IPA President Buğra Gökce explains: How did Utrecht succeed?

Istanbul Planning Agency (IPA) President Buğra Gökce described the Dutch city of Utrecht, which was awarded the 11th European Prize for Urban Public Space for its "Catharijnesingel canal restoration project."

Explaining that a portion of the canal surrounding Utrecht's historic city center was filled with concrete in the 1970s and repurposed as an urban highway, Gökce said, "With the entry of automobiles into the city center, both traffic and air pollution increased. As a result of a referendum held in 2002, the public demanded the return of the canal and the removal of the highway."

Sharing the information that "with the work that began in 2018, the asphalt roads were removed in a short time and the canal was returned to the city," Gökce added, "In the coming period, reclaiming our concrete-buried areas by greening them will be a priority for our cities as well."

Here are the statements from IPA President Gökce:

A portion of the canal surrounding Utrecht's historic city center was filled with concrete in the 70s and repurposed as an urban highway.

Those who organized the project hoped that filling the canal surrounding the city center with asphalt would provide easier access to the city center and reduce traffic.

However, that did not happen. With the entry of automobiles into the city center, both traffic and air pollution increased. As a result of a referendum held in 2002, the public demanded the return of the canal and the removal of the highway.

A new project was adopted that prioritized pedestrians and cyclists and utilized the area around the canal as a park by greening it. With the work that began in 2018, the asphalt roads were removed in a short time and the canal was returned to the city.

The Catharijnesingel canal restoration project was also awarded the 11th European Prize for Urban Public Space.

It turned out very beautifully, didn't it? In the coming period, reclaiming our concrete-buried areas by greening them will be a priority for our cities as well.

Cities belong to people, not automobiles. They should be reconsidered not through the lens of concrete and rent, but as the most important spaces where people live."

Cities belong to people, not automobiles. They should be reconsidered not through the lens of concrete and rent, but as the most important spaces where people live.

A few more photos from Utrecht show how important this understanding is. pic.twitter.com/A8E7mtVIo3

— Dr. Buğra Gökce (@gokcebugra) May 26, 2024

News Source: 12punto