IJplein

Located in Amsterdam-Noord, IJplein occupies a unique position in the city. Designed in the 1980s by OMA on the former site of the Amsterdam Dry Dock Company, the neighbourhood has a distinctive urban structure and is now recognised as a protected cityscape. At the same time, it faces urgent challenges related to public space, climate adaptation, greenery and social resilience.

Rather than starting with a design, the project began with conversations. This Action Plan placed residents, entrepreneurs and local organisations at the centre of the transformation process. Throughout 2023, the design team worked directly with the neighbourhood through interviews, workshops, clean-up actions and public meetings. The ambitions, concerns and ideas of residents were collected and translated into a shared vision for the future of IJplein.

The Action Plan transforms local knowledge into a long-term framework for improvement. A series of interventions—planned for the short, medium and long term—strengthen the identity of the neighbourhood while improving everyday life. New green spaces, safer streets and more welcoming public areas create opportunities for meeting, playing and staying.

This public space design project demonstrates a different way of working on urban transformation: not designing for a neighbourhood but designing with it. By putting participation at the core of the process, the plan creates lasting support and ensures that future changes reflect the ambitions of the people who live there. The future of a neighbourhood starts with listening.