The SuikerUnie towards a creative future: A gradual and flexible strategy for the site in Groningen towards a creative based urban development

The shift in society from industrial towards a society where innovation, knowledge and creativity are the pillars of the economy has among others led to abandoned industrial sites. Government organisations are searching for ways to attract creative workers to their area. In the mean time conventional financial fundings of big redevelopments are no longer realistic, because of the building crisis. This thesis is aiming to develop a strategy for former industrial areas to redevelop, with the help of local (creative) entrepreneurs with limited big investments. We apply this strategy with a design on a former sugar factory in the city of Groningen. This former sugar factory is a 125-hectare big site, with a hardened factory site and meadows in the periphery of the city. The municipality bought the area in 2010 and is now wondering what to do with this plot of opportunities within their borders. The council itself has no direct building need, or the resources to invest largely in the area; on the other hand it is aiming to become a ‘city of talent’. The research question is: How to create a spatial strategy for a creative-based urban development, with limited financial resources on a former industrial site, in the case of the sugar factory in the city of Groningen? Research shows that creative entrepreneurs can play an important role in transforming former industrial sites into attractive areas. Therefor it is important to know what spatial elements can attract these creative entrepreneurs to a certain area. It is important for them to agglomerate and meet in third places like bars and galleries in a certain area because that way they can a) get in contact with cultural gatekeepers b) derive a form of inspiration out of others, and the area c) use the creative reputation for their own cause. Research shows that creative entrepreneurs are drawn to an area that; a) has a certain sense of place b) is mixed in use, functions and style c) is flexible in their use d) provides contrasts of old (industrial) heritage and new attractive real estate e) is well accessible, close to the centre and provides a safe environment. A possible strategy to redevelop a former, not so popular enclosed site with creative entrepreneurs is by placemaking and building a infrastructural framework. By allowing creative entrepreneurs to use the space for all sorts of temporary projects the site a) gets known by potential future users B) improves the reputation of the site c) the value of the property increases and development can take place after a while. By providing in a basic infrastructural framework and leaving the infill flexible and changeable through time an area becomes attractive for all sorts of users. The strategy of the SuikerUnie uses this model of strategy, and applies two new elements. A) The use of the plots remains flexible and adaptable through time. B; the strategy proposes a gradual investment model, where the investments in the public space and network co-evolve along with the development of the inhabitants. In the case of the SuikerUnie the site is made accessible by adding a new clear basic infrastructural framework and a new station. The site is split up in three parts; a new creative district, an agricultural park, and a rural area. The creative district is located on the hardened area of the site. The former factory is redeveloped in a creative factory; the station is placed next to it and provides a new link to the other side of the train track. It connects to the current infrastructure and to two redeveloped hangars. One hangar is redeveloped into a biological food market the other into an educational institute. The rest of the creative area is coming to life by adding student container within the new infrastructural grid, and providing physical space for temporary projects. When investors (small or big) are interested, the containers can move a block and the temporary projects get a little bit less space. This way the area transforms towards a creative new district in town. The agricultural park provides a spatial connection between the rural landscape and the city park outside of the area. The park shows in an aesthetic way all sorts of agricultural crops. The products are sold in the biological market and attract potential new inhabitants to the site. The rural area is transformed from meadows into an area where one can work, recreate and live in a green environment. This is done by making a new infrastructural framework along the existing ditch pattern. The plots within the framework are rented out to allotment owners. They pay the ground price back in yearly small installments. These new users are encouraged to build their own house through time. Along with the amount they built on their plot, the yearly installment increases. The quality of the street-profile gets upgraded alongside with the transformation of the area. The more the new inhabitants invest in their homes, the more the municipality has to invest in the public space. Rules and guidelines for building your house prevents the area from being enclosed and scattered. The outcome of this strategy is not predicteble beforehand. The area becomes a new centre for living, working and recreating. But it is possible that the area remains a low profile green area where there are a lot of allotment gardens, student houses and a biological creative centre. The framework and the financial model is flexible and adaptable enough to capture these outcomes. The innovative part of the strategy is the combination of using all sorts of actors with a spatial need (not only creative entrepreneurs) and allowing the public space and the amount of investments by the owners to upgrade alongside with the development of the inhabitants. The gradual growth of the area, the flexible outcome of the area, in combination with the chance to start today makes this strategy truly creative.Urban RegenerationUrbanismArchitectur