The Great Transformation

The aim of The Great Transformation 2020-2030 social initiative is to fill in the missing link: the lack of connections between the many experiments and practices in the field and the ambitious top-down goals. The starting point of this initiative is that we often tend to invest a lot of energy in developing plans and major agreements, while the real question concerns the shift to taking action. How can these great ambitions be implemented on our streets, in our neighbourhoods, industry, etc. How do we activate and support the various actors in carrying out these projects? The Great Transformation has the ambition to pool public, private and civil society strengths and expertise, to co-create acceleration strategies for strategic recovery and transition projects such as food parks, energy districts and future-oriented climate streets. Using the power of imagination, we form coalitions and formulate strategic sites that can be realised between now and 2030.The first discussion of this afternoon is based on existing practices that provoke change or respond to the changing challenges. What kind of practice do we actually need most? In the second discussion we position the initiative of The Great Transformation in the context of a larger network of this type of environment to mobilise and accelerate innovative practices in order to achieve an implementation wave – the topic of the concluding discussion. How do we imagine and create the pathways towards the ambitions of the Green Deal? What are the necessary conditions for accelerating the shift to action?The Great Transformation is an independent learning environment, incubator and public programme, initiated by a diverse group of social actors. It focuses on the concrete implementation of European and national recovery plans and the Green Deal, and is a partner initiative of New European Bauhaus.Programme: 13:00 – 14:15Round-table 1: Architecture and Transition With Dirk Somers (Bovenbouw Architectuur), Koen Wynants (Commons Lab) and Nadia Casabella (1010 architecture urbanism)14:30 – 15:45 Round-table 2: Platforms for Practices With Denis Cariat (Charleroi Métropole), Hanne Mangelschots (Architecture Workroom Brussels) and Mike Emmerik (Independent School for the City)16:00 – 16:15 The Great Transformation: initiative and online platform16:15 – 17:00 Round-table 3: Landing the Green Deal With Alessandro Rancati (New European Bauhaus), Dirk Somers (Bovenbouw Architectuur) and Denis Cariat (Charleroi Métropole)Moderated by Joachim Declerck (Architecture Workroom Brussels)

Around this question, we opened the second workspace on the online platform of The Great Transformation on Thursday June 3. For the occasion, we start a conversation with architect and urban designer Eva Pfannes (OOZE), development activist Jim Segers (CityMine(d)), energy expert Ruben Baetens (3E) and Joachim Declerck (AWB) during the Great Transformation Session - Energy Districts: Designing The Renovation Wave. Our existing building stock is one of the largest emitters of CO2 and is still extremely dependent on fossil fuels. Raising the performance of our ageing homes is therefore necessary and at the same time represents a leap in living quality. Moreover, local energy production keeps the profits with the users. If we tackle this together, we can not only reduce the cost, but also strengthen the neighbourhood feeling and social cohesion in a neighbourhood. The big challenge is to mainstream this type of energy districts. Which organisational capacity, business model and approach is needed? Can we address residents on their own needs, problems and motivations? How can the construction, innovation and services sector, cooperatives, local governments, the Brussels, Flemish and Belgian governments, energy distributors and regulators play a role in this?

Lots of initiatives experiment with innovative coalitions that shift the focus from land ownership to land use. In exchange for its shared use, some farmers manage natural land. Some unite with citizens to jointly purchase land. Other farmers cultivate their customers’ land. These initiatives make room for food production by bundling the interests of owners with strategic land positions and the interests of farmers without land, in a collective project. In which conditions are these new types of coalitions possible? Who is already willing to jump aboard, and sometimes why not? What are the most strategic collaborations, and how can we multiply them? A conversation with historian Tim Soens (UAntwerpen), bio farmer Kurt Sannen (Het Bolhuis), landscape heritage advisor Shera van den Wittenboer (Board of Government Advisors of the Netherlands) and Joachim Declerck (Architecture Workroom Brussels) during the Great Transformation Session – Food Parks: Promising Land Use Coalitions (Thursday May 27 2021).

On may 20 we launched The Great Transformation, an independent learning environment, incubator and public programme. Enterprising citizens, governments, businesses, financiers, scientists and organisations will work on actual breakthroughs and achievements. Using design and the power of the imagination, we are forming coalitions and formulating strategic sites that can be achieved on a huge scale between now and 2030. What is the indignation and shared commitment behind The Great Transformation? We launch the online platform with innovative practices that form the Building Blocks for Future Places and Portraits that depict transitions from an eye-level perspective. We reflect on how to proceed. A conversation with Koen Schoors (UGent), Griet Celen (VLM), Mieke Debruyne (Woestijnvis), Floris Alkemade (Chief Government Architect of the Netherlands) and Joachim Declerck (Architecture Workroom Brussels) about the (online) workspace of The Great Transformation.