food. They wanted to develop places where you can enjoy good food, healthy environments, sustainable economies and traditional rhythms of community life (www.planetizen.com). In this way urban planners, mayors and citizens try to resist the processes of standardization and homogenization, that otherwise would influence cities and regions. Local actors and inhabitants play an important role in the slow movements. Membership of a slow organization is often an initiative of mayors, city councils and local businesses. Initiatives and actions are taken by local parties that have an interest in the identity and traditions of their environment, cities or regions (www.planetizen.com). Urban planners and landscape architects can play a role in those processes. 1.4 Influence on the field of landscape architecture Because of the changing society and increased influence of citizens in spatial planning and design landscape architects need to adapt their way of working and approaches. Many guiding assumptions of organizations and communities are no longer valid, the information technology is changing fast and old methods to handle change don’t work anymore. Change can not be handled single disciplinary anymore because complexity in spatial planning and design has increased enormously over time (Devane & Holman, 1999). Many topics present in the society are related to spatial claims and spatial developments. Spatial assignments are crossroads where many interests and parties meet each other (Hajer, 2006); (Ham & Meij, 1974). Designers should be involved earlier because of their ability to integrate and creativity (Nieuwe Gracht, 2008). The role of the designer changes. Designers react different on the changes that influence their daily job. One of those reactions is that landscape architects make use of local parties in participatory processes. The role of the design is changing as well: it is not developed within a steady process but influences the shape and contents of the process. The design has no steady form, it changes when it absorbs more intentions and meanings. This way it becomes more specific and accurate. The design becomes more than just 15 a spatial plan; it is also used to be a guideline or point of inspiration (Jonge, 2009); (Hajer, 2006). Designing becomes more a process, important to build confidence, shape attention and imagination of others (Forester, 1999). Everyone in a participatory design process is a designer, including the ones without a design background or education (Condon, 2008). Planners and designers face the challenge of playing multiple roles, at different times within the same project. They must have the knowledge and expertise of a professional; they must listen and stimulate creative ideas as mediators; they must defend values and negotiate; they must structure participatory processes, discussions, invention and decision making as organizers too (Forester, 1999). New skills are needed to handle participatory processes. We need to learn new skills to do an interactive planning and designing processes. Like negotiation skills, facilitation skills, design skills and process design skills (Forester, 1999). Designers even have to develop a mutual language that is understood by all of the participants (Pröpper & Steenbeek, 2001). They will have to adapt this languages to the groups they are dealing with, which is not an easy task. 1.5 Significance of the research This research is important on three different grounds. It has scientific importance, for society and personal importance. Those three are described below. 1.5.1 Scientific significance The use of participatory processes by landscape architects and planners is not new. There is some general information about participatory processes related to planning and in lesser extend to design. But I couldn’t find a lot of literature about the role of landscape architects and designers within participatory processes. This research can add information about the way landscape architects deal with participatory processes and the roles they play. 1.5.2 Significance for the society This research can influence the field of landscape architecture and the educational programs. Landscape architects and students can learn from the experiences described by other landscape architects, dealing with participatory processes. More knowledge about the role of landscape architects involved in participatory processes might change landscape architects approaches to projects, stakeholders and inhabitants or raise more awareness about the different roles a landscape architect can play. 1.5.3 Personal significance It becomes more common that citizens are involved in planning and design 16 processes. More landscape architects and designers have to deal with participatory processes. As a student I have no experience with participatory processes but it is likely that I have to deal with it during my professional life. A practical design assignment gives me the possibility to cooperate and participate in a participatory process as a landscape architect, guided by people that have experience with such processes. Doing this thesis gives me an opportunity to learn from theory, literature, the practice of professionals, and apply the theory into practice during a participatory process. 1.6 Summary Globalization, individualization and the shift from government to governance are changing the world, they are tendencies taking place since the last centuries but increased in the last decades. One of the effects of globalization and individualization is the loss of identity. The landscape, one of the constructors of identity is also changing rapidly. Some regions try to maintain the identity of the landscape by the creation of the slow movements. Local parties and inhabitants play an important role in the realization and success of those movements. At the same time there is a shift from government to governance. Citizens need or want to take responsibility and show initiatives them selves. Professionals like urban planners and landscape architects can play an important role in those processes. The use of local parties and inhabitants and the complexity of the design assignments have changed the role and approaches of the landscape architects and the design. Planners and designers face the challenge of playing multiple roles, at different times within the same project. And at the same time we need to learn new skills to handle participatory processes. This research adds new information about the way landscape architects handle participatory processes and their role to the professional field and is therefore scientifically relevant. This might change the way landscape architects deal with participatory processes and their role in it. They can change their position in society which makes it a relevant research for society. Besides that it is of personal importance because I will have to deal with participatory processes during my professional career. Therefore it is good to have some knowledge about and experience with the topic. 17 2 Procedures Based on the developments described in chapter one, I decided to research the influence of participatory processes on the role and position of landscape architects in the Netherlands. This chapter describes among other things the procedures used for my thesis, the goal of the research, the research questions and how I will answer them. 2.1 Philosophical assumptions of qualitative research This research contains both, the advocacy and the social-constructivist world view (Figure 1). The development of participatory processes is strongly related to the advocacy world view. It is intertwined with politics and a political agenda. Developments created by the government created circumstances for participatory processes (Creswell, 2009) (Pröpper & Steenbeek, 2001). Some of those circumstances are: • The politic culture in the Netherlands is based on deliberation between different parties. Meetings are accessible for different parties, organizations and the public. The media plays a big role in this process. • The value of democracy and citizenship is increasing since the sixties. Since the end of the eighties the government wants citizens to take more responsibility with public issues. They want active participation, engagement and increase democracy. • The Dutch government shifts from government to governance. Public and private parties work together. • Those changes increase the democracy and influential level of citizens and organizations, and therefore democracy. This is an important social issue of today. Participatory processes change the role of the citizen from passive to active; citizens can influence processes and change (Creswell, 2009). This increased influence of citizens also changes the work of landscape architects and designers. The practical design part of this thesis is also related to the advocacy world view. Working towards a design is change oriented. The participatory process was used to change the individual approach into a mutual approach, to change their current position in the ongoing developments. The phenomenon, participatory processes, fits in the advocacy world view. My way of researching the role of the designer in those processes will be more related to the social-constructivist world view (Creswell, 2009). This research will contain interviews with designers who deal with participatory processes during their work. What are their experiences with participatory Advocacy / Participatory worldview • Political • Empowerment Issue-oriented • Collaborative • Change-oriented Fig 1: Worldviews. (Creswell 2009) 18 Constructivism worldview • Understanding • Multiple participants meanings • Social and historical construction • Theory generation processes and how do they handle them. The answers on the open ended questions will be interpret and compared. The designers view on this phenomenon is an important part of the research. In both cases the research will have a qualitative approach to inquiry. 2.2 Qualitative research strategies Some characteristics according to Creswell (2009) for a qualitative approach are: • The used inquiry strategies like: phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, case study and narratives. The used methods like: openended questions, emerging approaches, text or image data. • The used practices of research by the researcher: the researcher takes a stand, collects the meanings of participants, focuses on a single phenomenon, brings personal values into the study, studies the context of participants, validates the accuracy of findings, interprets the data, creates an agenda for change and collaborates with participants. Most of those practices will be used during the research. Creswell (2009) describes five qualitative strategies, ethnography, grounded theory, case studies, phenomenological research and narrative research. The case study strategy fits best in my research. Creswell (2009) describes a case study as: “a qualitative strategy in which the researcher explores in depth a program, event, process or one or more individuals. The cases are bound by time and activity, and researchers collect detailed information using a variety of data collection procedures over a sustained period of time”. The explored process will be participatory processes done by landscape architects. I will research the perceived changes, believes and skills of landscape architects and designers dealing with participatory processes. The landscape architects and designers are the cases to be studied by the researcher. The research focuses on the present developments and experiences with participatory processes, so they are bound by time and activity. I will do a literature study, interviews and a design assignment to gather a variety of data. 2.3 The purpose statement The purpose of this study will be to discover the role of landscape architects and designers in participatory processes. At this stage in the research, participatory processes will be generally defined as: A process where all relevant parties interact openly to prepare, determine or execute a plan or policy (Pröpper & Steenbeek, 2001). This study reacts on the scientific lack of information and knowledge about the position of landscape architects in 19 participatory processes. 2.4 Research questions To reach the purpose a central question is created that will be answered with the help of several sub questions. 2.4.1 The central question The main question of this research is: What is the role of landscape architects within participatory design processes? This research is very broad as well as the main question, it includes all different topics related to participatory processes and landscape architects. The sub questions address several topics, related to the method to answer them. 2.4.2 The sub questions Questions related to the development of participatory processes in the Netherlands. • Where does the need for participatory processes comes from? • How did the use of participatory processes develop within the field of landscape architecture in the Netherlands? • How are participatory processes used by landscape architects at this moment? Some of those questions are partly answered in chapter one. The answers can be found through a literature study. Questions related to the topic: participatory processes. • What is a participatory process? • What levels of participation exist? • What are the goals of participatory processes? • Which parties participate and what is their role? • What knowledge and skills do landscape architects need? The answers to those questions are found by doing a literature study, interviews with landscape architects and a case study. Method related questions. • What is interviewing? • What kind of interviews are possible? • What are the procedures of interviewing? The answers of those questions were found by doing a literature research. 20 2.5 Relation theory and practice 2.6 Role of the researcher 2.7 Group work The theory provides basic information about methods, techniques and the main topic; participatory processes. The interviews with the landscape architects are the first step between theory and practice. The interview questions are derived from literature and conversations with experts. The landscape architects answer the questions and provide information about their experiences in the professional field. The information from the literature and the interviews are incorporated in the case study in Zutphen. Some topics related to participatory processes will occur in the literature, the interviews and the case study or in two of the three methods. This is triangulation between the different methods of research. The information from one method can be cross checked and compared with the information provided by the other methods. This information will be used to draw the final conclusions and recommendations. The role of the researcher differs per method and phase of the research. By interviewing landscape architects about their work I gather stories about their experiences, believes and skills influenced by participatory processes. By creating a semi structured interview I create the opportunity for the interviewed person to shape the conversation without me losing track. I determine the topics and start question. The respondent has the space to speak about the topics in what way and order they want. During the analysis of the data, the interviews will be compared and interpret by myself. The final story about the results of the interviews is the one created by the researcher. During the participatory design process I will take different positions. I will deliver input, help organizing and guiding workshops and process the data gathered during the workshops. The results of the workshops will lead to a design. Every step in the participatory design process will be evaluated on several topics, for example the role of the landscape architect. Some parts of the participatory process in Zutphen will contain group work. An other master student landscape architecture, Madeleen Brouwer is also involved in this project. We will work on the same assignment in Zutphen but with different focus points, interests and purposes. My focus lies with the participatory process. Madeleen is more focused on the implementation of spatial adaptations along the riverfront. In order to solve present challenges, like the need for more water discharge capacity, recreational space and spatial quality increase. Despite this difference, we can work together on this assignment. The inventory, analysis and vision will be partly done together. The design phase will be done separately. Madeleen will use the outcomes from the interviews as an inventory of ideas and wishes while I use them as an input for the first workshop. Madeleen will support and deliver input for the workshops as an expert; she will gain knowledge about the green-blue developments, river policies and river 21 transformations by doing reference studies. Madeleen will use the workshops and related processes in her design process. Some of the information of our thesis will be used in the final report for the commissioner. 2.8 Supervisors 2.9 Language There are two supervisors involved with this thesis. The first supervisor involved is Ingrid Duchhart. Ingrid is a landscape architect and assistant professor at the university of Wageningen and is involved in the process and content of my thesis. The second supervisor is Jeroen Kruit. He is a landscape architect working at Alterra. The research institute connected to the university of Wageningen. Madeleen and I work closely together with Jeroen on the participatory design assignment in Zutphen. For the green light presentation and my final presentation I would like to invite one or more teachers that are not that closely involved and known with the content of my thesis. I would like to hear the opinion of outsiders to see if they understand my work and presentation. This thesis is mainly written in English. This makes this thesis also accessible for foreign teachers and students. Some parts related to the interviews or participatory design assignment will be in Dutch. Those parts can be found in boxes or appendixes. The interviews are done in Dutch and some explanatory sentences are in Dutch to keep their meaning. Besides this the participatory design process is also done in Dutch. Some in between products that can be found in the appendixes are in Dutch. The Dutch parts give additional information and examples. 2.10 Summary This thesis will answer the following main question: What is the role of landscape architects within participatory design processes? The research will have a qualitative approach to inquiry. Different methods will be used to answer the main and sub questions, like literature study, interviews and a practical case study in Zutphen. The role of the researcher differs per method and phase of the research. The case study in Zutphen contains parts of group work with another master student. The main language of this thesis is English, some side information or appendixes are in Dutch. 22 23 3 Participatory processes This chapter provides general information about participatory processes. It explains the definition of participatory processes, the development in the Dutch context, the different levels of participation, the goals of participation and the different parties involved during participatory processes. 3.1 What is a participatory process 3.2 Participatory processes in the Netherlands A participatory process can be described as a process where all relevant parties interact from the start or early stage of a project, openly to prepare, determine or execute a plan or policy (Pröpper & Steenbeek, 2001). Participatory processes are processes in which citizens, action groups and NGO’s can address problems, put them on the agenda and search for solutions together. It also means that unorganized citizens can express their opinion about plans or policies created by the government. This is related to the shift from government to governance and the wish for more responsibility and involvement of citizens (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). A participatory or interactive process can involve different parties. It can include citizens, stakeholders, experts, governmental and non governmental organizations. Those parties can take different positions in a project. Some positions are; the commissioner, the project leader, experts, communication advisors and people that contribute to the content of the process (Nieuwe Gracht, 2008). A characteristic of participatory processes is that all the involved parties are able to influence the project or process (Pröpper & Steenbeek, 2001). The Dutch political system was tested during the eighties, organized citizens were seen as troublesome and retardant. The politics start to worry about the way they operate during the nineties, they wanted active participation and increase democracy (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001); (Pröpper & Steenbeek, 2001). One of the reasons for this was the low attendance during the local elections in 1990. This led to a discussion about the support for and legitimacy of local politics. The local politics were supposed to be closest near the citizens but they were experienced as unapproachable. The politicians were unaware of the local issues. This led to a discussion about the gap between government and citizens and how it should be solved. To close the gap politicians look for new processes in which citizens and other parties meet frequent or on a regular base (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). The development of the interactive and participatory approach can also be seen as a reaction on the failure of public hearings. The participatory process can be seen as a proactive style while public hearing is more a reactive style (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). Public hearing means that people can only react on finished plans in the end of a process, when decisions are already made and it is difficult or impossible to make big changes. An other point of critique is the lack of discussion possibilities. People can express their opinion but there is little space for dialogue. It is often unclear what happens 24 with the input and opinions expressed during public hearings (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). This participative and interactive approach fits within the Dutch tradition of consultation, cooperation and consensus. This model provides opportunities for parties to be heard and to participate. In this way it is useful for citizens to be a member of NGO’s or action groups. The amount of citizens that are member of an NGO or action group in the Netherlands is quite high, while only three percent is member of an political party (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). There are also some reasons why participatory processes in the Netherlands Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001 No participation Pröpper & Steenbeek, 2001 Closed authoritarian style Open authoritarian style Consultative style Role parties Role management No role at all Independent policy, no information to others Inform The target group Independent policy, gets information no information to input from them others Consult Consulted Determines policy, conversation consults parties but partner their input has no direct consequences Advise Participatory Advise Determines policy style but is willing to take other solutions and ideas in account Co-production Delegating Joint decision Decides about the style making within the policy taking the preconditions preconditions in account Co-operative Co-operate with Management works style equal rights and decides together with the participants on an equal base Joint decision Facilitating Initiator Management gives making style support, the participants make the decision Fig 2: Levels of participation. (DLG, 2009). 25 are not so successful (Enserink & Monnikhof, 2003); (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). Some reasons why the results of participatory processes are disappointing are; the lack of concreteness, political weight and a good report on both design and participatory process. Processes focus too much on creating support and the process itself instead of high quality results. The creativity of participants is not stimulated and creative ideas of individuals get lost in a group process. Innovative ideas are often not understood or missed by other participants or facilitators (Enserink & Monnikhof, 2003); (Pröpper & Steenbeek 2001). 3.3 Levels of participation There are different ways parties can be involved in contributing to the content of a process. There influence is often described using the participatory ladder (Pröpper & Steenbeek, 2001) (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). There are several participatory ladders. Figure 2 describes two different participatory ladders, the role of the participants and management (DLG, 2009). When we look at the definition of a participatory process: A process where all relevant parties interact from the start or early stage of a project, open minded to prepare, determine or execute a plan or policy (Pröpper & Steenbeek, 2001). We can conclude that the first three of the scheme, no participation, inform and consult are definitely no participatory processes. Participants are involved in the end of a process or not at all. They can not influence the outcome of the process. The management decides. The other levels of participation could be called participatory processes. The participants can influence the results of the process or can be involved in the decision making. 3.4 Goals of participatory processes There are different reasons to organise a participatory process or for participants to participate. Some reasons to involve participants are; to prevent resistance, improve the image of the government, to get local knowledge, to help participants to execute plans or policy or to increase democracy (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). Some reasons for participants to participate are; to influence the process, to guard their personal values, because they are interested, involved or to influence local politics (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). The success of a participatory process depends among other things on the connection between the goal of the initiator and the motives participants have to participate. It is difficult to determine the success of a participatory process based on the process design. Other factors like; the willingness to participate, the quality of the input or the available resources to shape the process, influence the quality of the process. However a good process design is required to start and finish a participatory process well (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). 26 A goal often mentioned is to increase support for policy and plans. Support is necessary to lessen resistance and to increase the speed and smoothness of the implementation. When people agree with the measurements and the quality, they will not object and for instance go to court to object. A trial can slow down and increases the costs of a project (Enserink & Monnikhof, 2003). It is also possible that participatory processes cause resistance, more communication does not mean that it will convince the participants (Pröpper & Steenbeek 2001). Participatory process can increase awareness among opponents, let sleeping dogs lie (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). An other goal can be to increase the quality of a process or project. There is the quality of the product: Is the product supported by others? Do all the participants support the result? And what is the opinion of experts about the results? And there is the quality of the process: Are the different goals intertwined and are the solutions relevant for more parties (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001)? Interaction can lead to the enrichment of the content. Plans are thought over by several parties and are connected to the needs of the society (Pröpper & Steenbeek 2001). Participatory processes are integrative, make ideas more concrete and create a common language among the participants (Condon, 2008). Participatory process function as catalyst and umbrella for the project, the results of the process can be surprising and beautiful solutions (Nieuwe Gracht, 2008). A participatory process does not per definition lead to better results. By satisfying all participants, less smart solutions are applied. Compromises have to be made while some of them are not optimal or do not work on the long term. Governmental organizations struggle to develop plans of high quality and that increase the efficiency of the process (Jonge, 2010); (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001); (Pröpper & Steenbeek 2001). Other goals mentioned are decreasing the process time and costs (Condon, 2008). Points of contrast and discussion are solved during an early stage in the process. This lessens resistance and increases the efficiency of the process (Jonge, 2010). On the other hand it can lead to longer processes and more expensive solutions when dealing with a lot of communication, interests and wishes. 3.5 Roles in participatory processes Participatory processes involve different parties in a process or project. Some types of participants are; citizens, users, action groups, NGO’s, organizations, independent experts, media or other governments (Pröpper & Steenbeek, 2001).The amount of participants, the different groups or the role they play differ each process and project. The selection of participants depends on; the reliance of the policy, the authority, experience or expertise of the participants, the interests of the participants or the positive or negative experience with the participants. The variety of participants depends on 27 the amount of diversity in opinions and interests wished for (Pröpper & Steenbeek, 2001). It is necessary to assemble the actors that are in the position to influence the project in such a way that they can work together towards a favorable outcome (Condon, 2008). Interactive and participatory processes influence the daily routine of participants. The way of working can add new roles and tasks or changes the existing roles (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). 3.5.1 The role of citizens Initiatives taken by citizens all have in common that they think it can be different and better. They think it is important to protect, improve, or develop the landscape. Personal passion and drive are important factors for citizen initiators (Dam et al, 2010). Citizens are often involved because they are the future users or can contribute with the local knowledge they have. 3.5.2 The role of action groups and NGO’s A lot of people are member of an action group or NGO as mentioned before (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). The Dutch tradition of consultation, cooperation and consensus led to action groups and NGO’s that operate very professional, especially the ones involved in spatial development and planning (Nieuwe Gracht, 2008). Action groups and NGO’s form a link between citizens and governmental organizations. They try to influence governmental policies and projects (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). 3.5.3 The role of politicians Politicians can have different roles in participatory processes. They can provide the constrains and framework of a process, they can participate during a process and they have to process the results of the process (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). Civil servants can also have different roles, they can be the expert, the negotiator or someone who tries to connect all different parties together (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). Politicians and governmental organizations want to implement a participatory way of working in theory. In practice they often see participation as a threat for their position. Politicians and civil servants are insecure and withdraw when it comes to finding new ways to play a role in participatory processes (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). The involvement of politicians and civil servants is important because they are empowered to approve, develop or provide input on side development plans. When you not involve them it is likely that there will rise implementation difficulties (Condon, 2008). 3.5.4 The role of experts Experts can contribute to a process by stimulating innovation, show examples, express ideas and providing specific knowledge (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). Experts can play an important role testing and optimizing the results of a participatory process, in this way the plans become feasible. 28 Hereby it is important that the experts use a language that is understood by all participants (Nieuwe Gracht, 2008). This requires an open and positive attitude of the experts (Edelenbos & Monnikhof, 2001). Experts are not always willing to work with participants without knowledge of their professional field. They resist against participatory processes because they have the knowledge and the capacity to solve problems and they are afraid of losing quality. Such a defensive attitude does not fit in open plan processes and working with participants. Working with participants asks for a change of attitude, when this changes participatory processes can be more successful (Enserink & Monnikhof, 2003). 3.5.5 The role of landscape architects Landscape architects can be involved in different ways during a participatory process. They are not only involved to make operational designs or administrative plans but also to support the mutual process of creative imagination and reflective practice which is the core of design and planning (Jonge, 2009). The landscape architect can be the professional with knowledge about the landscape and at the same time a designer. Some tasks described are; doing inventories, analyzing landscape systems, telling stories about the landscape. A landscape architect is able to integrate topics, create designs, concepts and to visualize ideas and the future (Nieuwe Gracht, 2008); (Blerck, 2005). Designers create space for new insights, look for solutions and look at their effectiveness and feasibility. Designers involved in participatory processes have to be curious and open to the insights of participants (Nieuwe Gracht, 2008). A landscape architect can also be in a leading position and playing roles like; the facilitator, process manager or initiator. Some tasks described are; creating the frame work of the process, synthesize suggestions into a final suggestion, organizing, inspire, negotiate and evaluate (Nieuwe Gracht, 2008); (Condon, 2008). It is possible to play different roles during a participatory process. The role can depend on the phase or context of a process. Some landscape architects are able to switch between several roles. In other cases experts or colleagues need to be involved to handle the other roles or handle and tasks (Blerck, 2005). 3.6 Differences in thinking Project managers, designers and participants all have a different background, their styles of working, communication and world views are therefore different too. Because of this the skills and knowledge of the parties and what thy can contribute is often unclear for the other cooperating parties. Effective acquisition, distribution, processing, translation and structure are essential for a cooperation between different parties in a the process and design activities (Enserink & Monnikhof, 2003). 29 According to Enserink and Monnikhof (2003) there is a tension between the input of participants and experts. They see this most clearly in design activities. The lack of knowledge and skill of participants is a barrier in understanding the process. The influence of participants in design activities is low, rarely applied and when applied not successful. It might be possible as that participants are not able to reason logically but act from there own values influenced by their own experiences, relationships and events. Important in participatory design activities are the alternatives. The process leads to one or more solutions for a problem. During the design activities many decisions have to and will be made, conscious or unconscious. There will be negotiations about preconditions and solutions to reach successful products. This part of the process often takes place without the participants and is done by experts. In this way the participants are excluded from the real decision making activities and is their influence limited. The participants should be included in the selection of alternatives to have more influence. The influence of participants is narrowed down further by using unclear accounting systems, multi-criteria analyses, decision support systems screenings and evaluations of alternatives (Enserink & Monnikhof, 2003). 3.7 The importance of continuation 3.8 Summary The use of a participatory process is not completely without risks, good preparations and finishing off the results afterwards are essential. Participatory processes create expectations among the participants, they expect to taken serious and that the results are taken serious. Processes often end without concrete plans and how they should be implemented into policies. Presenting the results should take place quite fast after the finish of the process. Otherwise participants feel as if there is nothing done with their efforts. It becomes disconnected from the group and the public attention (Nieuwe Gracht, 2008) (Condon, 2008). A participatory process can be described as a process where all relevant parties interact from the start or early stage of a project, open minded to prepare, determine or execute a plan or policy. Participatory processes can close the gap between government and citizens. It is also a reaction on the failure of public hearings. There are different levels of participation though, defined by the position and level of influence of participants. Participatory processes are organized for different reasons. Some of those reasons are; to increase support, to increase the quality or to increase the speed and to decrease the costs of projects. There is no guarantee that those effects occur. Participatory processes involve different parties in a process or project. Some types of participants are; citizens, users, action groups, NGO’s, organizations, independent experts, media or other governments. Those groups have different roles during the process. A landscape architect can participate from a professional role and from a leading role. Communication skills are in both cases very important. 30 31 4 Interviewing An interview is the best way to get information about the lived experience of a person. The interview invites and persuades people to think and talk at both conscious and unconscious levels (Nunkoosing, 2005). An interviewer is someone who uses conversation to obtain information from other persons. There are similarities between conversation and interviewing but the main goal of an interview is to obtain information (Gordon, 1975). One of the goals of interviewing is gathering stories about events and experiences that possible help us to generate theories. Therefore is an interview not always the end of a research, an interview can lead to a hypothesis or theories that need further research. By doing an interview we want to get new information. Start the set up of an interview by asking “what do I want to know?” Followed by the next question “how can I know?” When we seek to find what we already know in the interviews, we learn little to advantage our knowledge (Nunkoosing, 2005). 4.1 Qualitative interviews Creswell (2009) defines qualitative interviews as: “interviews involving unstructured and generally open ended questions that are few in number and intended to extract views and opinions from the participants.” Interviews can be face to face, by phone, in groups or by e-mail or internet. Some positive aspects of interviewing are: the researcher can control the questions to get the information needed and it can be applied when direct observations are not possible. The interviewer can stimulate the respondent to give complete and accurate information. The interviewer can explain more about the question if unclear (Gordon, 1975). Some negative aspects of interviews are the limits some people have in expressing themselves, groups of people that can not express themselves at all, or people might feel limited by the presence of the researcher (Creswell 2009); (Nunkoosing, 2005). Gramsbergen & Molen (2007), Baarda (2001) and Gordon (1975) describe different types of interviews: the open interview, the half structured interview and the closed interview. The most important distinction between the different styles is the amount of influence allowed in the interview (Figure 3). The amount of influence for the researcher is limited by the structure of the interview schedule. The more the schedule is structured the more control the interviewer has. The influence of the respondent is related to the amount of topic control used by the interviewer. An open interview offers a lot of space for the respondent and less space for the interviewer to control. A closed interview or questionnaire offers a lot of space for the interviewer to control the topics and less space for the respondent to answer. An other difference between the interview styles is the function of the interview. Two basic functions are discovery and measurement (Gordon, 1975). An open interview is better for discovery while a structured interview is better for measurements. 4.1.1 Open interviews An open interview starts with one open question related to the subject. The 32 Fig 3: Influence interviewer and respondent. (Gramsbergen & Molen 2007) 33 respondent can tell the things he thinks are important. The researcher directs the interview by asking connecting questions. What the respondent does not tell is apparently not relevant. The positive aspect of this kind of interview is that the respondent has a lot of space to put forwards the topics he thinks are most important for his story. A negative aspect is the difficulty to process the data. Every respondent gives different answers; because of this it is hard to compare the data (Gramsbergen & Molen, 2007). It is impossible to statistically summarize the information or to compare the responses of individuals (Gordon, 1975). Questions: One open start question about one specific theme Space for researcher: Minimal Space for respondent: Optimal Positive aspects: Chance of unexpected topics and answers, more discovery Negative aspects: Hard to process data, less measurement 4.1.2 Half structured interviews The goal of this type of interview is to get information about a certain topic. The topic consists of a couple of sub topics that needs to be handled during the interview. The sub topics define a certain scope and borders of the topic (Gordon, 1975). The respondent can not choose the topics but he is free in his answers. The researcher can choose the subjects and the order in which he asks them. All topics should be addressed (Gramsbergen & Molen, 2007) (Gordon, 1975). Questions: One open start question and a couple of topics to be addressed Space for researcher and respondent: Both have influence Positive aspects: Control on topics and space for the interviewed person to answer, discovery and measurement 4.1.3 Closed interviews This type of interview is a questionnaire or poll, all questions and order are determined in advance. The interviewed person is bound to answer the specific question. This type of interview is used to collect information about specific categories from several respondents (Gordon, 1975). A positive aspect of this kind of interview is that the researcher can process the data easily. A negative aspect is that there is not a lot of space for the respondent to express opinions, ideas or experiences (Gramsbergen & Molen, 2007). Questions: All questions and order determined in advance Space for researcher: Optimal Space for respondent: Minimal Positive aspects: Easy to process data, more measurement Negative aspects: Little space for the interviewed person to express himself, less discovery 34 4.2 Roles interviewer, respondent and reader 4.3 Selection of the respondents 4.4 Ethics and the validity of interviewing An interviewer makes use of his skills to encourage the respondent to tell stories about experiences or events. Without the interview those stories would remain untold. It is important that the interviewer addresses the way the stories are told. As a researcher you need to retell the respondents story but at the same time your own story (Nunkoosing, 2005) (Figure 4). Besides interviewing a respondent the interviewer has to take care of three objectives: relevance, validity and reliability. The answers to the questions have to meet those objectives (Gordon, 1975). To obtain relevant information the interviewer has to understand the purpose of the interview. The interviewer needs to ask questions that support the purpose and detect and correct misunderstandings about the questions. The interviewer has to stimulate the respondent to give clear and relevant information, and to avoid irrelevant information. To obtain valid and reliable information the interviewer has to be aware of the reasons why a respondent is unwilling to give information and look for symptoms of resistance. The interviewer has to communicate to the respondent so he is able and willing to give you information. It is important that the respondent gives the information voluntary, you can not pressure the respondent to give information he is not willing or able to give it (Nunkoosing, 2005); (Gordon, 1975). The interviewer has the task to analyze and interpret the interviews, the results will be available to others. The readers have to interpret the results again and create their own story (Nunkoosing, 2005). I did several interviews, nine for the research and seven for the design assignment. More than one interview makes it possible to gather detailed information and in this way we had the possibility to cross check the given information. The choice for respondents depends on the information you need. Some criteria and questions for selecting the right respondents are: “Who has the right information?”, “Who of them is physically and socially accessible?”, “Who of them is most willing to give the information?” And “Who of them is most able to give accurate information?” (Gordon, 1975). The selection of respondents was different for my research and the design assignment. As interviewer it is important to take the ethics in account. A respondent tells personal stories about private thoughts and behavior. The results of the interviews and therefore the private thoughts of the respondent become Fig 4: The reconstruction of stories 35 public. Because of this anonymity is important (Nunkoosing, 2005). During an interview the respondent uses words to create a story, hereby chooses the respondent which stories are relevant or available. It is obvious that stories change when they are retold. Respondents have a choice about the information they want to tell or keep to themselves. As an interviewer you can not force respondents to tell you what the don’t want or able to tell you (Nunkoosing, 2005). The transcript of an interview is often send to the respondent afterwards. This gives the respondent a chance to remove, change or add something to the interview. In this way they have a chance to determine what will be included and what will be excluded during the analysis and interpretation of the interview. In this way we acknowledge that people are not always in control about what they say during an interview (Nunkoosing, 2005). Because of the ethical reasons we always ask for consent to take an interview and to use the data for the research. 4.5 Strategies for validating findings 4.6 Procedures of the interview According to Creswell (2009) qualitative validity means that the researcher checks for the accuracy of the findings by employing certain procedures. One of these procedures is called ‘member checking’. This means that the researcher gives some products back to the participants, they have to determine if the information is accurate. In case of the research I did send a transcript of the interview by e-mail to the respondent. In case of the design assignment we send back a summary of the interview. In some cases the respondents changed or added things. The interviewer has to offer some explanation about the interview, the procedures and the respondents rights. Gordon (1975) gives the following guidelines for the introduction. First you need to introduce yourself. Secondly you need to explain the purpose of the interview. If it is relevant you have to explain the sponsorship of the research. You can explain why the respondent is chosen. If the interview is anonymous you can explain why this is the case. If there is a reward for participating I can be mentioned. If the interview is recorded you have to explain why and ask permission. Than you can start with the first question. If you approach the end of the interview the interviewer has to tell the respondent that the interview is nearly finished. Before you end the interview the interviewer can ask the respondent if there are more topics that are not addressed yet but might be relevant or if there are questions the interviewer needs to answer. When the interviewer is finished the interviewer will let the respondent know when the data are processed and when he can expect a transcript or summary. It is polite to thank the respondent for his time and effort in participating. 36 4.7 Language 4.8 Summary The interviews are done in Dutch, the native language of all respondents. To enable the respondents to express themselves and to prevent miscommunication. The analysis of the interviews is also in Dutch. The transcripts of the interviews (as well as the analysis) are included in the appendixes. The final conclusions are written in English and are included in the report. Creswell (2009) defines qualitative interviews as: “interviews involving unstructured and generally open ended questions that are few in number and intended to extract views and opinions from the participants.” Literature describes different types of interviews: the open interview, the half structured interview and the closed interview. The most important distinction between the different styles is the amount of influence allowed in the interview. There are open interviews, half structured interviews and closed interviews. The interviewer has the task to analyze and interpret the interviews, the results will be available to others. The readers have to interpret the results again and create their own story. Ethics like anonymity are necessary to protect the personal information provided during the interview. Strategies like member checking are used to validate the findings of the interviews. 37 5 Landscape architects narratives The information about interviewing gathered in the previous chapter formed the base for the lay-out of the interviews, the interviews and the analysis of the interviews. This chapter describes the procedures and results of the interviews with nine landscape architects about their experiences with participatory processes. 5.1 Type of interview 5.2 Selection of the respondents 5.3 Procedures of the interview For this research I did half open interviews with landscape architects who have experience with participatory processes and designing. The interviews I did focussed on the focussed on the perception of landscape architects and their role in participatory processes. I chose the half open interview to profit from the freedom that respondents than have to talk about their experiences and to give their opinions. Controlling the main topics of the interviews made it possible for me to gather the data and to compare the given answers. As mentioned earlier I needed landscape architects that have experience with participatory processes and designing. Because there is not a lot of information available yet I chose to take a broad range in respondents as well as a variety of interview questions. To get a diverse range of experiences and stories I created three sub groups. The groups are divided by their organizational level and position. The three levels I distinguished are: the governmental level, the knowledge institutes and landscape architecture offices. From each group I wanted to have three landscape architects to interview. Three persons is enough to compare their answers within the organizational level. Those answers can be compared with the other groups to see if there are differences and similarities. A total of nine interviews was, considered the time of the thesis, the limit. I found respondents by reading articles, talking to experts, through the university and contacts given by other respondents. I tried to create as much diversity as possible within the sub groups. Some landscape architects within offices focus on detailed plans and citizen participation and others on planning assignments on a large scale. The landscape architects within knowledge institutes have different backgrounds and focus. Within the governmental organizations I tried to find landscape architects within different governmental levels, one landscape architect from the state, one at provincial level and one from a municipality level. On the next page is a scheme presenting the position of the respondents within the different sub groups (Figure 5). I approached the respondents by e-mail, phone call or in most cases both. In this first moment of contact with the possible respondent I introduced myself, the purpose and subject of the interview, why I selected this person and the time the interview would approximately take, then I asked if they wanted to participate. If possible an appointment was made at the same time. There was no sponsorship for my research nor a reward for participating. 38 Landscape architects within offices R1:Experience with long term strategic planning assignments R2: Various experiences R3: Experience with local small scale design assignments Landscape architects within knowledge Institutes R4: Experience abroad R5: Various experiences R6: Experience with participatory processes and experts Landscape architects within governmental organizations R7: Experience on a governmental level R8: Experience on a municipality level R9: Experience on a provincial level Fig 5: The selection of respondents Before I started the interview I explained once more the purpose of the interview and the time it would take. Furthermore I explained the structure of the interview with the different topics and subtopics. I asked if it was all right if I recorded the interview. This enabled me to write a reliable transcript and I could listen more carefully because I didn’t need to take lots of notes. Next to that I explained that the interview would be anonymous and that the results would only be used for this research. I decided to keep the respondents of the interviews anonymous because I wanted that they felt free to express themselves. It is more important that they give information without changing a lot because their name and organization will be connected with it than giving the name and organization of the landscape architect. The name of the landscape architect is secondary to the validity of the information. I had a start question and a finishing question, before asking the final question I announced that it would be the last question. After that question I asked if there were any extra topics, issues or questions they wanted to address. In the end I explained that I would make a transcript based on the recorded interview and that I would send that back within a week by e-mail. Within a week I returned the transcript. In the e-mail I explained again the anonymity of the research and invited people to look at the transcript and add, change or remove things if necessary. Also I thanked them again for cooperating. 5.4 Questions and content interviews In preparation of my thesis proposal and research I talked to different people and gathered literature about the topic. Based on this information I wrote my thesis proposal and determined the main and sub questions of the research. 39 Because I am looking for the experiences of landscape architects it seemed logic to talk with landscape architects and take an interview to find out their opinions, thoughts and experiences about participation. The start question of the interview is about the influence of participation landscape architects experience during their job. The sub topics are about roles, tasks, skills, results, positive and negative aspects and about expected future developments. Every sub topic had a few specific questions. Most of those questions come forth from discussions and interviews with people. To test the topics and estimate the time an interview will take I did one test interview. I asked a classmate with working experience to cooperate with this test interview. This interview was important to test my own skills, the questions and the answers given. The results of this interview will not be used for my research. 5.5 Processing the data of the interviews The processing of the data was done in three different phases. A transcript with the complete interview literally, an analysis based on the subtopics and last an overview of the sub topics. The first and second phase focus on the information given by the nine respondents, the third phase focuses more on giving an overview of the answers and compare them between the nine respondents. I describe the three different phases below. It started with the transcript of the interview. I recorded the interviews so I could make a truthful transcript. The transcript includes the spoken words during the interview. Those transcripts were send back to the respondents, they could add, adapt and change things if they thought it was needed. This ‘member checking’ is used to check the accuracy of the data (Creswell, 2009). When approved I used the transcript for analyzing the interview. I numbered the lines so I could find back all the notes I made during the analysis. This is the story of the respondent. During the second phase I extracted the relevant information from the transcripts. I created several sub topics based on my questions and some extra topics which were mentioned in several interviews without asking for it. I introduced this phase because I am not experienced enough to code directly from the transcript. This phase helped me to separate the relevant from the less relevant information. In this phase I selected relevant information without loosing the nuances expressed by the respondents. Categorizing the information was the first step towards comparing the answers. During the last stage the categorized answers and comments were reduced to a code consisting of a few words. In this way I had an overview of the given answers and was able to compare the answers between all the respondents. “Coding means categorizing segments of data with a short name that 40 Phase 1: the transcript “En mijn tweede grote ervaring was toen ik bij de provincie B werkte, projectleider was van het streekplan, dat is het grote, wat nu de provinciale structuurvisie heet, bij de nieuwe wet ruimtelijke ordening. Dat was toch eigenlijk ook nog heel erg top down, maar wel met een wettelijke inspraakprocedure en ja dat plan dat bracht zo ontzettend veel maatschappelijk protest teweeg. Dat, het was in de tijd dat de ecologische hoofdstructuur voor het eerst werd uitgerold en ook in ruimtelijke plannen verankerd moest worden, B was de eerste provincie die dat ook werkelijk in een streekplan ging gieten.” Respondent 1, R 9-15 Phase 2: selection sub topics Respondent 1 Ervaringen 12) inspraak procedure bracht veel maatschappelijk protest teweeg 20) constatering: zoals het nu gaat, gaat het niet goed 25) constatering: onvoldoende rekening gehouden met sociale waarden 32) dat was voor mij een leerpunt Phase 3: overview sub topics per respondent Respondent Gevarieerd Inspirerend Verrijking Inspraak negatieve ervaringen Ervaring belangen groepen Ervaring lokale bevolking Ervaring overheids instellingen Ervaring experts 1 2 3 4 2 5 6 7 8 9 */9 2 2 2 5 5/9 1/9 1/9 2/9 7 6 2 4 12 9 15 9 5 4 2 5 3/9 4 12 13 7 4/9 4/9 4 3/9 Fig 6: Example of the different phases 41 simultaneously summarizes and accounts for each piece of data. The codes show how you select, separate and sort data to begin an analytic accounting of them (Charmaz, 2006).” Coding is a link between collecting data and the development of theory explaining the data (Charmaz, 2006). I compared the answers given by those nine respondents, all answers are valued equally. In qualitative researches we often talk about generalization of the content and not statistical (Baarda, 2001). The results of this research might be applicable to similar situations. We have to take in account that the opinions expressed during the interviews are personal and are not necessary the opinion of all landscape architects. The stories created here are the stories of the interviewer. By numbering the lines in the transcript and using those numbers during phase two and three it is easy to look up and find back the information. The different stages of analyzing the interviews are connected by the corresponding numbers of the lines. The first phase contains the transcript with the complete story of the respondent, than there is the extraction of the relevant information from the transcript and the last phase the interpretation and categorizing of the information. An overview of the different phases is shown in figure 6. 5.6 Results of the interviews I categorized the answers based on the topics asked during the interviews. I will show the results per category connected to the questions asked. 5.6.1 Experiences of landscape architects The start question of the interview was: What are your experiences as a landscape architect with participatory processes? The goal of this question was to create an opening in the conversation and find connections to the other questions. Most landscape architects mentioned the diversity and variety of their experiences with participatory processes (5/9). Other words mentioned were inspiring and enrichment (1/9). The diversity landscapes mentioned is related to the different parties they have experience with. Mentioned are: action groups (3/9), local inhabitants (4/9), governmental organizations (4/9) and experts (3/9). Other landscape architects explain their work and experiences chronological. Two of them talk about public hearing and how unsuccessful it was (2/9). After the failure of hearing they looked for other ways to involve other parties during the process. “Inspraak: echt sprake van interactie was er niet, het was vooral zenden, luisteren en dat weer verwerken in de volgende slag.” Respondent 1, R17 “Inspraak: ze probeerden dat links of rechtsom maar het liefst middendoor voor elkaar te krijgen.” Respondent 2, R10 42 5.6.2 Roles and tasks of the landscape architect One of the questions was about the task of the landscape architect during a participatory process. A lot of different answers were given to this question, underneath I will categorize the different answers. Despite all the other tasks a landscape architect seems to fulfil during a participation process most respondents mention their role as a landscape architect (7/9). It is important to have a phase during a participatory process where the landscape architect is the professional with their specific knowledge. The respondents mention tasks like; looking for patterns and systems in the landscape (1/9), creating cohesion (2/9), integration (1/9) and flexibility (1/9) in plans. Set the legal context of a project (1/9), to tell the story (1/9) or to think about the future (1/9). But the most mentioned is the task to visualize and create images (6/9). “Dat is gewoon een vak. Dat moet je niet aan de kant schuiven, dat moet je altijd wel koesteren.” Respondent 3, R278 “Elke rol hoort in een bepaalde fase thuis maar soms ben je ook gewoon puur ontwerper.” Respondent 8, R373 Some landscape architects intentionally separate their professional contribution from other tasks (2/9). They cooperate with external parties or companies to take care of the other issues so that they as a landscape architect can focus on the content of the design. “Een proces manager zorgt dat je met de goede vragen en mensen bezig bent, zodat je als landschapsarchitect vooral inhoudelijk kan werken.” Respondent 2, R119 “Dat is een hele fijne rolverdeling: dat ik het presenteer maar niet de discussieleider ben. Dan kun je altijd in je rol blijven als ontwerper.” Respondent 3, R17 A second important role is to support and guide lay people during the process (5/9). Tasks mentioned are; inspire (2/9), stimulate creativity (3/9) and imagination (4/9), provide tools (2/9) and overviews (1/9). During a participatory process a landscape architect can educate people (4/9) and show people other options (2/9). You can help people to discover opportunities (4/9). “Je brengt zelf een stuk verbeelding in maar wat belangrijker is dat je mensen uitdaagt om ook zelf verbeelding te gebruiken.” Respondent 1, R220 43 “Mensen hebben die deskundigheid niet, die moet je dus van dienst zijn, die moet je betrekken.” Respondent 3, R34 “Dan moet je ze laten tekenen en daar moet je ze bij helpen.” Respondent 4, R237 “De rol van de landschapsarchitect is toch wel om de ideeën van mensen op kaart en gebiedsspecifiek te krijgen.” Respondent 6, R143 An other aspect of participatory processes is the role of process manager (1/9), chairman (2/9) and facilitating side (2/9). Important tasks are; explore the assignment (2/9), find issues that are relevant for participants (2/9), explore the sphere of an area (1/9), to connect to the expectations of participants (4/9) and manage those expectations (1/9). Reflection on the process is also mentioned (1/9). Some tasks are related to the quality of the design, the responsibility to create something beautiful (1/9) and to guard the values of an area (1/9). “Aansluiten bij de verwachtingen van de mensen in de zaal is natuurlijk cruciaal.” Respondent 2, R144 “Je moet altijd beginnen met de zaken die de mensen zelf aangaan.” Respondent 4, R10 “Ik blijf me toch altijd zorgen maken, ik wil dat er iets moois komt. Dat is mijn belangrijkste doel en daarbij hoort ook dat er mensen bij betrokken zijn.” Respondent 3, R269 It is important to ensure the continuity and after care of an area (2/9). Creating energy (1/9) and stimulate social connections (1/9) can help to reach that. Inform and communication are also mentioned (3/9), striking is that this is mentioned by the three respondents from governmental organisations. It is not always necessary to handle all the tasks yourself, it is possible to work in a team (2/9). The task you handle can depend on the personal preferences of the landscape architect (4/9) or phase in the process (3/9). In general, it is important to keep your promises (5/9). “Misschien moet je het samen met andere mensen. Wij hebben veel gehad aan het samenwerken met experts op het gebied van voorlichting.” Respondent 4, R82 “Ik vind dat je in een ruimtelijke ontwerpen bewust moet omgaan met de sociale verbanden in een gebied en het liefst versterken.” Respondent 7, R223 44 “De een is een prater de ander een tekenaar en de ander is een onderzoeker.” Respondent 8, R388 “Participeren betekent ook dat je daarna goed moet blijven informeren, communiceren naar de burger toe en dat je, je afspraken na moet komen.” Respondent 7, R98 “Je moet er heel keen op zijn dat je geen verwachtingen wekt die niet waargemaakt kunnen worden. Dat kan zich uiteindelijk tegen je keren.” Respondent 9, R178 5.6.3 Knowledge and skills I asked the landscape architects about the knowledge and skills they need to fulfil their roles during a participatory process. And how they learned those skills. There are two main points when talking to landscape architects about their knowledge and skills. The skills and knowledge are connected to the task the landscape architect, the two main roles mentioned are; the landscape architect as a professional and the landscape architect involved with the management of the process. “Ik heb moeten afleren dat je een plan maakt wat helemaal tot op de detail doorgerekend, door getekend, ontworpen en vormgegeven is.” Respondent 4, R230 Knowledge and skills connected to the landscape architect as a professional are important (6/9). As a landscape architect you have to be creative (4/9), you must be able to visualize ideas and create images (4/9). You have to adapt your design language to the group of participants (1/9). Knowledge of vegetation (1/9), materials (1/9) and knowing examples (1/9) are necessary. A landscape architect must be able to think about the future (1/9) and through different scales (2/9). Landscape architects have to think and work integral (1/9) and be able to connect different systems and functions (2/9). These skills and knowledge are provided by the educational programs available in the Netherlands (3/9). The study provides a good basis for different tasks the landscape architect can do (1/9). “De inhoudelijke kennis die je als landschapsarchitect mee krijgt in je opleiding breng je in en gebruik je.” Respondent 9, R68 Other knowledge and skills are connected to communication (4/9). As a landscape architect you have to work people oriented (1/9). During a participatory process a landscape architect have to deal with group dynamics (1/9). A landscape architect has to name what is going on during the process (1/9), detect tension and take it away (1/9), have empathy (1/9), listen (1/9), observe (1/9), stimulate participants (4/9) and have feeling for economic relationships (1/9). Those skills are not learned during the study (1/9) unless 45 you choose specific courses (1/9), classes or do literature studies (3/9). Communication skills are gained by experience (5/9). “Vooral communicatieve vaardigheden, die worden steeds belangrijker.” Respondent 1, R331 “Je moet je in kunnen leven in wat de behoeften van de andere partijen zijn, dat is erg belangrijk.” Respondent 6, R331 As a landscape architect it is essential that you are able to let go (3/9) and that you accept that you don’t know everything (2/9). “En dan denk je goh, had dat niet iets mooier gekund? Maar dat hoort er dan bij,” Respondent 3, R126 “Je moet proberen mensen het zelf te laten ontdekken, je moet ze niet zoveel vertellen.” Respondent 4, R243 5.6.4 Positive and negative aspects of participatory processes One of the topics I asked questions about was the difference between participatory processes and non-participatory processes. And what they considered the positive and negative aspects of participatory processes. Positive aspects The most mentioned positive aspect of participatory processes is gaining support (7/9). By involving interested groups from the start you gain support. Landscape architects can test and filter their ideas, in this way they have more security about their ideas meeting the wishes of the interested parties (4/9). This can lead to less resistance (1/9) and protests afterwards (2/9) because people feel heard (2/9). Also mentioned is a better connection with the practice (1/9). “De zekerheid dat je dingen doet, maakt of bedenkt die er voor de mensen toe doen. Dat vind ik één van de fijnste dingen die ik dan persoonlijk mee krijg.” Respondent 4, R297 “Draagvlak betekent niet automatisch dat de mensen in een gebied het eens zijn met de gekozen oplossingsrichting, maar wel dat je mensen in een gebied betrekt bij het proces en ze op de hoogte houdt.” Respondent 9, R115 A second point has to do with the responsibility of inhabitants towards their environment. Involving interested parties creates a sense of responsibility and involvement (4/9). By creating a sense of responsibility landscape architects hope that people change their mentality (2/9). People that care for a place will take care of it (3/9). If people take care a plan is more sustainable 46 and can withstand time better (2/9). In this way participatory processes are a long term investment (1/9). “Mijn doel is wel altijd dat je probeert een verandering in gang probeert te zetten.” Respondent 4, R16 “De omgeving wordt weer onderdeel van de maatschappij.” Respondent 4, R331 An other aspect is the advantage of getting local knowledge from interested parties (4/9). In this way it is possible to discover local values and facts (1/9). Landscape architects get access to knowledge that otherwise would remain inaccessible. Furthermore, participatory processes can lead to new links between parties and professional fields (1/9). This can lead to new insights (1/9). Negative aspects Some of the negative aspects are connected with the success or failure of a process. If a process fails, you will loose a lot of energy (2/9). It can also lead to more resistance (2/9). Participatory processes are associated with interference and fuss (1/9). It takes a lot of time to prepare participatory processes (2/9). Discussion points Some of the topics are mentioned in both categories, positive as well as negative. Those topics seem to be discussion points. The first topics are time and costs, the second topic is the quality of the process and design. Time and costs seems to be connected, it a process takes longer it will cost more. Two respondents say a participatory process is faster (2/9). Four respondents claim it is cheaper to do a participatory process (4/9). On the other hand there are other respondents who say participatory processes are time consuming (5/9) and are more expensive (3/9). Every respondent has a different point of view on this discussion, there are varied reasons why they think so, some examples are written down below. Participatory processes can be faster because you involve people and take in account their wishes. In this way they will not interfere and block the process. Participatory processes can be time consuming because of all sorts of meetings, workshops, preparations and communication issues. A participatory process can be cheaper because of the involvement of local people, it might be possible that local parties are willing to take responsibility for costs or for example the maintenance of an area. It can be more expensive because of all the professionals you need to hire to guide workshops. 47 “Een wethouder die moet bezuinigen heeft geen geld om zelf een plan te realiseren, die zegt; nee we gaan inspelen op initiatieven van de burgers en bedrijven in het gebied.” Respondent 3, R228 An other discussion is the quality of the plan or design. Some respondents admit that they don’t know themselves if it improves the quality or not. Most respondents say that the quality of a design decreases by doing a participatory process (4/9). A participatory process leads to compromises (2/9). And when the implementation is done by participants it is hard or impossible to control the execution (1/9). Only two respondents are positive about the influence of participatory processes on the quality (2/9) and are convinced that it will lead to a better plan (1/9). “Hoe meer mensen dat worden, hoe meer rekening je moet houden en hoe meer, in negatieve zin gezegd, het een compromis zou kunnen zijn.” Respondent 2, R188 “Het gaat er toch vooral om dat die mensen blij zijn met wat daar is gerealiseerd en dat ze iets hebben waar ze zich prettig bij voelen.” Respondent 5, R246 “Wanneer wordt een ontwerp beter? Als iedereen zijn plasje erover gedaan heeft of als een ontwerper in zijn bubbel zit en het ontwerp maakt?” Respondent 8, R226 5.6.5 Commissioning One of the questions is about the role of the commissioner. Who decides if a process will be executed participatory? There are different opinions about the question who decides and why, ill give an overview underneath. Some respondents say it is your own decision to start a participatory process (3/9) and that it is your own responsibility to see if it is appropriate or not (3/9), some landscape architects prefer to work participatory (1/9). An other option is to make the decision together with the commissioner (2/9). Some respondents say that participatory processes are always necessary because you are never autonomic (2/9). Participation can be determined on different ways, it can be the assignment (2/9), in the approach of the office or institution (3/9) or determined by protocols (1/9). “Uiteindelijk is je opdrachtgever ook iemand die participeert in je proces.” Respondent 2, R185 “Ik vind in principe dat het altijd moet.” Respondent 3, R156 48 “Als je de vraag krijgt om daar in mee te doen, dat je dan de verantwoordelijkheid hebt om er diep over na te denken, dit heeft zin of dit heeft geen zin.” Respondent 4, R179 There are different reasons to work participatory, some landscape architects prefer to work participatory (1/9), offices or institutions have a social assignment (3/9). It is also possible that the reason for participation is unclear (1/9). “Zodra je op een plek komt waar mensen moeten wonen, werken of leven, moet je daar ook iets met die mensen doen” Respondent 3, R149 It happens that landscape architects have to convince the commissioner of the use of participatory processes (3/9). Sometimes commissioners are unfamiliar with participatory processes (1/9). Commissioners have to take participatory processes serious (1/9). If they have no intention to use the results of a participatory process, it is useless to set up a participatory process. (1/9). Other commissioners are familiar with participatory processes and are willing to cooperate (1/9). The support of the commissioner can be essential for a successful process (1/9). “Daar hebben we geluk gehad met onze bestuurlijke opdrachtgever. Die wel zelf een visie hadden en wilde sturen maar ook in staat waren om ruimte te geven waar dat nodig was.” Respondent 1, R378 Some commissioners feel responsibility to make a plan for an area (1/9). It is also possible that a commissioner is afraid to open up a process (1/9). 5.6.6 Different approaches participants For this research I take the term participatory processes in a wide sense. It includes processes in different countries, on different scales and with different people. I asked the landscape architects about the different parties that can participate and their attitude. I distinguished three different groups of participants. Experts, organizations and inhabitants. “Je kunt geen landschap maken zonder andere partijen.” Respondent 7, R173 A participatory process is never the same, the people are always different (1/9). It is important to adapt to the group of people (1/9). You have to make information accessible and easy (1/9). People can join from different wishes but with the same goal (1/9). People join to gain some sort of profit from it (1/9). 49 “Bij een heleboel mensen speelt dat, hoe word ik er beter van?” Respondent 9, R87 Experts are people with special knowledge about one or more topics. Experts are independent (1/9) and bring facts and scientific information into the process (1/9). They can give very specific information (1/9). Experts are more formal and objective (1/9). Bringing different experts together can create more integration among the different subjects (1/9). Problems with experts can occur when experts limit their view to their own expertise (1/9). It can be hard to trace and understand the specific information given by the experts (1/9). Because of this it is possible that the information will be misinterpret (1/9). Experts think in models (1/9), they don’t think about the spatial impact of a measure (2/9). It is the task of a landscape architect to make sure that all the experts have a possibility to give input (1/9). “Hoe het eruit ziet is een soort uitkomst van technische randvoorwaarden.” Respondent 6, R151 An organization is a collective of people (1/9) that represent a specific interest or value (2/9). People from an organization often join voluntary and in their own time (1/9). Organizations are often used to cooperate in participatory processes (2/9). They can work more integrated (1/9), are able to think about long term solutions (1/9) and on a larger scale (1/9). Inhabitants are people who live in the plan area. Most of the time they are individuals (1/9), who join a process voluntary in their own time (2/9). They join from their personal interests (1/9). They are focused on their environment (1/9) and speak from their personal experiences (3/9). Therefore it can be difficult for inhabitants to work on a larger scale (1/9). It is the task of a landscape architect to stimulate and motivate inhabitants to join and deliver input (1/9). To make that possible it is necessary to let inhabitants look further than their own environment (1/9). “Mensen kunnen heel goed meepraten over wat in hun omgeving gebeurt maar zodra het over een groot schaalniveau gaat wordt dat lastig.” Respondent 8, R234 5.6.7 Selection participants You make no selection if you really want to do a process participatory (1/9). It is impossible and not necessary to reach everyone so a selection is required. In that case the selection of the participants depends on the goal of the process (1/9). You have to think about what questions do I ask to who (1/9). It is important that all the participants have a participatory attitude (1/9). People must be motivated to create something new (1/9). You need people who can 50 provide valuable input into the process (1/9). People often tell each other about meetings and bring relatives, friends or neighbours to the workshops (2/9). In this way a process can start with a few people but end with a large group. “Je kunt natuurlijk nooit zeggen; dit is een afspiegeling van het gebied.” Respondent 3, R325 5.6.8 Role of governmental organizations and politics As a landscape architect it is necessary to speak the language of the politicians, you depend on their support for the process or plan (3/9). Therefore it is necessary to inform politicians and convince them of the use of participatory processes or the results of the process (1/9). You have to offer politicians topics they can score with, politicians go for their personal gain (3/9). It happens that politicians do their own business and work around participatory processes (1/9). Governmental organizations should choose more often and in an early stage of a project a participatory attitude (1/9). Governmental organizations must learn to let go and give some power away (1/9). People are often angry with governmental organizations and politicians (1/9). “Ik denk dat ons politieke bestel, in de samenleving, echt aan verandering toe is.” Respondent 1, R451 “Het zou handiger zijn als ze toch wat eerder een participatieve houding zouden kiezen.” Respondent 3, R201 “Participatie betekent dat mensen invloed kunnen uitoefenen wat betekent dat je als overheid een beetje invloed moet inleveren.” Respondent 5, R334 5.6.9 Influence history participatory process A participatory process is often a long term process. An area always has a history (1/9). One of the questions was about the influence of happenings in the past on the participatory process. History plays often an important role during a participatory process (1/9) which can be very frustrating (1/9). Miscommunication can cause problems during a process (2/9). A landscape architect needs to change the critique into something positive (2/9) and give it a place during the process (1/9). The three respondents from the governmental organizations say it is their job to take away resistance (3/9). If there is a lot of resistance it might be possible to start all over again (1/9), you have to take two steps back to move one step forwards (1/9). “Dat er hevige emoties ontstaan in een proces vind ik een goed teken, zeker als je in staat bent om dat een plek te geven.” Respondent 2, R208 51 “Je moet proberen om die weerstand om te draaien naar iets positiefs.” Respondent 8, R314 “Als het goed gaat dan hoor je het niet, maar als er weerstand is dan hoor je het wel.” Respondent 8, R319 5.6.10 Future developments in participatory processes The final question was about future developments concerning landscape architects and participatory processes. What needs to be changed to improve participatory processes? And how did they see the future role of the landscape architect? Landscape architects should be more aware of the different roles they can play during processes. (3/9). Awareness of the role helps to communicate more clear (1/9). The landscape architect should function as a translator between experts and practice (1/9). Landscape architects should be more adventurous and be able to let go protocols and procedures (1/9). “Planning, inrichting en beheer, dat is helemaal niet zo’n logisch traject.” Respondent 5, R284 The government took a lot of responsibility concerning the environment, citizens should take more responsibility for their surroundings (2/9). Participatory processes will become more important because citizens will no longer accept top-down plans (1/9). To improve the processes our political system should change (2/9) so the results of the processes could be taken in account or even implemented (2/9). The process can also improve by preparing more carefully (3/9) and to consider the need of a participatory process (2/9). The after care should be better (1/9). Landscapes should be profitable (1/9) and area development (gebiedsontwikkeling) needs to be improved (1/9). “Wat we nu doen, en om me heen zie, dat iedereen altijd hetzelfde voor iedere doelgroep doet. Maar dat die doelgroep veel beter onderzocht moet worden voor je een activiteit ontwikkelt.” Respondent 4, R45 “Er worden kansen gemist doordat er niet in een vroeg stadium mensen bij gehaald worden, of dat er te weinig partijen bij gehaald worden of dat het op een onhandige manier gebeurt.” Respondent 2, R278 5.7 Summary This chapter describes the procedures and results of the half open interviews with nine landscape architects about their experiences with participatory processes. The goal of the research and the interviews is to get a broad view on the landscape architects and participatory processes. Because of this I 52 selected nine different landscape architects from three different categories, landscape architects within offices, landscape architects within knowledge institutes and landscape architects within governmental organizations. I asked questions about their experiences, roles, skills, results, positive and negative aspects and their expectations for the future. The results of the interviews were analysed in three different phases. The first phase is the transcript, the second phase is the selection of topics and the third phase is coding and give an overview of all the topics expressed by the nine respondents. The results are divided in several sub topics mentioned during the interviews. The most important are: The experiences, roles and tasks, knowledge and skills and the positive and negative aspects. Experiences The first question concerned the experiences of the landscape architect. Mentioned is the diversity of experiences, related to the different target groups involved in participatory processes. Inspiring and enrichment were two other words mentioned. Some landscape architects described participatory processes as a counter reaction on public hearing which was not always successful. Roles and tasks An important part of this research is about the role of the landscape architect within participatory processes. They described three different directions, first the landscape architect with their professional knowledge, second the supporting role and third the process management side of processes. Tasks mentioned are: The landscape architect as an expert, create cohesion and integration, create flexibility, tell the story, sketch the future or to set the legal context. But the most mentioned is the task to visualize and create images. A second important role is to support and guide lay people during the process. Tasks mentioned are: Inspire, stimulate creativity and imagination, provide tools and overviews, educate people show other options or help people to discover opportunities. The third role described is the role of process manager, chairman or facilitator. Tasks described are: exploring the assignment, find issues that are relevant for participants, explore the sphere of an area, create energy, stimulate social connections, ensure the continuity and after care, to connect to the expectations of participants and manage those expectations and to reflect on the process. Some general tasks are: informing and communicating. It is not always necessary to handle all the roles and tasks yourself, it is possible to work in a team. The task you handle can depend on the personal preferences of the landscape architect or phase in the process. Knowledge and skills A landscape architect needs knowledge and skills to play certain roles. Knowledge and skills mentioned are: A landscape architect has to be creative, able to visualize ideas and create images, adapt the design language to 53 the group of participants, knowledge of vegetation, materials and examples. A landscape architect must be able to think about the future and through different scales. Landscape architects have to think and work integral. Other skills and knowledge are connected to communication. Knowledge and skills mentioned are: Work people oriented, dealing with group dynamics, detect tension and take it away, empathy, listen and observe. Positive and negative aspects Positive aspects mentioned are: Gaining support, lessen resistance and protest afterwards, people feel heard, better connection with the practice and landscape architects filter and test their ideas. Positive aspects that has to do with the responsibility of inhabitants towards their environment are: Create a sense of responsibility and involvement, mentality change, people will take care and you get sustainable plans. Other aspects is are the advantage of getting local knowledge and to discover local values and facts. Some of the negative aspects are connected with the success or in this case failure of a process. If a process fails, you will loose a lot of energy. It can also lead to more resistance. Participatory processes are associated with interference and fuss. There are some topics that are mentioned by some respondent as positive while others think they are negative aspects. Those discussion points are: Time, costs and the quality of the design. Some say a participatory process is faster and cheaper while other think they are time consuming and expensive. Some respondents think a participatory process improves the quality, some say that it leads to compromised plans and others think it lessens the quality of the plans. 54 55 Part one, lessons learned This part describes the most important lessons learned from the literature study and interviews described in chapter three and five. The way participatory processes are approached is very divers, a participatory process is never the same. Different landscape architects and offices develop approaches to involve inhabitants or other parties in a design or plan process. It seems that landscape architects need new methods and develop them with the help of their experience and improve them by trial and error. The way Landscape architects approach and think about participatory processes seems not determined by their work environment, but by personal experiences and preferences. The analysis of the interviews made it clear that comparable answers during the interviews were rarely given by landscape architects of the same group of respondents. Landscape architects play different roles during a participatory process. The first role is the landscape architect as an expert. Important tasks are designing, visualizing, design through different scales and time. It is important to tell the story of the landscape using knowledge from different aspects of the landscape. The landscape architect has to create cohesion, flexibility and multi-functionality within the plans and designs. The second role is the landscape architect as a leading figure like; a process manager, chairman or facilitator. Important tasks are; exploring the assignment and context, find issues that are relevant for participants and reflect on the process. A very important part of the leading role is to deal with group dynamics and communication. You have to guide participants during a process, this means you have to stimulate, inspire and educate them. As described above the landscape architect is able to play different roles during a participatory process. The role can depend on the different stages in a participatory process. Some landscape architects prefer certain roles or cooperate with other landscape architects and professionals during a participatory process. 56 57 Part two, practice 58 59 6 Zutphen De Mars To experience the practice I joined a participatory process in Zutphen. This case made it possible to compare the results from the theory and the interviews with the practice. This chapter describes the assignment and context of the assignment. Chapter seven will contain the process and evaluations. 6.1 The Assignment 6.2 The location De Wetenschapswinkel related to the University Wageningen is a link between research and society. Organizations, action groups, clubs or other organizations with a research question can apply to the Wetenschapswinkel (www.wetenschapswinkel.wur.nl). ISALA is a row and sail club in Zutphen that applied to the Wetenschapswinkel. They have the following research question; how can ISALA contribute to the green-blue developments taking place in the floodplains and to the recreational use of the harbours along the river IJssel in cooperation with other water sport related parties? The Mars is an old business area that will be restructured and transformed in the coming years. Several developments will take place. The Historical IJsselfront will be extended, a living area called Noorderhaven will be developed, the infrastructure will be restructured and improved and there will be more space for recreational functions. Just like the slow movements the parties in this area are worried about the future of the existing values. ISALA one of those worried parties wants to develop a vision for the future together with other interested parties in the area. There are two different design assignments connected to this project. One design assignment focuses on the developments on the waterside, space for the river and nature. The other focuses on the waterfront and the connection between the water side and the developments happening on the land side involving local parties. Alterra the research institute connected to Wageningen University has accepted this assignment and will execute this project. Jeroen Kruit from Alterra will be the project leader during this process. Students from Wageningen University will be involved in this project and will contribute from the context of their individual thesis subject. The students will be supervised by members of the university, Jeroen Kruit and the guidance committee. Madeleen Brouwer is the second student involved in this project. She will look to the broader context, ‘space for the river’, urban and spatial quality challenges along the riverfront of Zutphen. Abel Coenen is a third student involved, He will focus on the reconstruction of the Mars. Abel got involved quite late during the process, therefore I worked mostly together with Madeleen. The project area is situated north of the historical city centre of Zutphen (Figure 7). It includes a business area called the Mars and the floodplains west of the Mars. The area is confined in the north by the Twente kanaal, on the south east by the railway and on the west by the river IJssel. This 60 0 100 200 300 400 500 Meters Fig 7: Project area; Zutphen de Mars 61 thesis will focus on the area between the Mars and the floodplains of the river IJssel. The Mars will be restructured as mentioned before (Figure 8). The Mars needs restructuring and clustering of functions to be more functional in the future. There are several plans for the Mars in different stages of development. The southern part will become a living area. This plan, called Noorderhaven, is ready to be executed (Figure 10). Main features of this plan are a new IJssel boulevard and a new harbour. The area north of the Noorderhaven will be developed into a business area sector 2-3. This includes functions like; stores, storage and transport. The main feature of this area is a cluster of furniture shops (woonboulevard). There is a wish to connect this part with the river side and centre of Zutphen. The northern part of the Mars, north of the Industiehaven, will become an area for heavy industrial businesses. Businesses like the treatment of polluted water and the processing of sludge. The plans for those areas are not very defined yet, there is a global vision for the whole Mars that includes those two area’s. The west side of the Mars exist of floodplains and different harbours. The floodplains are used in different ways. The southern floodplains are used for extensive recreation and by a farmer. The floodplains north of the Industriehaven are designated as Natura 2000, this means nature development. This area is not accessible except for the farmer who maintains the area. The floodplains are separated by different existing harbours, The Houthaven, the Marshaven and the Industriehaven. The harbours are used by different parties in different ways. Fig 8: Different developments de Mars Fig 9: Locations differnt participating parties (1) Development Fort de Pol, heavy industry, (2) Development Industrie haven, businesses, (3) Development De Achtermars, businesses, (4) Development Noorderhaven, living area, (5) Connecting the N348, (6) New bicycle path, (7) Development IJsselboulevard, (8) Relocate roads De Mars, (9) Development Mars centre, (10) Location Noorderhaven. 62 6.3 The actors 6.4 Guiding commission There are several harbours as described above, those harbours accommodate several water related clubs and parties (Figure 9). One of those clubs is the initiator of this process; ISALA. The Houthaven is used by people who live on historical ships. The ships together form a historical harbour. The Marshaven is used by different water sport related clubs. There is a canoe club; Anax, a row and sail club; ISALA and a water sport club; WSV de Mars. The Industriehaven is used by river ships to load and unload their cargo. Some houseboats use the harbour illegal. The sea scouts; Nautilus use the harbour for their ships and activities as well. The parties above are not included in the developments of the Mars. The intention of ISALA is to look for the possibilities to work together with the other water related parties and see how they can connect and contribute to the developments on the Mars. One of the goals of this project is to bring the different parties together and to find out if it is possible that they can work together in the future. The guidance committee is a commission that overlooks the project. This commission exists out of; the commissioner, researchers, supervisors, the project leader, the coordinator of the Wetenschapswinkel and if needed external advisors. This commission makes sure that the research answers the question of the commissioner and that the research will be executed scientifically. They give advice and evaluate the project. This commission will meet once in the two or three months to discuss and talk about the content and progress of the project. Fig 10: Development Noorderhaven. (KCAPArchitects&Planners 2010) 63 6.5 Summary The Mars, an old business area north of the historical city of Zutphen will be developed in the coming years. The floodplains west of the Mars and the harbours accommodate different water related sport clubs. Those sport clubs are not involved in the development of the Mars. ISALA a local row and sail club tries to unite the local water related clubs together. The goal is to develop a vision shared by the different clubs. This vision can be used to open up a discussion with the municipality or developers. ISALA applied to the Wetenschapswinkel, an organization that supports local initiatives. The Wetenschapswinkel commissioned the assignment to Alterra, the research centre of the University Wageningen. Alterra will execute the process with the help of students from Wageningen University. The guidance committee will guide the processes. 64 65 7 Participatory process Zutphen This chapter will describe the participatory process in Zutphen. Every paragraph handles a phase in the process. The paragraphs describe; the goal, the content and the results of the phase. Every phase concludes with an evaluation of the phase using the same topics as the interviews, described in chapter five. The scheme (Figure 11) shows the different phases, their relation and the planning. 7.1 Interviews actors One of the goals of the process was that ISALA would look at the possibilities together with the other actors in the area. ISALA had a meeting with some of the parties before the start of this project and maintained contact with the other parties. Before we started the process we wanted to know more of those different parties. 7.1.1 Objective of the interviews To get to know the different parties we decided to do several interviews. Our goal was to get information and opinions from the different parties about the area and the way they looked towards the initiative of ISALA. We used the meeting as well to inform the parties about the initiative and asked if they were willing and interested to cooperate during the further process. 7.1.2 Interview questions We interviewed seven parties, including the municipality and the sport council. We created a list of topics with some questions. We talked about all topics during a conversation; we created some questions in case the respondent would fall silent. The questions can be found in appendix 3We asked them their opinion about the process, their appreciation of the area, about ownership and use of the area and their connection and cooperation with other parties. I asked the questions and kept the conversation going, Madeleen was taking notes and asked extra questions or asked for clarification. We recorded the interviews and summarized them, those summaries were send back to the respondent. Corrections or additions could be made, nobody used the possibility to do so. 7.1.3 Results of the interviews The interviews gave us a good view of the participants and their visions. We used the summaries of the interviews to find some common topics addressed in the five interview. The interviews with the municipality and the sport council were to different to compare them with the interviews of the clubs. We put those common topics in a scheme, one scheme for every party. The schemes can me found in appendix 4. From those schemes we could draw some general conclusions (Figure 12). The schemes and the general conclusions were input for the first workshop. In this way the different parties got to know the information and opinions from the other parties. 66 2010 ISALA Jan Wetenschapswinkel Feb Assignment Mar Alterra Apr Students Project design May BC1 Interviews Jun Analysis policy First workshop Introduction clubs Proud of and worries Supplements interviews Development direction Mind maps Jul Vision BC2 Aug Design alternative 1 Design alternative 3 Second workshop Sep Okt Design alternative 2 Preferences Changes Supplements Nov Complementary inventory and analysis BC3 Complementary design Dec 2011 Design BC4 Jan Maps Reference images Feb Sphere impressions Article Final report BC5 May Short version report Apr Hand over the report Fig 11: Participatory process Zutphen 67 Topics General conclusion Use of the area All parties except one make use of the Mars harbour, without disturbing each other. The Mars harbour is big enough for the current parties. Flexibility of All parties say that they are very happy with their location current location, at the same time they are prepared to move to another location if necessary and under certain conditions. Contacts with All parties have different contacts, some cooperate others while others prefer to operate alone. Possibilities to All parties see a possibility to cooperate; the way they cooperate want to cooperate is different. Some see possibilities with other clubs or commercial parties, others on a management level. Influence of the All parties see that the development of the ‘Noorderplans haven’ and an ‘IJsselboulevard’ will create possibilities and opportunities for the area. Their opinion about the future functions is different. Wishes for the All parties have wishes for the future. Most wishes are future little interventions for there own club. Possibility to The clubs that want to grow see possibilities to do that grow on their current location. Other clubs have reached their capacity or don’t want to grow. The growth of the clubs can put more pressure on the area. Fig 12: General conclusions interviews 7.1.4 Evaluation interviews In this paragraph I will reflect on the role of the landscape architect and the lessons learned. 7.1.4 Evaluation interviews In this paragraph I will reflect on the role of the landscape architect, the procedures and content of the interviews. The process We wanted to start with the interviews when it became clear that people were not informed about the project started by ISALA. We decided that ISALA would send an e-mail to the representatives of the other clubs to inform them about the project and that students of Wageningen University would call for an interview. We called and made an appointment at a location suggested by the respondent. We tried to make cooperation to the interview as comfortable as possible for the respondent. 68 Results of the interviews The interviews were a good way to get a picture of the different participants. The information we got was global and broad. It gave us a view of the different clubs and their activities. Wishes for the future were most of the time small scale interventions. The answers and information we got was really focused on their own club and in lesser extend to the area. The information we got from the municipality and the sport committee were valuable because we found out some businesses that we would not have known otherwise, like the competition for subsidies. Role of the landscape architect During this phase the landscape architects were the researchers looking for local knowledge and information. We determined what information we were missing and what we wanted to know, created interview questions and did the interviews. During the interview we tried to make things place specific and spatial. We got a list from ISALA with the contact information, based on that list we contacted several parties. Most parties were willing to cooperate and to give the information. One of parties rejected the interview mentioning several reasons like; no time, it was not their project, they had plans of their own and that they could not participate in every project. We tried several times to involve them in the project, without success. It was difficult to motivate unwilling people to join the process. It was also difficult to get things place specific and spatial. We brought an aerial picture of the area to every interview so respondents could draw on it and use it to point out places and area’s. The respondents seemed to like to see the area on an aerial picture and where everything was. But they seemed to have some difficulties to use it during the conversation and to draw on it. Knowledge and skills Interviewing was quite new for us, we had some help from Jeroen with the interview questions. The interviews were informal more like a conversation. Recording the interviews helped us during the interviews because we did not have to write everything down. It helped also during the creation of the summaries. More difficult was handling and persuading people to cooperate with the interview or the process. There were two parties that did not want to cooperate, we tried to persuade them by explaining why it would be useful for them to join but we could not convince them. Jeroen tried it later as well as the initiator from ISALA without success. We kept the parties informed during the rest of the process in the hope that they would join later. Different approaches participants We had seven interviews, five with local parties, one interview with the municipality and one with the sports council. Most of the people reacted 69 open to our questions and were willing to answer the questions and to give information. The parties that did not want to cooperate were drawn back, defensive and careful in their answers. The municipality and the sport council provided us with different information, less place specific. The municipality provided more information about the developments on the Mars and subsidies. It turned out that ISALA and one of the parties that did not want to cooperate were actual competitors for subsidy. It might be possible that this was a reason why they not wanted to cooperate. Selection participants We got a contact list from ISALA with several parties. We started with the contacts provided, but we learned during the interviews that there were other parties involved that were not on the list. We interviewed the board of the historical harbour and learned that there were people living on the historical ships and that they would be interested. We contacted them but they had no time to do an interview on a short term. They joined the process later. We learned that you have to be critical to the information you get provided. Role of politics The municipality cooperated in the interview but decided to leave the further process to the local parties. The wanted to keep informed and were interested in the end results. The project leader of the development of the Mars was involved during the guidance committee meetings. There were no people from the municipality present during the rest of the process. Influence history participatory process Some things that happened before we started this process might have influenced the start of the process. We discovered that ISALA tried to gather the different parties before the start of this process for a meeting about the developments on the Mars. It seems that there were no concrete results from that meeting. The lack of results during that first meeting might have set of some of the parties, it would not change anything. It might explain the remark of one of the parties that they could not attend every meeting. And the other party that didn’t want to cooperate was sceptical about the results of the process based on that first meeting. 7.2 The first workshop The first workshop was planned in June 2010. We prepared the workshop using the information from the interviews, the analysis of the area, the policy and input from the guidance committee. 7.2.1 Objective of the workshop The goal of the workshop was to introduce the project and the different parties. To inform them about the ongoing developments and the results of the interviews. And to get more information about their thoughts and wishes for the future and the area. We tried to get more information about the area 70 and less information about their own specific club. 7.2.2 Lay out of the workshop The workshop contained several activities. The initiator from ISALA started with a word of welcome and a short introduction of the project. After that we started with an introduction of the different parties present. We asked everyone to say their name and what club they belonged to. We asked them to show their location on an areal map. In this way everyone got introduced. After that we asked the participants to name one thing in the area they were proud of and one thing they were worried about (Figure 14). This gave us more information about their thoughts about the area. We informed the participants about the results of the interviews and showed the overview schemes. We asked them to look at the schemes during the break and to add information when they missed something. Madeleen gave a short presentation about the developments taking place in the area. We created a matrix with different future development directions on the axes. We asked the participants to put a mark in the matrix at the spot they saw as the direction for future developments (Figure 13). After the short break we continued with the mind maps in words. We prepared six themes related to the area and the future developments. We started with the theme; water recreation followed by; the IJsselboulevard, cooperation, Nature, hotel and catering industry and shared land use. We started with a theme and asked the participants to name all the words that came into their minds. The mind maps can be found in appendix 5 We concluded Fig 13: Future direction development Proud of Worried about Tranquillity Light, sun Freedom Freedom The water Nature Nature panorama IJsselfront Initiatives to cooperate Motorized water vehicles Busy activities Constrains Afraid to loose location Future location Limited access Connection developments water-land Connect sport and developments - Fig 14: Results introduction rounds 71 the meeting by mentioning the steps following on this meeting and our plans for a second workshop. 7.2.3 Results of the workshop The results of the workshop were input for the vision. We had information from the items they were proud of and worried about, the matrix with the future development directions and the mind maps. Below the schemes with the answers given to the question where are you proud of and where are you worried about. The matrix showed that people wanted to develop but keep the area quiet and green. This matches the things said during the round of proud en worries. The results of the mind maps can be found in the appendixes. The words gave us an impression of their thoughts about the future. 7.2.4 Evaluation of the workshop In this paragraph I will reflect on the role of the landscape architect, the procedures and content of the first workshop. The process We planned all the activities described above in two hours, we planned to start at 19:30 and finish at 21:30. Most people came in around 20:00, because of this we lost 30 minutes. The break halfway was really necessary. The boat house of ISALA was quite hot and people needed a drink and the possibility to go outside for some fresh air. We planned almost 40 minutes for the mind maps. We were determined to finish at 21:30 despite of the delayed start. We planned the most important themes first. We did the first three themes that took ten to fifteen minutes per theme. After this we noticed that people lost their focus and started to repeat things. We finished the last three themes faster and concluded the workshop as planned at 21:30. Evaluation results of the first workshop The results from the workshop were enough input for a vision. We got a lot of information from the things they were proud of and worried about. The people gave different answers about the things they were proud or worried about (Figure 15). Some answers were different or additional on the answers they gave in the interviews. One person claimed he had no worries at all. During the break someone told me he had other worries than expressed during the round but he did not want to express them in front of the group. We hoped that the people by expressing the things they were proud of or worried about would look at the whole area and not only to their own position. Addressed own business Addressed area business Gave no answer Fig 15: Evaluation introduction round 72 About Proud of 0 9 0 Worried about 3 5 1 en After analyzing the answers given we can conclude that it partly worked out that way. All the things they were proud of are things that count for the whole area, The worries expressed were more directed to their own business. The matrix seemed to be difficult. It was unclear what the different terms mend and what it would look like. People waited very long before they putted their mark down but as soon as one person did this they others followed soon. Number four was first on a different spot, more to the left, on the maintaining site. All the marks ended up in the development direction but maintaining the quiet an spatial sphere of the area as it is now. The terms “maintaining an recreative hotspot” might had negative associations. The results of the matrix were not as we predicted in advance. We did not expect all the parties to put their mark in the area of tranquillity. We predicted the position from some parties different based on the interviews. The mind maps gave a lot of extra input, most of the associations were positive (Figure 16). Negative things were hardly mentioned. The first three topics were thought of well, after that people lost their focus and kept repeating themselves. Therefore the first three provide more information than the last three. A negative aspect is that the mentioned things are open to different interpretations. I had to interpret their words and use them according to my interpretation in the vision. I personally thought it was a pity that the things stayed so abstract and in words, I would have liked it if we had tried to get more visual results. The process We planned all the activities above in two hours, we planned to start at 19:30 and finish at 21:30. Most people came in around 20:00, because of this we lost 30 minutes. The break halfway was really necessary. The boat house of ISALA was quite hot and people needed a drink and the possibility to vlotten sanitair restaurant Subtopic waterfietsen nautisch centrum Voldoende Water eke Botenhelling Voor iedereen Voor iedereen functies voorwaarden voorzieningen toegankelijkheid waterscooters natuur antenligplaatsen veiligheid e en netheid onderlinge verdraagzaamheid 2010 - Mindjet schoonheid waterskiër Waterrecreatie de wal roeien Varen afval zeilen inspanning sporten zon zitten levendigheid in de wind zijn Zwemmen activiteiten sfeer sloepverhuur vissen samen sporten kijken Ontspannen rust Fig 16: Mind maps 73 go outside for some fresh air. We planned almost 40 minutes for the mind maps. We were determined to finish at 12:30 despite of the delayed start. We planned the most important themes first. We did the first three themes that took ten to fifteen minutes per theme. After this we noticed that people lost their focus and started to repeat things. We finished the last three themes faster and concluded the workshop as planned at 21:30. Role of the landscape architect During the planning and the creation of the lay out of the workshop the landscape architects functioned like process managers. We had to set goals and ways to reach those goals. Communication and information was very important. Inviting people, persuading them to come, asking for confirmations and remind them of the meeting. During the workshop the landscape architects fulfilled several roles. Jeroen led the workshop and the discussions. Madeleen and I presented some of our work and made notes during the workshops. Knowledge and skills The lay out of the workshop was created during several brainstorms. We all delivered input and decided what would be best way to do it. We got some valuable feed back from the guidance committee to improve the lay-out. Most of the communication before and during the workshop was done by Jeroen. Presenting our work is a basic skill thought during the study. The information we presented were basic analysis and the results of the interviews. Selection participants We invited the same people as we contacted for the interviews. We also asked the people that did not wanted to cooperate in case they changed their minds. We asked the people if they wanted to come with two persons to get more diversity during the workshop. We got twelve confirmations for the workshop, from that twelve only nine showed up. Four different clubs were represented by two or three people. The amount of people and the diversity in clubs was disappointing. It raises the question about the validity of the results and if they are representing all the clubs in the area. Role of politics The municipality had the intention to send a representative to the workshop but changed their point of view at the last minute. As mentioned before the municipality decided to stay aside and to give the participants a chance to express their opinions not influenced by the presence of the municipality. The overview scheme from the interview with the municipality was present at the workshop. It was the most looked over scheme during the break. People were very interested in the opinion of the municipality and what they said about things. 74 Influence history participatory process The party that refused to participate with the interview did not change their mind. The club that participated during the interview but behaved very sceptic did not participate during the workshop. We were not able to convince them of the utility of the process for them. 7.3 Vision The vision contains information derived from the interviews and the first workshop supplemented by input from Jeroen, Madeleen and myself. The vision was the basis for three design alternatives. The vision as presented to the clubs can be found in appendix 6 7.3.1 Objective of the vision The vision had to be a document representing the ideas of the clubs about the future development of the Mars, harbours and floodplains. The vision should be the basis for further steps during the process. A second goal of the vision is to create a dialogue with the municipality and other parties. The vision had to be a compact and clear document easy accessible for all parties. 7.3.2 The vision The vision contains different paragraphs. The first paragraph is an introduction and explains the goal of the vision and on what information the vision is based. As mentioned before it is based on the interviews, the first workshop interpret and supplemented by Jeroen, Madeleen and myself. The second and third paragraph explains the developments taking place on the Mars. Those developments are described in paragraph 6.2 of this thesis. The fourth paragraph describes the values of the area, based on the things they were proud of mentioned during the first workshop. The fifth paragraph describes the relation between the IJsselfront of the historical city centre and the new IJsselfront along the Mars. The new IJsselfront should have a different sphere and function than the historical IJsselfront. The new IJsselfront should go further on than only the Noorderhaven. A new boulevard makes the clubs accessible and the clubs add liveliness to the area. Paragraph six describes the importance of the IJsselboulevard to connect the historical city and the Mars. The IJsselboulevard will also an important role in the routing. The IJsselboulevard will be only accessible for slow transport. The main routes and slow traffic will be separated on the Mars. The IJsselboulevard will be accessible from the Mars because of transport and supplies. This is described in paragraph seven. Paragraph eight describes the location of the clubs and their wish to stay at that location. However most clubs mentioned that moving would not be a problem if that was necessary. The next paragraph explores the possibilities for the hotel and restaurant businesses. It could be combined with the clubs or separated. Important things mentioned were that it should be versatile and approachable. Paragraph ten describes the wishes and needs of the water related clubs. Wishes like facilities and combination of functions. Some of the clubs want to grow, this might put pressure on the 75 area. Therefore possibilities for expanding the water surface will be explored. Paragraph eleven describes the accessibility of natural areas. The northern floodplain is part of the Natura 2000 legislation. The area is not accessible for the public. The clubs think that the area should be accessible or accessible under certain circumstances. The twelfth paragraph describes the importance of cooperation and the combination of functions. The vision concludes with a description of the steps following on this vision. 7.3.3 Evaluation vision In this paragraph I will reflect on the role of the landscape architect, the procedures and content of the vision. The process We started by categorizing the different sources of information into several topics as described above. Some information was clear and easy to use like the things they were proud of and worried about, wile other sources were more unclear and had to be interpret by us like the words from the mind maps. This interpretation together with the low amount of participants from the workshop raises the question if this vision represents all the clubs. This was also one of the remarks from the guidance committee. An other remark was that there was no chapter about the economic situation of the area. The vision as result The vision became an in-between document for the commissioner and the different participants. The commissioner was happy with the result and saw possibilities to use this document to open up the discussion. As described above they missed a part about the economic situation and asked us to add that in a paragraph to the vision. Role of the landscape architect The role of the landscape architect was to translate the abstract information from the interviews and workshops to a more concrete document that could be a base for the further project. We interpret the information to make it more concrete and after that tried to visualize the information by creating maps and using photographs. Knowledge and skills We used our skills to create a story from little pieces of information and our visualization skills to crate images to support the story. 7.4 Design alternatives The vision was the base for three design alternatives. The design alternatives show three possible ways to interpret the vision. The different topics described in the vision will be incorporated in different ways in the design alternatives. The design alternatives are the first step towards a concrete design and important input for the second workshop. 76 7.4.1 Objective of the design alternatives The design alternatives are a way to explore the design possibilities and directions based on the vision. At the same time it is a way to check our interpretation of the information by the participants during the second workshop. The design alternatives can be found in appendix 7. 7.4.2 The design alternatives There was not a lot of spatial information available from the interviews and first workshop. The first step towards the visualization was made in the vision. An additional step had to be made during the design alternatives. The vision was the base for the design alternatives supplemented by ideas from Jeroen, Madeleen and myself. We started with three different concepts that we developed into three alternative designs. The alternative designs are described below. Every design alternative contains an introduction, a paragraph about the spatial impact and a paragraph about the functional impact, a map and several reference images. The document including the design alternatives presented to the commissioner, clubs and guidance committee can be found in appendix 7. Design alternative 1: Green IJsselfront The first design alternative is called green IJssefront (Figure 17). The key words for this alternative are: nature, natural views, sustainable and tranquillity. The IJsselfront of the Mars will be the green IJsselfront of Zutphen. The Mars boulevard will have a green character with a natural look and dynamics. The green and natural characteristics are derived from the workshop and vision. The sustainable and environment friendly measures are added. The floodplains are natural areas where strolling is allowed, also in the northern part outside the breeding season. The boulevard adapts to the green character of the floodplains. Green elements, green walls and roofs will add to the green character of the boulevard. Green zones on the Mars will connect the boulevard and floodplains with the rest of Zutphen. Different functions can be found spread along the boulevard. It is important to develop the boulevard taking in account the different scales on the Mars. The green connection zones on the Mars provide room for the slow as well as the fast traffic streams. Design alternative 2: Pearl necklace The second design alternative is called the pearl necklace (Figure 18). The key words for this alternative are: cooperation, interaction with the river, connection between land and water and the creation of possibilities to stroll around. The IJsselfront is 2.5 kilometers long. Instead of developing the whole boulevard we develop some strategic points. There are two different points. Urban points and natural points. The urban points offer a place for intensive used facilities like restaurants, hotels, offices and other facilities. The points are located at the new harbour in the Noorderhaven, at the Marshaven and at the old garbage dump in the north. The Noorderhaven 77 will become an dense urban area, the Marshaven will be a point focused on the water recreation and the old garbage dump will provide views over the river and the natural areas along it. The natural points can be found in the floodplains. They are accessible when the water is low. The natural points are small areas with benches and information about the local flora and fauna. It will become possible to cross the mounts of the harbours by small bridges or small ferries. In this way it will become possible to walk rounds. Living area Business area Industrial area New functions Strolling area Water Railway Dike Roads Routes for slow traffic Routes for strolling Green IJsselfront Trees Location parties Windmills Bicycle path Footpath Fig 17. Design alternative 1: Green IJsselfront 78 Design alternative 3: Transition from countryside to city The third design alternative is called the transition from countryside to city (Figure 19). The key words for this alternative are: soften the border between countryside and the city, transitions and multifunctional land use. The hard border between the Mars and the floodplains was one of the issues addressed during the mind maps. This design alternative creates a transition from the natural areas along the IJssel and north of the Twentekanaal to the urban characteristic of the Mars. The area’s in between like the new IJssel boulevard Living area Business area Industrial area New functions Public floodplains Water Railway Dike Roads Routes for slow traffic Bridges Ferries Platforms Location parties Location public harbour Windmills Viewing point Parking place Bicycle path Footpath Fig 18. Design alternative 2: Pearl necklace 79 will be a combination of urban and natural functions in the form of an urban park. The intensity of the use of the boulevard and the floodplains decreases towards the north. The areas and floodplains around the Noorderhaven will be intensively used, the areas north of the Industriehaven will be extensively used. Living area Business area Industrial area New functions Nature area Strolling area Public floodplains Water Railway Dike Roads Routes for slow traffic Routes for strolling Platforms Trees Location parties Location public harbour Viewing point Bicycle path Footpath Fig 19. Design alternative 3: Transition from countryside to city 80 Overview design alternatives The scheme below will address the main points of the three design alternatives (Figure 20). This makes it easy to compare the different alternatives per theme. 7.4.3 Evaluation design alternatives In this paragraph I will reflect on the role of the landscape architect, the procedures and content of the design alternatives. The process Our original idea was to develop one possible design. But one of the Floodplains Boulevard Alternative 1 Northern floodplains limited accessibility, rest strolling Continuous line with a green character Alternative 2 Areas to stroll around with Alternative 3 Divided in three parts, park, area to stroll, nature area Intensive use and extensive use vary Intensive used in the south, extensive used in the north The Mars Green zones Clusters, easy to Striking buildings with infrastrucreach, with in a park ture different facilities landscape Functions Spread along Functions More functions the whole clustered along in the south, less boulevard the boulevard functions in the north Industriehaven Route around A bridge over Route around the the the industriehaven Industriehaven industriehaven Location public In the Mars Noorderhaven harbour haven Enlarge water Enlarge the Excavate part of surface water surface by the floodplains connecting the northern lake to the Marshaven Special Green walls, Ferries, viewing Viewing points, elements green roofs, points, characcity park and solar panels and teristic bridges skyline windmills and routes Fig 20. Overview design alternatives 81 respondents during the interviews with the landscape architects mentioned that you have to give participants something to choose from. When there is nothing to choose than there is no participation. I thought about that remark and decided to create several possible designs. We started with the development of three concepts that would form the base for the three design alternatives. We tried to create concepts that would fit the vision and the characteristics of the area. The design alternatives as result The design alternatives were presented together with the vision. First to the commissioners and the guidance committee and later to the clubs during the second workshop. There was some discussion about the need of three design alternatives. The differences between the design alternatives are very small. On the other hand two design alternatives would become a black and white story wile three design alternatives offered more nuances. We decided to keep the three alternatives. Role of the landscape architect The creation of design alternatives was a logic step after the creation of the vision. We created three different concepts supported by maps and reference images. The landscape architects had the same sort roles like the vision. Interpret information and visualizing ideas. Knowledge and skills The creation of the concepts and content of the alternatives asked for more creativity and imagination. It was important to think of the target group while creating the images and maps. They had to be understandable for everyone. Clear legends and subscriptions helped to make the maps and images more clear and to tell the story. 7.5 The second workshop The second workshop was originally planned at the end of August. We had problems reaching the respondents because of the holidays, little people responded to our request to participate. The results of the last workshop were disappointing because the lack of diversity and amount of participants. Because of this we decided during the guidance committee meeting to postpone the second workshop. We decided to keep the second workshop end of September and to do things different to increase the amount and diversity of the participants. We started informing and inviting people three weeks in advance and called them later to remind them of the workshop. We decided to send them the vision and design alternatives in advance, hoping it would make people curious and convince them to come. We decided to plan the second workshop on a Saturday afternoon. Most of the participants are volunteers and have no time to attend meetings during the week and we wanted more time to organise an activity after the workshop. Besides that the chairman of ISALA wrote an article in a local newspaper about the initiative, process and the upcoming workshop (Appendix 8). 82 7.5.1 Objective of the workshop The goal of the second workshop was to inform the participants about the vision and design alternatives. To discuss the design alternatives and to check if our interpretation of the first workshops and the interviews was right. We discussed the design alternatives and wanted to know which design alternative or aspects they liked, disliked or missed. The results of that were input for one possible design. 7.5.2 Lay-out of the workshop The chairman of ISALA opened the meeting with a short introduction, he explained the process and the goal of the meeting. After that I explained in short the different design alternatives. There were little questions about the design alternatives but more questions about the meeting and the selection of participants. The article in the local newspaper reached some new parties that were not present at the previous meetings. They wondered why they were not invited earlier. After answering the questions we divided the group into three small groups guided by Jeroen, Madeleen and myself. We discussed the different alternative and determined what they liked, disliked and missed (Appendix 9). The groups presented their results in a short presentation to the other groups. We concluded the workshop by explaining the steps following on this workshop. After this there was the opportunity to row in a boat of ISALA or to go on a boat of the Hanzestedensloep and make a trip around the Mars harbour and the IJssel. 7.5.3 Results of the workshop One of the first results was the presence of two new parties to the workshops. We were unable to reach those parties before and their presence added extra information to the workshops. The results of the discussions were gathered in three schemes (Figure 21, 22, 23). The results of the discussions were used to construct one possible design. One of the results from the gathering was a discussion on the end of the workshop. Several parties embraced the idea to continue together and work together in the future. By cooperating together under one name they could be a strong partner in future discussions and plan processes. 7.5.4 Evaluation of the workshop In this paragraph I will reflect on the role of the landscape architect, the procedures and content of the second workshop. The process The process started rather chaotic because all of the new participants not familiar with the project. As soon as their questions were answered we could proceed with the workshop as planned. The discussion of the design alternatives took longer than planned. The new participants added more and new information to the discussion. This distracted us from discussing the design alternatives. The workshop ended well with the wish to continue 83 together. The article written by ISALA appeared to be very useful tool to reach a larger group of participants. Because of the article we reached two groups of people we were not able to reach before. Evaluation results of the first workshop It took extra time to listen to the new information provided by the new participants. Because of this we had less time to discuss the design alternatives. More discussion or better structured discussions might had improved the results. Role of the landscape architect The landscape architects had different roles just like during the first workshop. The preparation took a lot of time because we wanted to do a better job at reaching the people than at the first workshop. Jeroen and the chairman of ISALA took care of the communication towards the participants. We had to present our design alternatives and inform the participants. After that we had to lead the discussions about the design alternatives and to summarize the results. Design alternative 1 Positive aspects Floodplains Northern floodplains limited accessibility, rest strolling Boulevard Continuous line with a green character The Mars Green zones with infrastructure Functions Spread along the whole boulevard Industriehaven Route around the industriehaven Enlarge water Enlarge the water Enlarge surface surface by the water connecting the surface northern lake to the Marshaven Special Green walls, green elements roofs, solar panels and windmills Missed Routes to stroll around Ferries Fig 21. Comments on design alternative 1 green IJsselfront 84 Negative aspects Priorities North-South Don’t spread the functions This way of doing it is not possible No windmills, they are ugly and noisy Knowledge and skills As mentioned before the presenting skills are part of the educational program and no problem to us at all. The communication skills needed for the discussion were more difficult. I had some troubles in guiding the participants during the discussion. The new participants in my group had a lot of interesting information to add about all sorts of topics. It was useful but distracted the group from the design alternatives. I lacked the skills to lead the discussion. Selection participants We invited the same people as were invited for the first workshop. Extra people showed up because of the article in the local newspaper. There were thirteen participants at the second workshop. Four of them were completely new to the process. It was the landowner and three people from one of the clubs that refused to cooperate. We had contacted the chairman of the club who didn’t responded to our request to participate. The three people that showed up were members of the board that had read the article and were Floodplains Boulevard The Mars Functions Industriehaven Design alternative 2 Positive aspects Area to stroll around with routes Intensive use and Clustering extensive use vary functions wished Clusters, easy to Clustering reach, with different functions facilities wished Functions clustered along the boulevard A bridge over the Industriehaven Enlarge water Excavate part of the Good solution surface floodplains to enlarge the water surface Special Ferries, viewing The routes elements points, Ferries characteristic bridges and routes Missed A cluster with water functions Enclose the area towards the north Negative aspects Has to be a high bridge to let pass the ships Good solution to enlarge the water surface The ferries with ropes are not possible Fig 22. Comments on design alternative 2 pearl necklace 85 willing to participate. They wondered why they weren’t invited from the start. We explained our communication towards their chairman. The landowner who also responded to the article was also wondering why he wasn’t invited because we talked about his land or the land he rented. We tried to find out the owner of the land and cows but we stopped inquiring after the interviews. We should have tried harder to find the landowner but we focussed to much on the parties on the water. Four other persons were involved with the interviews but were not able to attend the first workshop. Therefore the information was new to them also. And than there was an outsider to the process. The Wetenschapswinkel is also working on a project to a village north of the Mars. One of the initiative takers from that project was present at this workshop to see what we were doing. This means that from the thirteen people present only four of them attended the first workshop. This created the diversity of people and they provided us Floodplains Boulevard The Mars Functions Design alternative 3 Positive aspects Divided in three Easy to realise parts, park, area to according the stroll, nature area land owner Intensive used in the south, extensive used in the north Striking buildings in a park landscape ore functions in the south, less functions in the north Industriehaven Route around the industriehaven Special Viewing points, city elements park and skyline Missed Negative aspects Keep the floodplains as natural as possible The gradation of functions is good Suitable for the south Buildings in the middle focussing on recreation Clustering functions wished Park in the north not relevant for the businesses No high rise buildings Cluster of water functions Extend harbour along the Mars haven Fig 23. Comments on design alternative 3 transition from countryside to city 86 The complementary design After the participative meetings we had the feeling we missed a design scale. The participants were focussed on the small scale interventions during the workshop. The larger scale interventions on the Mars offered during the second workshop were ignored or not addressed during the meetings. Therefore I did an additional schematic design on the scale of the Mars that could function as a context for the smaller interventions along the water side. An analysis on the scale of Zutphen formed the basis for the design on the Mars. Analysis The analysis was done according the layer approach. The analysis showed a consistency in the green- and infrastructure in and along the city of Zutphen. This structure did not continued on the Mars. The Mars is separated form the rest of Zutphen by the railroad. The plan for the Noorderhaven will solve part of this isolation in the south by the creation of several passes underneath the railroad. The complementary design The complementary design forms a framework for the Mars to which smaller interventions can be connected. 87 with valuable information. But it also created some chaos during the workshop and as said before it distracted us from discussing the design alternatives. 7.6 The design Based on the second workshop and the design alternatives we had a lot of input for one possible design. The participatory process in Zutphen guided by Alterra ended with processing the design alternatives into one alternative. The design is to meet the requirements of the university for graduating. It is possible that the steps towards the design might be helpful during the continuation of the process. This design is to show the possibilities for the area. It is mend to enable the discussion. Because of this the design is a schematic design with sphere impressions and perspectives. 7.6.1 Objective of the design The design, as described before, is a way to show the possibilities for the area and to enable discussions. The design is not mend to be executed or implemented. Therefore the design is illustrated by schematic maps, sphere impressions and reference images. 210000 210500 211000 464000 463500 463000 462500 462000 462000 462500 463000 463500 464000 464500 209500 464500 209000 Fig 24. The present situation Fig 25. Continuous route withe nodes 461500 461500 88 0 100 200 300 400 500 Meters 209000 209500 210000 210500 211000 Fig 26. Conceptual design with the red dots indicating the location of the perspectives 89 7.6.2 Design of the IJssel boulevard Important for the participants was the creation of a continuous line from the city centre of Zutphen towards the north. This line will be the connection between the river area and the Mars. It makes the harbours and present parties more visible and accessible. The area is divided in three different zones graduating from intensive use in the south to extensive use in the north. The southern part is the area around the Noorderhaven, connected to the Noorderhaven is the historical harbour. The historical ships can be viewed from the dike or from the landing stage. The old crane becomes a landmark along the route. The are in the middle will focus on the presence and developments for water recreation. Several water recreation clubs like ISALA, WSV de Mars and Anax are already present. They add liveliness and activity in the area. The Mars harbour becomes more crowded when the clubs want to grow and with the relocation of Nautilus in the Mars harbour more water surface is needed. The floodplains will be partly excavated to create room for Nautilus and the WSV. The route will connect to the main traffic routes on the Mars. The IJsselboulevard continues around the Industriehaven in the form of a smaller bicycle path. The Northern part of the floodplains will be a natural area. The area is protected by several laws and will not be accessible. The route along it is a touristic route towards the north where it will become possible to cross the canal in the future. Fig 27. The dike north of Noorderhaven towards the Houthaven nearby the park It is important that the route between the nodes is recognizable as a dike. In this way you experience the river landscape. This dike is located north of the new living area Noorderhaven. Left in the image is the park, surrounding the Noorderhaven and connected to the old defence works around Zutphen. 90 Fig 28. The Houthaven, the historical ships become the eye catcher of this area The southern part with the new living area Noorderhaven and the Houthaven will be culture oriented. This is the route along the Houthaven with the historical ships. The historical harbour will be easy accessible by the decks and visible from the view points. The old crane becomes part of the historical harbour. Fig 29. The Marshaven, a place to sit and look at the water sport activities The Marshaven will become a node water sport oriented. There are several water sport clubs present in this area. The Marshaven will be a lively place where you can enjoy watching people sailing and rowing. The buildings along the Marshaven need to accommodate functions that fit and contribute to the liveliness and water sport. 91 Fig 30. The new harbours,space for the water sport clubs a public harbour and Nautilus Some of the water sport clubs want to increase their amount of members. Because of this the water surface have to be enlarged. Some parts of the floodplains will be excavated to create two new harbours. One harbour offer space for a public harbour and a water sports club. The other harbour will offer space for Nautilus. Fig 31. A bicycle path along the northern natural floodplains The northern area will be extensively used. The floodplains are not accessible to the public and have a natural function. A bicycle route will connect the southern part with the villages and natural areas north of the Twente canal. The dike and some viewing points will provide views over the river and the floodplains. 92 7.7 Continuation of the process 7.8 Summary The process will be continued with the help of another organization. Alterra will conclude this project in May 2011. The KNHM (Royal Dutch Heath Company) will proceed with the group of participants. The participants were enthusiastic about the cooperation and expressed their wish to continue together in the future. The continuation will focus on profiling the different parties with their own culture as one group towards the municipality and developers. This chapter describes and evaluates the different phases of the participatory process. We did several interviews with interested parties in the area, in this way we discovered their needs and wishes. The interviews and a general analysis was the input for the first workshop were we introduced the project and parties. The result was disappointing because of small amount of participants and concrete results. The results of the firs workshop were interpret and formed input for the vision. The vision was used to create three different design alternatives, Green IJsselfront, Pearl necklace and Transition from countryside to city. We used the design alternatives during the second workshop to check if our interpretations were right and to create a discussion. The result of the participatory process was one design alternative. The design was created to enable a discussion in the future. It might be used during the continuation of the process by the KNHM in the future. 93 Part two, lessons learned This part describes the most important lessons learned from the case study Zutphen de Mars described and evaluated in chapter six and seven. The landscape architects were in a leading role during this participatory process. Besides organizing and communicating an important task was to guide the participants. In this case we tried to inspire and stimulate creativity during the workshops. It was a challenge to make them look at the bigger picture instead of only focussing on their own small location. One of the objectives of the process was to bring together the different parties and their visions. Competition for subsidies between participants influenced the group dynamics and the attitude of some of the parties. Because of this managing the group dynamics was an important issue during the participatory process. Influencing and managing group dynamics was exciting. Unfortunately we did not always succeeded in our attempts to involve unmotivated participants. Nevertheless the participatory process created a lot of energy and was a success. 94 95 8 Conclusion The main question of this research, described in chapter two was: What is the role of landscape architects within participatory design processes? A participatory process can be described as a process where all relevant parties interact from the start or early stage of a project, openly to prepare, determine or execute a plan or policy. To answer the main and sub questions I used several methods. I did literature studies to find information about global issues, participatory processes and landscape architects. To get more information about landscape architects and participatory processes I interviewed several landscape architects to get their narratives and experiences about the practice. To get more information about the practice I did a case study in Zutphen. Because I used three different research methods: literature, interviews and a case study, it is possible to use triangulation between the methods. Global changes like globalization, individualization, the shift from government to governance and the increased complexity of spatial problems influence the position of the landscape architects. Landscape architects react on those changes, one of the reactions is to involve citizens and other parties in participatory plan and design processes. A participatory process is never the same and the variety in approaches seem endless. Participatory processes differ for example in the level of participation, amount and sort of participants, the objective of a participatory process and the available resources. The role of landscape architects is just as varied as participatory processes. One of the roles a landscape architect can have is the role of the expert. A landscape architect is trained to design and create images of future plans. The design and images can make things that are not there visible and concrete. Participatory processes help landscape architects to be concrete, plans and designs are presented to future users and interested parties. This gives the landscape architect an impression whether the plans and designs fit the wishes of the relevant parties. An other task of the landscape architect is to integrate different professional fields, scales and time. A landscape architect has some knowledge of different professional field and is able to connect those different fields and parties. A landscape architect is also able to contribute to the different professional fields. An other thing a landscape architect does is planning and designing through the scales. Participants are focused on their own interests, wishes and location. A landscape architect makes sure that the plans fit a larger context or are detailed enough to be executed. As mentioned before a landscape architect is able to make future plans visible and concrete. A landscape architect can show and use the history of a place, explain the 96 present situation and visualize the possible future and thereby also integrate through time. The ability to design, make things concrete, integrate different professional fields and design through the different scales enables a landscape architect to educate, guide and help other participants. Those are also tasks a landscape architect can have using the qualities described above. A landscape architect can stimulate the participants to be creative, think integral, through the sales and to look to the future. Because their education and experience a landscape sees certain relations in the landscape, it can be their job to educate participants and give them insight in those relations. By educating and guiding participant you enable them to understand the ideas behind plans and designs. This should create more meaning for the participants and might lead to less resistance, more support, care and responsibility for the landscape. The design, integrating and guiding skills makes a landscape architect suitable for a leading role during a participatory process. Landscape architects can lead if they are curious and interested in the participants, their motives, and interests. An important aspect of the leading role is managing the group dynamics and communication. The ability to manage a group depends on personal skills and experience. A landscape architect will lead and plan a participatory process with in mind issues like designing, concreteness, integration and education. Sometimes it is necessary for a landscape architect to develop a new method or way to implement those topics during a participatory process. The main question is about the role of landscape architects within participatory processes. Because of the great variety in participatory processes and the way landscape architects approach them there is not one answer to the question. We must conclude that there is no such thing as “the role”. The role of the landscape architect can depend on the sort of participatory process, the phase of a project and the personal preference a landscape has. 97 9 Discussion This chapter brings forward some discussion points about some topics and methods described in this report. New questions can be raised based on this report, as mentioned before this research is very broad and orientating. More specific questions could be the input for further research. 9.1 About the this research This paragraph mentions several discussion points about the research. There are more possibilities than described below, this is only a selection. 9.1.1 Participatory processes abroad This research is about landscape architects in the Netherlands. It would be interesting to research what landscape architects do abroad. How do they approach participatory processes, what methods do they use and what are the results? 9.1.2 The results of the participatory process in Zutphen Discussed in chapter seven was the validity of the participatory process in Zutphen. The amount and variety of the participants that attended the first workshop was rather low. The results of that workshop were open for interpretation, not concrete and spatial. The vision based on the first workshop might not represent all the parties in the area. The intention of the second workshop was to check the interpretation and the design alternatives. The amount and variety of participants during the second workshop was good. But the new participants had new information that they wanted to contribute. Because of this we lacked time to discuss the design alternatives well. The success of this participatory process is not the content but more the process itself. The meetings made clear that there is a shared wish of the parties to cooperate together in the future. This wish and the planned continuation of the process made it an success. This research raises the question about the influence of participatory processes on the quality of the results. Literature as well as the interviews provide no clear answer to this question. More studies and evaluations should be done about the quality of participatory processes. 9.1.3 Different levels of participation This research handles the different levels of participation very quick and superficial. More research could be done about the different levels of participation used in the Netherlands or abroad. Are there examples of processes where the participants are involved in the decision making and not only conversation partners. How do they work and how does it influences the process and results? 9.2 About the methodology of this research This paragraph discusses some aspects of the used methods during this thesis. 98 9.2.1 The interviews I selected nine respondents from different work environments to collect their stories and experiences. I selected them because they were landscape architects that had experience with participatory processes. In most cases the landscape architects preferred to work participatory for several, mainly personal reasons. There are also landscape architects who don’t like to work participatory, their stories are not incorporated in this research. Therefore the chapter about the landscape architects narratives is a one sided, mainly positive view on participatory processes. More research could be done about the landscape architects who don’t do participatory processes and their reasons therefore. It would also be interesting to see if there are specific offices that promote themselves with certain qualities like; a participatory approach, strategic planning or designing and the influence of that on the preferences and roles of landscape architects. 9.2.2 The case study This research describes only one case study, a case I was closely involved with. More case studies would have made the results stronger and more objective. The participatory process and the interviews were done at the same time. The results from the participatory process might have influenced the interviews and visa versa. More cases of participatory processes should be studied to get a better impression of the different roles landscape architects can have. It would be interesting to do more inventories, analysis and evaluations about participatory processes. In this way we could get more information about the approaches landscape architects develop or the influence of participatory processes on the quality of the results. 99 Literature list Books and articles • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 100 Assche, v. K. (2004). Signs in time; an interpretive account of urban planning and design, the people and their histories. Wageningen: Wageningen University Baarda, D. et al (2001). Kwalitatief onderzoek: praktische handleiding voor het opzetten en uitvoeren kwalitatief onderzoek. Groningen: Stenfert Kroese Blerck, v. H. (2004), Het landschap wordt weer van de mensen. Architectuur lokaal, 46: 5-6 Blerck, v. H. (2005). Ceci n’est pas un plan!: de landschapsarchitect is medium in een communicatieproces. Topos, 2: 28-31 Castels, M. (2004). The information age: economy, society and culture, volume II: The power of identity. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis. London: SAGE Publications Condon, P. (2008). Design Charettes: for Sustainable Communities. Washington: Islandpress Cruisen, C. (2009). Participation Processes within Landscape Architecture: Creativity in Practice. Wageningen: Propress Creswell, J. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. London: SAGE Publications Dam, v. R. & Salverda, I. (2008). Burgers en landschap deel 1: voorbeelden van burgerparticipatie en maatschappelijk initiatief. Wageningen: Alterra Dam, v. R. et al (2008) Burgers en landschap deel 2: trends en theorieën over betrokkenheid van burgers. Wageningen: Alterra Dam, v. R. et al (2010) Burgers en landschap deel 3: strategieën van burgerinitiatieven. Wageningen: Alterra Dam, v. R. et al (2010) Burgers en landschap deel 4: the importance of being nimby. Wageningen: Alterra Devane, T. & Holman, P. (1999). The Change Handbook: group methods for shaping the future. San Francisco: Berret-Koehler publishers, Inc Dienst Landelijk Gebied (2009). Burgerparticipatie. Utrecht: Print DLG Centraal Doorewaard, H. & Verschuren, P. (2005). Het ontwerpen van een onderzoek. Utrecht: Uitgeverij LEMMA Edelenbos, J. & Monnikhof, R. (2001). Lokale interactieve beleidsvorming. Utrecht: LEMMA Enserink, B. & Monnikhof, R. (2003). Information management for public participation in co-design processes: Evaluation of a Dutch example. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 46: 3, 315-344 Forester, J. (1999) The liberative practitioner: encouraging Participatory Planning Processes. London: The MIT Press Gordon, R, (1975). Interviewing: strategy, techniques, and tactics. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Homewood, Illinois: The Dorsey Press Gramsbergen, Y. & Molen, van der, H. (2007). Gesprekken in organisaties. Groningen: Wolters-Noordhoff Groothedde, M. & Krijnen, J. (2008). Vestingstad Zutphen; Elf eeuwen versterken en verdedigen. Zutphen: Walburg Pers Hajer, M. et al (2006). Een plan dat werkt: ontwerp en politiek in de regionale planvorming. Rotterdam: Nai Uitgevers Ham, v.d. T. & Meij, v.d. G. (1974). Gereedschap voor inspraak in de ruimtelijke ordening. Baarn: Het Wereldvenster Herzele, van A. (2004). Local knowledge in action: valuing nonprofessional reasoning in the planning process. Journal of planning education and research 24: 197-212. Published by Sage Jonge, de J. (2009). Landscape Architecture between Politics and Science: An integrative perspective on landscape planning and design in the network society. Jonge, de J. (2010). Van participatie naar co-productie: Nieuwe ruimtelijke planningsprocessen in een Wikipedia samenleving. KCAPArchitects&Planners (2007). De Mars, de ontdekking van Zutphen; Zutphen, stedenbouwkundige visie. Rotterdam KCAPArchitects&Planners (2010). Noorderhaven, DO stedenbouwkundig plan. Rotterdam Kruit, J. (2011). Zutphens verscholen havengebied; Participatieve planontwikkeling voor de ‘Marsuiterwaarden’, een groenblauwe oase in de stad. Wageningen: Grafisch Service Centrum Lodewijk Baljon Landschapsarchitecten (2010). Zutphen de Mars; Landschapsplan. Amsterdam Nieuwe Gracht, stad milieu landschap (2008) Ateliers aan de praat; Handreiking voor ontwerpateliers met specifieke aandacht voor cultuurhistorie. In opdracht van Ministerie VROM en het projectbureau Belvedere Nunkoosing, K. (2005). The problems with interviews. Qualitative Health Research 15: 698. Published by Sage Pretty, J. et al (1995). Participatory Learning and Action: a trainer’s guide. London: Published by the international institute for environment and Development Pröpper, I. & Steenbeek, D. (2001). De aanpak van interactief beleid: elke situatie is anders. Bussum: Uitgeverij Coutinho Websites • www.planetizen.com, viewed 20-04-2010, Can the US learn from the slow city movement? P. Knox & H. Mayer • www.lochem.nl, viewed 31-05-2010 (LOP) • www.mars-zutphen.nl, viewed 31-05-2010 • www.slowfood.com, viewed 20-04-2010 • www.wetenschapswinkel.wur.nl, viewed 17-06-2010 • www.zutphen.nl, viewed 31-05-2010 101 Appendixes Appendix 1: Interview questions landscape architects Appendix 2: Analysis interviews landscape architects phase 1; transcript Appendix 3: Interview questions participants Zutphen Appendix 4: Results of the interviews Zutphen Appendix 5: Mind maps from the first workshop Appendix 6: Vision Appendix 7: Design alternatives Appendix 8: Article in the Stentor, ISALA Appendix 9: Posters design alternatives second workshop Appendix 10: Article landwerk 102 Inleiding: • Doel, omgang landschapsarchitecten, ervaringen, participatie processen • Tijdsduur, +/- 45 min • Procedure gesprek, opnames, onderwerp met subthema’s • Procedure gegevens, anoniem, alleen voor dit onderzoek Hoofdthema: • Hoe ervaren landschapsarchitecten de invloed van participatie op hun dagelijkse werk? Startvraag: Wat zijn uw ervaringen als landschapsarchitect met participatie processen? Verschil met non- participatieve processen • Wat is volgens u het grootste verschil tussen participatieve processen en non-participatieve processen? • Wat zijn de positieve aspecten van participatieve processen? • Wat zijn de negatieve aspecten van participatieve processen? De rol van de landschapsarchitect, participant en ontwerp • Wat is uw rol als landschapsarchitect tijdens een participatie proces? • Hoe verhoudt de landschapsarchitect zich tot de participant? • Wat is de rol van de landschapsarchitect ten aanzien van ontwerp? • Wat is de rol van de participant ten aanzien van ontwerp? De rol van de opdrachtgever • Wie bepaald of een opdracht participatief uitgevoerd moet worden? • Worden er argumenten voor dit besluit gegeven? • Heeft u daar als landschapsarchitect invloed op? • Is de geschiedenis tussen belanghebbende en de opdrachtgever van belang voor het proces? Kennis en vaardigheden • Welke vaardigheden heeft u nodig tijdens een participatie proces? • Hoe / waar heeft u die vaardigheden geleerd? De resultaten van een participatie proces • Wat voor een resultaten komen er uit een participatie proces? • Zijn deze resultaten van tevoren bepaald? • Wat doet de landschapsarchitect met de resultaten? • voegt een participatie proces extra kwaliteit toe? De ontwikkeling van participatie • Wat moet er in de toekomst veranderen om participatie processen te verbeteren? • Hoe ziet u de toekomstige rol van Landschapsarchitecten voor zich? • Hoe belangrijk is participatie in de toekomst? Appendix 1: Interview questions landscape architects Appendix 1: Interview questions landscape architects Afsluiting: • Einde aankondigen • Vragen of er nog zaken niet genoemd zijn, die volgens de geïnterviewde wel van belang zijn • Eventuele vragen beantwoorden • Aangeven wanneer de gegevens verwerkt en terug gekoppeld worden, samenvatting • Bedanken voor de tijd en moeite die de geïnterviewde heeft genomen 103 Appendix 2: Analysis interviews landscape architects phase 1; transcript 104 Appendix 2: Analysis interviews landscape architects phase 1; transcript Respondent 1 08-07-2010 DW_B0078.wav Landschapsarchitect bij een bureau I: Interviewer R: Respondent I: Wat zijn je ervaringen als landschapsarchitect met participatie processen tot zo ver? R: Ik ben begonnen te werken bij een gemeente, eind jaren 80, de gemeente A. In die tijd was inspraak wel een issue maar dat was echt nog inspraak en geen echte participatie. Dat hield in dat je bij, ik heb gewerkt aan een structuurvisie en een landschapsbeleidsplan en ook wel bestemmingsplannen, kleinere plannetjes, nou dan werden er inspraak avonden gehouden en dan gaf je een presentatie van hoe ver je dan was op dat punt. Dan kreeg je allerlei vragen en opmerkingen uit de zaal maar echt sprake van interactie was er niet, het was vooral zenden, luisteren en dat weer verwerken in de volgende slag. En mijn tweede grote ervaring was toen ik bij de provincie B werkte, projectleider was van het streekplan, dat is het grote, wat nu de provinciale structuurvisie heet, bij de nieuwe wet ruimtelijke ordening. Dat was toch eigenlijk ook nog heel erg top down, maar wel met een wettelijke inspraakprocedure en ja dat plan dat bracht zo ontzettend veel maatschappelijk protest teweeg. Dat, het was in de tijd dat de ecologische hoofdstructuur voor het eerst werd uitgerold en ook in ruimtelijke plannen verankerd moest worden, B was de eerste provincie die dat ook werkelijk in een streekplan ging gieten. Nou toen zijn er echt grote boeren opstanden geweest, en naja, ik heb de eieren voor de gedeputeerde op moeten vangen,echt heel heftig. Met hele grote inspraak bijeenkomsten, want mensen hebben dan wettelijk het recht om in te spreken en daar hadden ze massaal gebruik van gemaakt. De hallen werden afgehuurd en echt nou ja honderden vaak gelijkluidende inspraakreacties aan te horen als een soort massa volksopstand, vaak vanuit het groene vlak, boeren enz. En dat bracht bij mij wel een reactie van ja dit zoals het gaat, het gaat eigenlijk niet goed. Want het gaat over fundamentele vragen die eigenlijk in zo’n inspraakronde niet goed aan de orde komen. Je bent niet in staat om het gesprek te voeren, op het niveau dat het gevoerd moet worden. Het is geen werkelijke dialoog waar de onderliggende waarden die hier spelen aan bod komen. En de manier van planning, ja, was toch tamelijk technocratisch, ecologische structuur op zich een goed gedachtegoed, maar er is bij het ontwerpen, waar en hoe dan, onvoldoende rekening gehouden met allerlei andere, ja, ook toch sociale waarde die er spelen, dus daar vanuit die kant dat we eigenlijk als ontwerpers en experts onvoldoende geluisterd hadden, en als we wel eerder die werkelijke dialoog waren aangegaan, en dat kan natuurlijk niet met al die inwoners, maar als je selectief een aantal goed ingevoerde mensen betrokken had bij dat ontwerp proces dan had je aangevoeld waar je beter op moest letten, dat je niet door de begrenzing van een ecologische hoofdstructuur hele gemeenschappen, echt, de voeten onder hun weg slaat. Omdat een te groot deel van de agrarische sector in te korte tijd het heel ergens anders zou moeten zoeken bij wijze van spreken. Dus, dat was voor mezelf een leerpunt, van nou we hebben echt met name de sociale aspecten over het hoofd gezien. Sociaal cultureel, sociaal economisch, dat is een beetje een vaag overgangsveld. Maar tegelijkertijd wist ik ook wel van ja die burgers roepen ook maar wat omdat hun voormannen dat zo roepen. En die weten ook niet echt waar het om gaat, dus we zijn ook niet in staat geweest om goed uit te leggen wat nou de bedoeling van zo’n streekplan is. Dat als daar een groene vlek staat dat, dat niet overmorgen opeens van functie veranderd maar dat, dat dus als je het hebt over weloverwogen oordeel, dan was daar bij die burgers absoluut geen sprake van. Want ze riepen maar wat. En ze praten elkaar na, er komt een soort hysterie op gang. Maar er was ons zelf ook veel te verwijten. I: Dus het kwam van twee kanten, dat ontwerpers niet hadden geluisterd naar de stemmen en de meningen van de lokale bevolking en dat jullie niet…….. R: Nou ja eigenlijk een veel te smalle invulling van wat is nou kwaliteit en dat een technocratische kijk op wat is ruimtelijke kwaliteit waarbij wel allerlei ecologisch onderzoek, water, bodem etc. dat was allemaal keurig bedacht, maar de hele, sociaal maatschappelijke component, die was er niet bij betrokken. Als je kijkt naar people, profit, planet, dan was er goed gekeken naar profit en planet maar people was vergeten. Dat is ook mijn, wel een drijfveer geweest die, die werkbank ruimtelijke kwaliteit die gaat uit van een brede invulling van ruimtelijke kwaliteit waarbij gezegd wordt je hebt, belevingswaarden, toekomstwaarden, dat kennen jullie natuurlijk, maar economische belangen sociale belangen, ecologische belangen, culturele belangen die kun je daar weer in onderverdelen, met name deze kolom is heel lang vergeten (sociale belangen), en deze kolom werd dan wel ingebracht door de architecten en de cultuurhistorici ofzo (culturele belangen) maar ja, en dit en heel veel inspraak reacties gaan over economie, dat het de private sector is die wel voor zijn belang opkomt. Nou en hier heb je dan de actiegroepen (ecologisch belangen) die opkomen voor zachte waarden van natuur, maar vaak ook heel erg op behoud gericht en weinig toekomst gericht. Het is heel erg op dat bovenste vakje. Terwijl het nadenken over wat is ecologie nou op de lange termijn wat is een gezond ecologisch systeem, dat zat er toen in die tijd nog weinig in bij die actiegroepen. Het nadenken over veerkracht in processen etc., dat is eigenlijk pas later op gang gekomen. Ik vind dit als denkraam en ook om te kijken van hebben we in een proces de kennis, vaardigheden en gevoeligheden die hier in deze vakjes zitten, hebben we die ook vertegenwoordigd in de mensen die mee doen? Dat is voor mij altijd heel handig…. I: Een soort checklist R: Een soort checklist ja I: En dan samen met dat denkniveau, de kennis, het praktische R: Die B ervaring die was wel heel heftig, en dat was ook in een tijd, de jaren 90, dat er inspraak was wettelijk geregeld maar langzamer tijd werd de samenleving steeds mondiger en kreeg ook steeds meer de mogelijkheid om zelf kennis te vergaren. Toen ik naar C ging in 97-98 ofzo, toen had ik ook het gevoel ja, dat wil ik eigenlijk verder onderzoeken, uitwerken en zo is langzaam het idee voor mijn proefschrift gerijpt. En ja toen kwam ik in een onderzoekswereld waar ik ontwerpend onderzoek op de agenda moest zetten. En dan kom je uit zo’n beleidswereld waar je te maken hebt met bestuurders die vooral voor hun politieke gewin gaan en ook maar wat roepen en burgers die te hoop lopen tegen een plan, ook een beetje als kip zonder kop allerlei beleid, wel heel erg een beetje plat, beleidsmakers die vooral gedreven zijn door hun eigen hobby, en ik had het gevoel, ja, dat dialoog loopt gewoon niet goed. I: Twee hele verschillende werelden die niet…… R: En dan kom je in die onderzoekswereld en dan heb je weer met die gasten met oogkleppen te maken, die alleen maar hun eigen expertise, daar heel erg in excelleren. Ook nauwelijks binding hebben met wat speelt er nou in de samenleving en voor wie doen we dat onderzoek nu. Daar had ik ook het gevoel, we moeten dat onderzoek ook meer op een participatieve manier doen. En daar is toen ook het idee van regiodialogen uit voort gekomen. Binnen C zijn we met een groep aan de slag gegaan, omdat we hele fundamentele vragen bij de kop wilden pakken. Maar dat wel samen met allerlei maatschappelijke organisaties. Bijvoorbeeld in D hebben we dat gedaan rond E. waar we met ik geloof 17 organisaties of zoiets, zowel overheden en kennisinstellingen toch heel diepgaand zijn gaan kijken naar veehouderij, stad - land relaties, functies van infrastructuur en transport, en dat is veel meer een dialoog geweest zoals ik m eigenlijk wilde, waarbij je met elkaar in een leerproces stapt. Met een gemotiveerde en toch wel geselecteerde groep betrokken mensen die niet alleen vanuit hun eigen perspectief zitten te praten, vanuit hun belang maar ook echt gemotiveerd waren om samen nieuwe concepten neer te zetten I: Had je het idee dat, dat echt werkte? R: Ja dat heeft ook, daar zijn ook een aantal belangrijke dingen uit gekomen. Het feit dat de F daar nu plaats vind en dat, dat op toch ook, dat daar een heleboel nieuwe elementen inzitten, dat is een uitvloeisel van die regio dialoog. I: Toch echt duidelijke resultaten die daar uitgekomen zijn? R: Ik weet niet of het G je wat zegt? Naja dat is een groot, heel groot project wat ook in de nota ruimte als sleutelproject is aangewezen. Het gaat over E als knooppunt van logistiek en, agro logistiek maar ook hoe je daar op een innovatieve manier mee om gaat. Dat is ook een uitvloeisel van die regio dialoog is. Ook de experimenten die daar lopen om de intensieve veehouderij veel meer op een integrale manier met combinatie van glastuinbouw en veehouderij. I: Wanneer was die regio dialoog? R: Dat is rond 2000 geweest? I: Dus je mag dan wel zeggen dat zo´n regiodialoog ook effecten heeft gewoon, op een hele lange toekomst, een lange termijn investering? R: Precies I: Wat nog steeds werkt? R: Ja dat is ook eigenlijk de boodschap van mijn proefschrift, dat we heel erg geneigd zijn korte termijn plannen te maken en dat moet je ook blijven doen, ik bedoel je hebt ook rationele plannen nodig om uit te voeren wat je bedacht hebt. Maar daaronder loopt eigenlijk een continu proces, van dialoog, en dat is een 105 strategisch dialoog, niet gericht op directe uitvoering en niet instrumenteel operationeel. En in die dialoog, daar ontdek je welke issues misschien over tien jaar interessant zijn waar je nu al aan moet werken. Dat is veel meer anticiperend op de toekomst en al dingen in de week leggen, het echte gesprek aangaan en ontdekken waar de pijnpunten zitten. En onderzoekend ontwerpen daar eigenlijk, of verkennend ontwerpen, dat zit veel meer in die strategische continue onderstroom, en daar komen dan, wanneer de tijd rijp is, komen daar wel projecten uit die in de uitvoering komen. Want dan zijn er groepen in de samenleving die zeggen, hey, daar zien wij wel wat in. I: Een soort voedingsbodem? R: Exact een voedingsbodem voor operationele ontwerpprocessen, daar zet je dan ook wel weer een participatief project op, maar als die voedingsbodem niet goed is dan loop je eigenlijk voortdurend achter de feiten aan. I: Dat is wel interessant dat gewoon het proces op zich is al een resultaat dat is gewoon al een investering voor de toekomst. Uit die resultaten komen dan de concrete resultaten, wanneer dat dan nodig is, wanneer de tijd er rijp voor is. R: Precies, en dat is iets wat ik in mijn proefschrift ook aangeef, naja, wij kennen maar één begrip van tijd, dat is de chronologische tijd, die je op de klok kan zien terwijl, als je terug gaat naar de Griekse filosofen, die hadden ook nog een ander tijdsbegrip en dat was de tijd van kans, de opportuniteit, wanneer is de tijd rijp voor iets. Als je bij, een mooi voorbeeld vind ik, ja waar boeren mee te maken hebben, je kan zeggen nou het is zomer en ik moet gaan oogsten maar je kan niet voorspellen dat op 22 juli het graan rijp is ofzo. Je moet wachten tot de tijd rijp is dat jij kan oogsten. Nou eigenlijk is dat strategisch plannen gaat, werkt, met zo’n tijdsbegrip, je moet voorbereid zijn op, en ongeveer weten wanneer iets eraan kan komen, daar moet je op voor bereid zijn, maar je moet ook het moment afwachten dat je de bal in kan koppen. I: Had je van tevoren bedacht dat zoiets zou gebeuren? Als het zo’n groot dialoog is, wat je aan het uitproberen bent? Had je verwacht dat het zover in de tijd door zou duren? Met zulke concrete plannen? R: Daar hoop je natuurlijk op, en ook de opzet die we gekozen hadden dat je, we hadden gezegd dat we streven in dit project van anderhalf – twee jaar naar tien aansprekende, naja dat noemde we wel projecten, eigenlijk tien aansprekende concepten, waar omheen we een enthousiaste groep willen hebben die er ook mee door wil. Nou, er zijn er niet echt tien doorgegaan, maar toch wel de helft. Maar dat zijn ook dingen die kun je niet helemaal voorspellen natuurlijk. Want er komen later ook nog dingen op duiken waar van je denkt, hey, heeft dat zijn voedingsboden daar gehad. I: Vooral omdat het zo lang duurt? R: Er spelen vaak natuurlijk ook andere dingen, van dwarsverbanden die toevallig gelegd worden. I: Wat is jou rol als een landschapsarchitect in dat proces geweest? Dat proces duurt tien jaar ben je er dan tien jaar bij betrokken? R: Nee I: Of alleen bij het begin? R: Nou, ik ben vooral bij die concrete dialoog betrokken geweest, ik ben bij het uitzetten van de lijnen van F even betrokken geweest, ben later nog weer ingevlogen bij een van de andere concepten wat te maken had met groen – grijze kruisingen noemden we dat. Grootschalige infrastructuur waar ecologische structuren overheen liepen. Naja, wellicht dat ik komende tijd weer betrokken ga worden omdat rond E ook een krimpdialoog speelt, maargoed. I: Je bent in het begin heel erg betrokken geweest, en naarmate de tijd vordert kunnen ze je vinden als ze je nodig hebben voor bepaalde… R: Ja, je bent toch onderdeel geworden van dat netwerk. Weliswaar extern, maar het is wel heel belangrijk in die strategische dialoogstroom dat, een van de belangrijke dingen die gebeurt, is dat mensen elkaar leren kennen, en mensen elkaar weten te vinden. En daar moet eigenlijk ook continuïteit in zitten. I: In dit geval kun je dus wel zeggen dat participatie in dit proces extra kwaliteit heeft toegevoegd in dat gebied en…. R: Ja, ja dat er nieuwe dwarsverbanden zijn ontstaan. Vooral ook tussen stad en land want dat waren ook heel erg gescheiden werelden. En tussen milieu en ruimte en tussen landbouw en infrastructuur bijvoorbeeld. Want dat waren werelden die kenden elkaar niet echt van tevoren. I: Dat klinkt allemaal super positief allemaal, wat zijn dan de negatieve aspecten in zo’n proces? R: Ja weet je, of iets positief of negatief vind hangt af van de verwachtingen die je hebt. Heel veel bestuurders en planners die hebben een verwachtingspatroon van een project, en dat moet uitgevoerd worden en meetbaar zijn in twee jaar ofzo. Ik heb me ontdaan van die verwachting, ik weet gewoon dat als je fundamentele dingen wil veranderen dan moet je denken in termijnen van tien – twintig jaar. En daar moet je 106 gewoon gestaag aan werken en je moet blijven zeggen, elkaar blijven opzoeken. Dus als je niet zulke irreële verwachtingen hebt dan zie je hoe dingen lopen en dan denk je, nou dat is een mooi ding. I: Zo’n proces is ook niet echt meetbaar. R: Nee, je kan geen resultaat verplichting afspreken, van dit leveren wij op. Je bent heel erg afhankelijk van toch wel, van de toevallige kliks die er ontstaan, maar je kan wel je best doen om de omstandigheden, om die kliks te laten ontstaan, om die zo gunstig mogelijk te maken en dat is ook iets waar ik in mijn onderzoek naar gezocht heb. Aan welke knop kun je draaien en dat zit heel erg in, ja toch in de goede chemie en de goede ingrediënten, waar, als het gaat om personen, dat je zowel mensen hebt die de diepte in kunnen en echt kennis van bepaalde zaken hebben als mensen die vanuit het gebied, heel goed weten hoe ook die sociale structuur, die waarde structuur in mekaar zit. Wat je eigenlijk van wijze politici verwacht, maar onze politiek is zo plat geworden eigenlijk. Dat je eigenlijk al een oud burgemeester moet hebben die echt boven partijen staat, en vanuit die rol kan mee praten. Nouja, de mensen dus als ingrediënten, wat heel belangrijk is. Tijd, je hebt wel soms tijdsdruk nodig om even iets te condenseren, ja maar gaat het nu hier om? Zijn we in staat om iets goed, op een goede manier met de kennis van nu de verwoording te verbeelden? Dan is tijdsdruk wel goed. Maar over het geheel genomen moet je een soort vrijheid voelen, vrije ruimte in je hoofd voelen, om, los van de waan van de dag, en van beslissingen die morgen genomen moeten worden. Na te denken over de toekomst. Dus het maken van een sfeer waar mensen zich vrij voelen om na te denken, ja dat is heel belangrijk en daar kun je ze wel ook allerlei tools bij aanreiken dat ze, naja, allerlei creativiteits tips enzo. I: Het is niet zo dat je mensen verplicht om over één week met ideeën te komen of dat dan en dan dat eruit moet komen. Maar dat je mensen de tijd gunt, totdat de tijd rijp is en dat mensen denken van o, nu is dit handig, en nu is dit handig. R: Ja, je moet natuurlijk iets organiseren dat mensen bij elkaar zijn, dus dat zijn de momenten die je heel erg goed moet benutten, maar je moet ze dan niet pressen om met een project te komen wat ook zo realistisch is en morgen uitgevoerd kan worden. Je daagt ze uit om verder te kijken, en zo’n idee moet dan rijpen, en dan na een poosje kom je weer bij elkaar en dan kijk je er op terug van nou die concepten die we hebben, stel nu dat je daar stapsgewijs naar toe wil gaan, welke stappen zou je nu dan kunnen zetten. Het is een hele andere manier van, het is eigenlijk naar de toekomst springen en dan weer terug naar het heden in plaats vanuit het heden, welke problemen hebben we nu en hoe gaan we die oplossen. I: Je zegt dus, dit willen we in de toekomst bereiken, en dan ga je terug kijken welke stappen vanaf nu moeten we dan nemen R: Ja, of welke verschillende routes zijn er mogelijk. Want vaak is het ook, je ziet een stip aan de horizon maar je weet dat er allerlei obstakels in de weg kunnen zitten en vaak zijn er meerdere alternatieven om ergens te komen, of eigenlijk de goede richting in te gaan. En daar gevoel voor krijgen met elkaar, zeg maar de goede richting weten te vinden en tegelijkertijd iets van energie creëren dat er ook tempo ontstaat dat zijn eigenlijk belangrijkere doelen dan dat je precies weet waar je uitkomt en welke weg je dan te gaan hebt. Die illusie heb ik niet meer, dat planning op die manier werkt. I: Wat is nou concreet jou rol als landschapsarchitect, wat neem jij dan voor een taken op je? R: Ja dat is een goede vraag want dat hangt heel erg af, denk ik van ook hoe je persoonlijk in elkaar zit. Je hebt natuurlijk, waar je toch als ontwerper, als architect, stedenbouwer, ontwerpend denken is een bepaalde vaardigheid die anders is dan onderzoeken, dan wetenschappelijk denken. Daar zijn ook allerlei onderzoekjes naar gedaan, dat je, als je, je traint in het ontwerpen dat je dan een manier ontwikkeld van iets uitproberen, kijken hoe het werkt, en daar je conclusie uit trekken. I: Trial and error? R: Ja, terwijl vanuit een veel meer lineaire wetenschappelijke benadering wil je eerst weten van naja, welke mechanisme werken er, welke criteria heb ik, en dan ga je een pad uitzetten. Dat trial and error principe, dat zit in de manier waarop je naar ontwikkelingen kijkt, dus je zegt van nou, laten we nu eens bedenken hoe het zou kunnen worden, toch de verbeelding. Je brengt zelf een stuk verbeelding in maar wat belangrijker is dat je mensen uitdaagt om ook zelf verbeelding te gebruiken. En mijn ervaring is dat creativiteit net zo goed bij allerlei deelnemers aan zo’n proces zit en dat ontwerpers niet per definitie creatiever zijn dan de deelnemers aan zo’n proces. Dus die verbeelding gebruiken is belangrijk maar het vervolgens daar op kunnen reflecteren van hoe zinvol is dat wat zijn de, toch de criteria waar we aan afmeten of iets goed is, ja dat, die systematische reflectie op dingen. Ik denk dat ik dat ook wel in zo’n proces breng. En dat is vaak veel lastiger voor deelnemers aan zo’n proces, want ja, je hebt toch als ontwerper bepaalde patronen en structuren in je denken meegekregen, bijvoorbeeld over de relatie, als je kijkt naar fysiek het landschap over de relatie tussen ondergrond en netwerk laag enzo, dat je dan ook in de reflectie op die voorstellen dat soort 107 patronen en structuren al mee neemt. I: Op basis van je professionele kennis en ervaring maak je in je hoofd al een soort van beslissingen, daar stel je criteria op, over dat kan wel en dat kan niet. R: Is dat wel consistent? En daar merk je ook, ik heb ook wel een onderzoekje gedaan, bij een proces in H bij K, waar ik gekeken heb, daar waren eerst, dat staat hier ook heel kort beschreven (hier= essay in belvedère publicatie). Daar waren eerst sessies geweest met de, met alleen de mensen uit het gebied, burgers. Daar was een enorme creativiteit en rijkdom aan ideeën uitgekomen, maar wel allemaal van die ideeën waar je uit kon selecteren, niet met zoveel samenhang. Goh ja die watertaxi is leuk, owja en ja die, weet ik wat, paardendorp enzo, allemaal leuke ideeën. En een half jaar later hadden we nog weer een meerdaags atelier, daar stonden ontwerpers echt aan het roer van elke groep, daar kon je merken dat de oogst daarvan dat daar meer interne consistentie inzat, en dat je veel moeilijker kon zeggen, nou als we dit er uit slopen dan kunnen we dat combineren ofzo. I: Veel samenhang dus? R: Veel meer samenhang. I: Allemaal met elkaar verweven? R: Ja, en allemaal een veel logischer verhaal, ja, waarbij lange termijn werken aan dingen die met ondergrond en met veiligheid, met infrastructuur enzo te maken hebben. En dat, als dat dan maar goed is dan, ja dan maakt hen niet heel erg veel uit of dat recreatie dorpje of dat dan een rode of een gele baksteen heeft. I: Je kon in die tweede bijeenkomst echt de hand van de ontwerper herkennen in de ideeën die door zo’n groep werden bijgedragen? R: Ja, vooral in de consistentie van het resultaat. En ook de beoordeling van die ontwerpvoorstellen, daar zat veel meer samenhang in. Dus ik denk dat, dat een hele belangrijke rol is van ontwerpers, dat ze vanuit de logica van het landschap samenhang kunnen brengen. En ja, ook die lange termijn blik, ook op verschillende schaalniveaus kunnen werken want het is voor mensen uit een gebied, ze kennen het gebied maar, hoe dat samenhangt met het hogere schaalniveau dat weten ze niet. Ze hebben vaak veel minder referentie van andere gebieden. Als ontwerper heb je ook elders op de wereld gekeken en kan je dingen afzetten tegen hoe het daar gebeurt, dan kan je zeggen dit past hier wel of niet. Vaak zijn mensen uit het gebied toch een beetje blind voor het goede of het slechte in hun eigen gebied. Dat is te vanzelfsprekend, te gewoon. I: Op een bepaald moment zie je dat zelf niet meer. R: Ja, je hebt daar juist, vanwege de combinatie een grote toegevoegde waarde. I: Dat zijn dus echt de vaardigheden die een ontwerper dus eigenlijk al leert in principe, dat die combinaties R: Selectie, combinaties zoeken, door de schalen heen ontwerpen, door de tijd heen ontwerpen. I: Die vaardigheden heeft een landschapsarchitect ook tijdens participatie processen gewoon nodig? R: Ja I: Dus daar zit niet eens zo heel veer verschil in? De vaardigheden die een landschapsarchitect nodig heeft in participatie processen als de vaardigheden die een landschapsarchitect nodig heeft als die gewoon een ontwerp maakt? R: Nou, niet als je kijkt naar puur het ontwerp proces. Maar als ik een tuin maak voor iemand dan heb ik één opdracht gever, daar ga ik mee in gesprek en dan moet ik ook goed kunnen luisteren. Tenzij die zegt doe maar wat. Dan probeer je ook te ontdekken wat is werkelijk belangrijk voor deze opdrachtgever en daar bedenk ik de logische vormen bij. Als je in een gebied werkt, dan heb je niet met die ene opdrachtgever te maken maar dan is het hele gebied jou opdrachtgever. En dan moet je dus op een andere manier ja, toch dat gesprek aangaan, en luistern wat hebben zij in te brengen. Niet alleen wat vinden zij belangrijk, maar ook die opdrachtgever, die heeft kennis, die jij van je leven niet kan weten. Omdat je niet op die plek bent opgegroeid of wat dan ook, dus je wilt zowel kennis uit die groep hebben die nodig is om goed te kunnen ontwerpen, als dat je wilt weten wat belangrijk is. Dus dat zijn dan ook weer die andere twee vleugels van de kennis en de waarde. Facts and values die je in zo’n dialoog eruit wil hebben. I: En om die waardes te achterhalen heb je wel andere vaardigheden nodig? R: Ja, dat is het grote verschil toch of je vind dat jij een ontwerp moet maken, wat jij goed vind of dat je zegt van nee, ik wil werken met co-productie, en ik ben wel door mijn ontwerpende vaardigheden in staat om te integreren, om ook die mensen, het denkraam van die mensen op te rekken. Te laten zien hoe de verbanden zijn tussen de dingen, landschappelijk systeem, wat de relaties met de buitenwereld zijn, dat moet je ook over kunnen brengen. I: Je moet ook nog kennis overdragen naar die mensen? R: Ja, maar dat hoef je niet allemaal alleen te doen. Dat doe je meestal met een team. I: We hadden het net al even over die opdrachtgever. Wie bepaald er of zo’n opdracht participatief moet 108 worden uitgevoerd? R: Als ik principieel naar deze vraag kijk dan zou ik zeggen dat bepaal jij als ontwerper. I: In de praktijk? R: Nou ja, ook in de praktijk, ik heb twee maanden terug een opdracht geweigerd omdat ik zei, in dit proces zitten geen voorwaarden dat ik echt kan luisteren naar wat hier speelt in dit gebied. En ik ben er alleen maar voor het toefje slagroom op de taart. Dit is geen opdracht voor mij. Dus je hebt ook je eigen verantwoordelijkheid om te kijken dat wat een opdrachtgever van mij vraagt, vind ik dat passen in deze tijd? Vind ik dat passen bij wat ik goed vind? I: Dus in dat geval had de opdrachtgever beslist dat…. R: Dat het zogenaamd participatief was maar eigenlijk hadden ze het plan al liggen. De uitgangspunten hadden ze al liggen. I: Dan is het de verantwoordelijkheid van de landschapsarchitect om te zeggen dit is niet de manier waarop…. R: Dit is mooipraterij maar ik kan het niet verantwoorden naar al die deelnemers aan het proces. Dat er geen ruimte is voor werkelijke dialoog over wat voor hen belangrijk is. Dus primair ligt de verantwoordelijkheid bij jezelf vind ik. Maar meestal is het natuurlijk zo dat een overheid ofzo, of een initiatiefnemer, een bepaalde gebiedsontwikkelaars, projectontwikkelaars, zandwinners of wat dan ook. Dat die een bepaald beeld hebben van hoe iets moet lopen. Bij L heeft de gemeenteraad gezegd dit moet een participatief proces worden en daar hebben ze ook middelen voor uitgetrokken, het is veel goedkoper om een ontwerper gewoon een plan te laten maken. En dat dan door te drukken met de middelen die je hebt. I: maar het gebeurt dus ook soms dat er niet overwogen wordt of participatie wel nodig is of dat het nog effectief is? R: Ja, de meeste praktijken gaan uit van we moeten een plan maken en we doen alvast een schot voor de boeg en dan gaan we met dat schot voor de boeg kijken wat de omgeving er van vind. En er wordt van tevoren niet echt nagedacht over hoe kunnen we gebruikmakend van de kennis en de waarden die in dit gebied zitten een zo goed mogelijk plan maken. Er zit nog heel erg, naja, dat is niet altijd negatief, er zit een soort van verantwoordelijkheid gevoel bij van wij moeten dat plan maken. Als gemeente ofzo. I: Vanuit gewoonte of doen zoals ze dat altijd doen? Of vanuit hun taakomschrijving? Dat ze gewoon zeggen, wij hebben de verantwoordelijkheid voor dit ontwerp, dus we beginnen daar vast aan. R: Ja. Er zit ook vaak een soort angst, van ja, als we het teveel open gooien wat krijgen we dan, wordt het plan er wel beter van? Dus het is ook vaak wel gemakzucht dat, of het gaat te lang duren, of het wordt te duur, dat zijn allerlei overwegingen om het niet te doen. I: Je hebt al die verschillende niveaus van participatie, hoe beïnvloed dat het proces of jou rol als landschapsarchitect? R: Hoe hoger je op die ladder zit, hoe meer die vaardigheden van doorvragen, luisteren, goed dingen teruggeven, checken heb ik goed begrepen wat je bedoeld, kan dat ongeveer dit opleveren en die vaardigheden om het echt samen te doen. I: Communicatief vooral? R: Ja, zijn vooral communicatieve vaardigheden. Die worden dan steeds belangrijker. I: Hoe leer je dat soort vaardigheden? R: Door te doen. I: Ervaring? R: Ja, en het is natuurlijk ook karakter, I: Persoonlijkheid? R: Ja, I: Zit er ook veel persoonlijke drive achter dan? R: Ja, er zijn ook ontwerpers die hebben juist dat ontwerpvak gekozen omdat ze zo graag zelf iets neer willen zetten, wat zij zelf bedacht hebben. Dat is voor een architect wat makkelijker dan voor een landschapsarchitect. Want wij hebben toch per definitie te maken met heel veel collectieve goederen. I: Ja we hebben te maken met iedereen. Het laatste puntje gaat nog over de toekomstrichting, ja hoe zie je de toekomst van landschapsarchitecten in participatie processen? R: Wat wij ook in dat artikel 3.0 aangeven is dat het, het is een ontwikkeling die doorgaat en alleen maar versneld, dat mensen meer invloed willen hebben op hun eigen omgeving, we hebben in de vorige eeuw eigenlijk, naja in 1902 hadden we de woningwet en toen zijn we door die ruimtelijke ordening heen gaan structureren en de overheid heeft dat naar zich toe getrokken en daarmee is verantwoordelijkheid bij de 109 burgers weggenomen om zorg te dragen voor hun eigen omgeving. En dat heeft twee effecten, de ene is dat burgers zich gaan verzetten tegen wat de overheid allemaal voor ze vind, en voor ze bedenkt. Maar het tweede is dat er ook heel veel burgers zijn die zeggen, dat is makkelijk, ik betaal belasting en doe het maar gewoon. Dus, en die boemerang krijgen we ook terug. Zeker in het landschap krijg je die boemerang terug want ja wie, wie voelt zich nog verantwoordelijk voor de kwaliteit van het landschap? Dat wat van iedereen is, is tegelijkertijd van niemand. Dus ja, die twee dingen moet je op een manier weer met elkaar gaan verenigen. En je merkt nu de discussie over verrommeling, er zijn geluiden, dat moeten we strenger regelen, met een verbod op dit en een verbod op dat, verbod op bouwen in de wei en een verbod op witte schimmel en ja, nou dat is één mogelijkheid. Maar het is niet de maatregel die past bij het teruggeven van verantwoordelijkheid daar waar het hoort, namelijk bij de mensen die hun eigen omgeving maken. I: Dat is eigenlijk van bovenaf verboden, beperkingen opleggen. R: Ja precies, dat is eigenlijk de effecten die voortkomen uit een bepaalde verantwoordelijkheid die de overheid naar zich toe getrokken heeft, gaan bestrijden met de dingen waar het probleem juist door ontstaan is. Dus daar geloof ik niet in. Ik geloof er veel meer in, zorgen dat, mensen weer verantwoordelijkheid voor hun eigen omgeving gaan nemen. Dat betekend ook dat de overheid moet gaan loslaten, Juist, in plaats van dingen sterker naar zich toe trekken. En dat is wel een hele uitdaging. Want aan de andere kant is er ook de roep om de sterke leiders. I: Worden landschapsarchitecten dan leiders in dat soort processen? Als gaat over de kwaliteit van het landschap en dan de samenwerking met die verantwoordelijkheid van de burger? Of zie je dat er andere partijen zijn? R: Nou nee, ik denk dat in je rol, ik bedoel je hebt natuurlijk landschapsarchitecten die als een leider fungeren maar gewoon, zuiver als maatschappelijke rollen gezien, denk ik dat je als landschapsarchitect wel de vakman en de vakvrouw bent die in staat is om dingen op een goede manier, slimme manier toekomst bestendig bij mekaar te zetten en in de wetenschap dat je daar de kennis van anderen voor nodig hebt. Dus dat is in essentie waar je, je vakmatige vaardigheid ligt. Dat je daarmee een hele goede steun kan geven aan een leider aan een maatschappelijk visionair die gedreven is om de samenleving vooruit te helpen, en die kwaliteit te geven, dat is een gouden combinatie. Daar ben je ook altijd naar opzoek naar zo’n soort opdrachtgever. Dat is ook, als je dat verhaal van L leest, dan hebben we daar geluk gehad met onze bestuurlijke opdrachtgever. Die wel zelf een visie hadden en wilden sturen maar ook in staat waren om ruimte te geven waar dat nodig was. I: Ook weer een wisselwerking? R: Ja, I: Een vraag die ik nog vergeten ben is: wat is het verschil in participatie als je met partijen werkt, met experts of met participatie dat je met bewoners werkt? Jij spreekt over, dat het samen moet. Dus Partijen, verenigingen en bewoners. Maar wat is het verschil tussen hoe partijen en verenigingen denken ten opzichte van bewoners? Hoe je met experts werkt en hoe je met bewoners werkt? R: Ja ik maak nog een onderscheid hoor want je hebt bewoners, dat zijn individuen, nou dan heb je het meestal over hel locale schaalniveau, wat ook hun eigen leefomgeving betreft. Dan heb je collectieven, dat zijn die actiegroepen en we hebben ook in de vorige eeuw die allemaal geïnstitutionaliseerd en vaak zijn die ook verbureaucratiseert zijn het eigenlijk gewoon ja werken daar ook allerlei specialisten en medewerkers die van alles weten van ecologie ofzo. Maar ze doen dat heel erg vanuit hun opdracht om een bepaald belang te verdedigen. En dan heb je nog de onafhankelijke experts, specialisten, die dat vanuit hun onafhankelijke positie gewoon vanuit hun eigen kennis doen. Als je kijkt naar mijn vleugels in mijn proefschrift dan die waarden kant die zit natuurlijk heel sterk bij die belangen organisaties, die collectieven. En op een lager schaalniveau zit dat natuurlijk ook bij burgers die hun eigen belangen naar voren willen brengen. Terwijl die onafhankelijke experts, die kunnen heel goed die feiten inbrengen. Die wetenschappelijke informatie inbrengen. Maar mensen zijn er natuurlijk ook kennisdragers, ik bedoel, mensen uit een gebied weten ook heel goed hoe bepaalde dingen echt in elkaar zitten. I: Uit ervaring? R: Uit ervaring, ja, een boer weet waar de natte plekken op zijn land zitten, daar heeft hij geen hydrologisch model voor nodig. Dus in een proces is het wel heel belangrijk om die twee aspecten uit elkaar te halen. En ik zeg ook altijd van je neemt aan zo’n proces deel op persoonlijke titel. Het individu, dat woord betekend ongedeeld, je kan niet zeggen van nu heb je een pet op, waarbij je alleen maar kennis inbrengt en nou heb je de pet op waarbij je een belang mag verdedigen. Maar je moet wel de, zo’n proces is juist bedoel om zowel de kennisaspecten als die waardeaspecten met elkaar te verenigen. Als je daar dan vanuit één rol je 110 belang gaat verdedigen bijvoorbeeld, ja dan mis je een gedeelte van jezelf, en dan mist de groep daar een gedeelte van. Dus probeer ook …. I: Open te staan voor de andere kant? R: Maar vergt altijd aandacht en dat I: Dat zul je mensen ook uit moeten leggen neem ik aan? R: Ja, en daar moet je ze ook op wijzen en teruggaan naar gewoon de, ja hoe iemand daar als persoon staat, ja dat helpt vaak. Maar daarom, kijk, ik ben in de meest van dit soort processen meer proces begeleider dan ontwerper. En als proces begeleider moet je juist daar op letten. Dat mensen, ja, wel vanuit die brede rol in zo’n staan en niet alleen maar een belangetje verdedigen. Om met elkaar tot zo’n weloverwogen oordeel te komen, en dan zou ik zeggen, zo’n dialoog fase, is er voor om jezelf te verrijken met alles wat in zo’n proces, kennis en ervaring, naar boven komt. Om tot zo’n weloverwogen oordeel te komen. En dan heeft iedereen het recht om op enig moment zijn eigen oordeel te vormen. En dan mag je ook als belangengroep zeggen van nou, ons oordeel is dit. En daar kennen we dan het wettelijke inspraaktraject voor, dat je kan zeggen, ik ben hier voor en daar tegen. Maar dat moet je los koppelen van de dialoog. In de dialoog neem je eigenlijk geen besluiten. De dialoog is om mensen in staat te stellen om buiten die vrije ruimte in dat dialoog, een weloverwogen oordeel te geven over iets. Veel overheden begrijpen dat heel slecht. Hoe je dat spel speelt. En dan wordt er ook dus gekeken bij die deelnemers, vertegenwoordiger van dit, vertegenwoordiger van dat, dan zeggen wij, nee, het gaat niet over vertegenwoordigers van dat belang. Het gaat erom dat je mensen hebt die daar kennis en ervaring mee hebben. Die dat in kunnen brengen en die elkaar in staat stellen om tot dat weloverwogen oordeel te komen. I: Dus tijdens een dialoog ben je eigenlijk allemaal individu? R: Ja, I: zijn er verder nog vragen die ik niet gevraagd heb maar die je nog wel van toepassing vind? Of belangrijk? R: Ja wat je veel, wat veel door elkaar gehaald wordt en dat sluit hier eigenlijk bij aan, dat is participatieve beleidsvorming en participatieve besluitvorming. Dat zijn termen die ja voor mij gaat het bij de dialoog om het participatief ontwikkelen van nieuw gedachtegoed, van nieuwe visies. Besluitvorming is, dat is ook op een andere manier geregeld bij ons, in ons democratisch systeem zitten we nu eenmaal met bepaalde structuren. I: Die politiek die toch het eind besluit neemt. R: Ja en bij L is dat me toch ook weer heel duidelijk geworden, nou dat zo’n gemeenteraad wel heel erg betrokken was, want na elk groot atelier hadden we een terugkoppeling naar de raad. I: De voltallige raad of bepaalde wethouders? R: Nee, dat was een selectie uit de raad die zich met de ruimtelijke ordening bezig hield, eigenlijk een raadscommissie. Maar dat hadden ze heel goed gestructureerd en ze wilden ook dan weer een advies geven over de volgende stap in het project, dus op zich zat dat, het participatieve gedeelte waar het om ideeën ontwikkeling ging en ook de richting gevende rol die een raad daarbij kan hebben, zat goed in mekaar. Maar waar ik dus tegen aan liep was dat, doordat zo’n raad dat niet meebeleefd heeft wat er in zo’n atelier gebeurt is. En zich ook niet echt open stellen om te luisteren van wat is nou de essentie van wat daar gezegd is. En dat kan je misschien ook niet overbrengen als je er niet bij geweest bent. Dat het toch heel erg aan de oppervlakte blijft, en dat dus dat weloverwogen oordeel, dat besluit van die besluitvormende orgaan, ja dat dat toch nog een hele zwakke plek is in ons hele participatieve werken, en dat als je vraagt wat is nu de uitdaging voor de toekomst. Dan denk ik dat we daar toch, ja dat is natuurlijk ook de impasse waar de politiek momenteel in zit volgens mij, dat ze de aansluiting met wat er gebeurt in de maatschappij, dat dat niet goed zit. Dus ik denk dat ons politieke bestel, in de samenleving, en echt aan verandering toe is. I: Dus er zit een zwak punt in die politieke besluitvorming? Dat het niet aansluit bij het hele proces wat jij opstelt, dat ze niet mee kunnen in de participatie, en dan uiteindelijk toch… R: Ze vervallen in een soort routine gedrag, ja maar we willen toch een parkeernorm van 2.0 ofzo. I: Oke. R: en dat is dan wel, als je mij vraagt naar negatieve dingen, dan denk ik van ja, die kwaliteit van onze politieke volksvertegenwoordiging, ja daar ben ik vaak erg in teleurgesteld. I: Dat moet ook heel teleurstellend zijn voor de mensen die mee werken aan zo’n proces. Want jij werkt naar een visie toe en dan vervolgens, dan heb je een heel mooi proces gedaan en dan, laat maar zeggen dan knipt de politiek het touwtje door en dan gaan ze zelf toch hun eigen besluit nemen. R: Ja, weer dat voorbeeld in L, we hebben daar 2 jaar dat proces doorlopen en dat gaat dan over een nieuwe 111 uitbreidingswijk en een groen uitloopgebied, nou de discussie ging op het laatst alleen nog maar over de verkoopbaarheid van de woningen in dat nieuwe uitloopgebied. En het besluit wat genomen is, dat alle plannen voorlopig in de ijskast worden gezet, omdat de economische situatie te onzeker is om daar nu iets aan te gaan doen. Dan denk ik van ja, dan gooi je dus alle energie die toch ontwikkeld is, gooi je weg, want voor dat uitloopgebied, had je best een heleboel dingen kunnen doen zonder dat het überhaupt geld kost. Maar wat nou het mooie is, daar zit dan ook weer de veerkracht van de samenleving, in L noord hadden we het idee om de bestaande erven die daar zijn, die kan je ontwikkelen tot een soort groene kamers. Waar ook gemeenschappelijk, het landschap eromheen beheerd wordt. Waar private initiatieven plaats kunnen vinden. Maar wel met goede afspraken over je verantwoordelijkheid voorde ruimte en omgeving. I: Die gaan gewoon door? R: Het aardige is dat er een stichting is M, een vereniging ofzo, die wil dat daar dus wel uit gaan proberen. En die gaat gewoon door. En dan denk ik van, zie je moet soms gewoon buiten de overheid om en moet je vertrouwen op het maatschappelijk initiatief. Nou ja als dat een voorbode is van toch ook de kracht, veerkracht van de samenleving en via allerlei communities die zich via internet enzo weten te vinden dan ja, nou dan heb ik daar wel vertrouwen in. 112 Introductie door de interviewers ISALA wil uitzoeken hoe zij bij kunnen dragen aan de ontwikkelingen langs de rivier, de revitalisatie van bedrijventerrein de Mars en het recreatieve gebruik hiervan. Hierbij willen ze voor zichzelf de mogelijkheden verkennen voor een nieuw boothuis. ISALA wil een actieve rol spelen bij het ontwikkelen van een visie en het proces op gang brengen. • Denkt u dat deze ontwikkelingen voor u van belang zijn? Het is belangrijk dat de betrokken partijen mee denken om een samenhangende visie te ontwikkelen die door de partijen wordt gedragen. Een gedragen visie kan weer vaart brengen in de ontwikkelingen betreffende de revitalisering van de Mars. Open staan voor het proces • Wat vindt u van het idee om samen een visie te ontwikkelen? • Wat vindt u van het idee om dat met meerdere partijen te doen? • Wat verwacht u van het resultaat? Nu en toekomst • Hoe waardeert u de omgeving • Heeft u wensen voor de toekomst? Eigendom (met een kaart erbij) • Welk gebied gebruikt u? • Hebt u eigendom? • Huurt u gebieden van de gemeente of andere partijen? • Weet u van wie de landtong waar de koeien op staan is? • Hoe wordt de landtong gebruikt in het hoogseizoen? Partijen en samenwerking • Hebt u contact met andere partijen in dit gebied? • Zo ja, met welke partijen en waarom? Zijn er andere partijen dan de verenigingen die belang hebben bij deze ontwikkelingen? Ontbrekende informatie Zijn er nog punten die wij niet genoemd hebben maar waar u nog wat over wil zeggen? Afsluiting • Korte samenvatting (door notulist) • Vragen of ze verder mee willen werken aan het project • Wie hun contactpersoon(en) / vertegenwoordiger(s) zullen zijn • Aangeven dat er een samenvatting van het interview wordt gemaakt wat ze kunnen controleren, aanpassen of aanvullen • Bedanken voor het interview Appendix 3: Interview questions participants Zutphen Appendix 3: Interview questions participants Zutphen 113 Appendix 4: Results of the interviews Zutphen Appendix 4: Results of the interviews Zutphen Nautilus Gebruik gebied Ligging: Industriehaven Zeilen en varen: Marshaven Aanleggen: Loskade, strandjes en uiterwaarden Contacten andere partijen WSV De Mars: Leden van Nautilus geven zeilles bij de WSV Anax: Eenmalige samenwerking tijdens een evenement van Anax Mogelijkheden samenwerking Nautilus wil wel samenwerken maar heeft daar nu geen aanleiding voor Leden aantal 40 leden +/- 9 tot 35 jaar Mogelijke groei Nautilus kan niet verder groeien vanwege de capaciteit van “De Volharding” Flexibiliteit locatie Nautilus wil graag in de Industriehaven blijven maar als het nodig is kan een andere locatie ook mits goed bereikbaar Wensen Nautilus Nautilus wil een loods om in de winter aan de boten te kunnen werken Mogelijkheden op nabij gelegen plas te varen (Natura 2000) Aandachtspunten De leeftijd en activiteiten van de leden van Nautilus verschilt van die van de andere verenigingen Museumhaven Gebruik gebied Ligging: Houthaven Contacten andere partijen Geen contacten met andere partijen, alleen met het projectbureau de Mars Leden aantal +/- 18 Boten en 2 lege plekken, +/- 15 bewoond Mogelijke groei De museumhaven zou kunnen groeien binnen de Houthaven Flexibiliteit locatie De museumhaven is tevreden met de huidige locatie maar als het nodig is kan een andere locatie ook mits de investeringen vergoed worden Wensen Museumhaven De museumhaven wil zichtbaarder zijn De museumhaven wil meer levendigheid in de omgeving van de haven Voorzieningen: Opslagruimte, fietsenstalling en brievenbussen Invloed plannen IJsselboulevard en de Museumhaven kunnen elkaar versterken, de haven van Noorderhaven zou een mogelijke ligplaats kunnen zijn Eigendom Huurt de grond van de gemeente Aandachtspunten Mogelijk tegenstrijdige belangen bestuur en inwoners van de museumhaven Anax Gebruik gebied Ligging: De Mars Te water laten: Houthaven, Marshaven Varen: Marshaven, IJssel, Twentekanaal en overige waterwegen Contacten andere partijen Geen functionele samenwerking met andere partijen Leden aantal 114 +/- 90 leden Flexibiliteit locatie De huidige locatie is goed, als het nodig is dan is een andere locatie ook mogelijk Wensen Anax Een opstapplek die bereikbaar is met hoog en laag water Het behouden van de rust en ruimte Invloed plannen De komst van de IJsselboulevard is aardig voor de bereikbaarheid Anax, geen grote commerciële ontwikkelingen gewenst De geplande nevengeul bij de Hoven is wel interessant Eigendom Erfpacht van de gemeente Hanzestedensloep Gebruik gebied Ligplaats sloepen: In een klein haventje Ligplaats in de winter: Loods Opstappen: Marshaven Varen: De IJssel en ander plaatsen waar de klant heen wil Contacten andere partijen De Hanzestedensloep maakt momenteel gebruik van de faciliteiten en opstap plaats bij ISALA Samenwerking De Hanzestedensloep ziet mogelijkheden om samen te werken met ander verenigingen of commerciële partijen Mogelijke groei De Hanzestedensloep wil in de toekomst groeien met het aantal vaarten en sloepen Flexibiliteit locatie De Hanzestedensloep is nog op zoek naar een locatie en vrij flexibel zolang het dicht bij het oude centrum van Zutphen en goed bereikbaar is Wensen Een op- en afstap plek Dicht bij het oude centrum van Zutphen Bereikbaar met het openbaar vervoer Invloed plannen De IJsselboulevard zou ISALA ontsluiten en daarbij ook de Hanzestedensloep beter bereikbaar maken. Een plek in de haven van de Noorderhaven zou ook een optie zijn Aandachtspunten De Hanzestedensloep wil niet afhankelijk zijn van andere partijen, goede af spraken moeten gemaakt kunnen worden Sportraad Contacten andere partijen De sportraad vertegenwoordigt in het gebied: Anax, ISALA en WSV de Mars + ongeorganiseerde sport Samenwerking De sportraad ziet samenwerking tussen locale en nationale verenigingen. Leden aantal De sportraad zou willen dat de ledenaantallen worden opgenomen in de nieuwe toetskaders Mogelijke groei De sportraad geeft aan dat de WSV de Mars en ISALA wensen hebben om te groeien, Anax niet Wensen De sportraad wil graag dat de sportverenigingen mee gaan in de ontwikkelingen op de Mars 115 Invloed plannen De sportraad wil graag dat de sportverenigingen mee gaan in de ontwikkelingen op de Mars Gemeente Zutphen Gebruik gebied Er komen veel veranderingen op het gebied af die het gebruik veranderen (zie invloed plannen) Contacten andere partijen De gemeente heeft contact met verschillende partijen via het projectbureau de Mars 116 Samenwerking Samenwerking kan voor een groter draagvlak zorgen waardoor het makkelijker op de politieke agenda komt. De gemeente vindt dat ISALA en de WSV samen moeten kijken naar de mogelijkheden om samen te werken omdat ze vergelijkbare wensen hebben Wensen Het gebied moet toegankelijk en beleefbaar worden De gemeente wil dat de WSV en ISALA hun financiële tekort kleiner maken en dat deze partijen kijken of ze samen kunnen werken Invloed plannen Er zijn verschillende plannen die invloed hebben op het gebied. Stedelijke uitloopgebieden, De Noorderhaven, natura 2000, herontwikkeling industrie sector 4-5 en 2-3, De IJsselboulevard en doorgaande recreatieve routes Aandachtspunten De WSV en ISALA hebben beide een aanvraag gedaan voor financiële ondersteuning en zijn daarmee concurrenten t vlotten sanitair eten en drinken restaurant Subtopic waterfietsen nautisch centrum Subtopic Voldoende Water publieke Botenhelling voorwaarden voorzieningen toegankelijkheid waterscooters natuur veiligheid passantenligplaatsen orde en netheid Voor iedereen Voor iedereen functies waterskiër onderlinge verdraagzaamheid schoonheid Waterrecreatie de wal roeien Varen afval zeilen inspanning sporten zon zitten levendigheid in de wind zijn Zwemmen sloepverhuur activiteiten sfeer vissen samen sporten kijken Ontspannen rust Waterrecreatie.mmap - 23-6-2010 - Mindjet uiterwaarden geen bebouwing aan de andere kant meer bebouwing mag best geen front, maar sterke relatie sterke interactie met het water veiligheid stads(ge)zicht uiterwaarden grens stad water wordt harder ijsselfront grens stad water wordt harder ijsselfront sterke interactie met het water stads(ge)zicht veiligheid aanlegplaatsen rondje IJsselboulevard waterrecreatie hardlopers rondje fietsen wandelen scaters ezels bbq paarden ezels recreëren verbinding verlichting waterrecreatie hardlopers aanlegplaatsen Appendix 5: Mind maps from the first workshop e Appendix 5: Mind maps from the first workshop bbq IJsselboulevard verbinding fietsen zo inform wandelen restaurantje recreëren gesche scaters paarden zo informeel mogelijk restaurantje gras laten groeien verbinding m picnicken gescheiden stromen verbinding met stadscentrum picnicken IJsselboulevard.mmap - 23-6-2010 - Mindjet 117 nautilus commercielen ISALA voorwaarden wsv biedt kansen oog voor elkaars belangen Anax Sloep toekomst sportraad multifunctioneel gebiedsontwikkeling sociaal beleid Samenwerken gemeente sportbeleid verrijkend wmo bso Contacten kinderopvang welzijn partijen bedrijven industriehaven banken achmea geld sponsoren kinnarps rws reesink jannie hanzesport waterschap provincie nocnsf scholen Samenwerken.mmap - 23-6-2010 - Mindjet transport milieubeweging scheepvaart toegankelijkheid nat.organisaties respect afval waterkwaliteit wind regelgeving rust Natuur.mmap - 23-6-2010 - Mindjet 118 Natuur waterrecreatie zonsondergang flora en fauna vogels divers bezoekerscentrum (posbank) laagdrempelig parkeerplaatsen parlevinker ijsboot waterrecreatie voorzieningen Horeca ontspannen ambulante horeca regels gebiedsontwikkleing Main Topic toegankelijkheid Horeca.mmap - 23-6-2010 - Mindjet speeltuin functies hangplekken ongeorganiseerde sporters Medegebruik samenwerken en niet tegenwerken watertoerisme publieke voorzieningen collectieve voorzieningen Medegebruik.mmap - 23-6-2010 - Mindjet 119 120 Visie en Scenario’s September 2010 Mars Haven als recreatiecentrum van Zutphen Datum: Projectleider: Jeroen Kruit Studenten: Madeleen Brouwer Iris Zwartkruis Document: Wetenschapswinkelproject: Zutphen De Mars Mars Haven als recreatiecentrum van Zutphen Appendix 6: Vision 1 Appendix 6: Vision 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 Appendix 7:Design alternatives Appendix 7: Design alternatives 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 PresesIsalawilschijnwerpersopZutphenshavengebied- Zutphen- Regio- Stentor Page1 of2 Appendix 8: Article in the Stentor, ISALA Preses Isala wil schijnwerpers op Zutphens havengebied Appendix 8: Article in the Stentor door Rudi Hofman. donderdag 16 september 2010 | 07:26 ZUTPHEN - Voor het betreden van het botenhuis van de Zutphense Roei- en Zeilvereniging Isala raadt voorzitter Wim ter Beek de verslaggever aan om eerst eens goed om zich heen te kijken en te genieten van de fraaie omgeving. Als het aan Ter Beek (42) ligt, wordt het gebied Hout- en Marshaven en IJssel in de nabije toekomst door veel meer ogen bewonderd dan tot nu toe het geval is. "We liggen hier al veertig jaar verscholen. Ik wil de schijnwerpers op dit gebied zetten en samen met andere betrokkenen meer mensen naar dit prachtige gebied proberen te trekken." Die andere partijen zijn onder meer kanovereniging Anax, Watersportvereniging De Mars, de waterscouts van Nautilus, de Museumhaven en de Hanzestedensloepen. Isala heeft de wetenschapswinkel van de Wageningen Universiteit een poos geleden gevraagd te onderzoeken hoe zij en andere gebruikers van het havengebied kunnen bijdragen aan de 'groenblauwe' ontwikkeling van de uiterwaarden en aan het recreatieve gebruik van de Zutphense havens en de IJssel. In dit kader had op 23 juni bij Isala een eerste workshop plaats. De deelnemers, hoofdzakelijk Isala-leden, konden hierbij aangeven wat in hun ogen de waarden van het havengebied zijn en over welke aspecten zij eventueel zorgen hebben. Aanstaande zaterdag volgt een tweede workshop waarvoor alle genoemde partijen zijn uitgenodigd. Wim ter Beek hoopt dat zaterdag overeenstemming wordt bereikt over het gewenste scenario voor het havengebied. In het door de wetenschapswinkel opgestelde rapport 'Mars Haven als recreatiecentrum van Zutphen' staan drie mogelijke scenario's: 1. Groen IJsselfront, waarin de geplande IJsselboulevard een 'groene' tegenhanger moet worden van het oude 'grijze' IJsselfront van de historische stad; 2. Parelketting , hierin worden alleen enkele strategisch gelegen locaties - stedelijke en natuurlijke - van de IJsselboulevard ontwikkeld en 3. Overgang van stad naar land, de bedoeling hiervan is tot een soort driedeling te komen tussen het oude stadscentrum, de IJsselboulevard en het 'groene' havengebied. "Als we weten wat een mooi scenario voor ons is, dan kunnen we vervolgens met behulp van Projectbureau De Mars een slag proberen te slaan richting professionals en commerciële partijen. De gemeente kan hier ook een rol bij spelen", aldus Ter Beek. De voorzitter van de roeivereniging - bij Isala wordt anno 2010 niet meer aan zeilen gedaan - beseft dat de invloed van de 'havenpartijen' op de uiteindelijke besluitvorming van de gemeente heel klein is. En ook dat het maar zeer de vraag is of een van de scenario's werkelijkheid wordt. Ter Beek: "De winst van dit onderzoek is dat we weten wat er in deze omgeving gebeurt en waar de andere partijen mee bezig zijn. We willen als Isala in elk geval dat wat hier aan het water gebeurt zoveel mogelijk intact blijft. Gemotoriseerd waterverkeer willen we weren." Een fusie tussen de verschillende watersportverenigingen ziet Ter Beek vanwege de 'grote cultuurverschillen' niet zitten. Hij is daarentegen een groot voorstander van intensief samenwerken. Bijvoorbeeld bij de organisatie van open dagen. Dat achter de door Isala aangevraagde 'omgevingsverkenning' door de wetenschapswinkel ook een eigen 140 http://www.destentor.nl/regio/zutphen/7291706/Preses-Isala-wil-schijnwerpers-op-Zut... 17-9-2010 141 Appendix 9:Posters design alternatives second workshop Appendix 9: Posters design alternatives second workshop 142 143 144 145 146 147 Appendix 10:Article Landwerk Appendix 10: Article Landwerk 148 Kruit, J., I. Zwartkruis, februari 2011. Zutphens verscholen havengebied, Landwerk 1, special participatie 2011. 149 Colofon Author Iris Zwartkruis iris8707@hotmail.com Supervisors Ingrid Duchhart Chair group Landscape architecture Wageningen University Jeroen Kruit Alterra Wageningen UR Examination Ingrid Duchhart Chair group Landscape architecture Wageningen University Jeroen Kruit Alterra Wageningen UR Guidance committee 150 Wim ter Beek Edwin Koning Jos Addink Marlies Brinkhuijsen Harm Luisman Gerard Straver Jeroen Kruit