Educational assignments lead to surprising ideas for the city of Delft

A fictitious assignment on the TU Delft campus or a real assignment for a client in Delft? Architect and architecture lecturer Leontine de Wit does not have to think twice about that question. A real assignment gives the students and the city of Delft so much more.

If students follow a subject or minor with Leontine, they may very well make a design for a building in the city. “I always keep my eyes and ears open and keep a close eye on what is going on in Delft. For example, if a building becomes available that we could use, I will find out who I can talk to about it. With every press release I think: could this be something for us?”

Together with her colleagues Leontine always writes the assignment for the course herself, and coordinates this with the client. In this way, she retains the freedom to come up with innovative and inspiring ideas. In recent years, her students have worked on various projects in Delft, such as for the Prinsenhof, the Kunstsuper, an exhibition space and shop located in the Prinsenkwartier, and the Behind Closed Windows exhibition (red. Linked articles are only in Dutch available).

The future of real projects in Delft

Leontine feels that the city is really waiting for more projects from students in the city. “The local media are always willing to pay attention to our projects and I got feedback from residents that they enjoyed reading about our actions in the city. They see that students have ideas that are just a little bit different, and that makes them enthusiastic.”

She hopes that TU Delft and the city will work together even more in the future. “The TU Delft will not be coming back to the city center any time soon, as it used to. But I can well imagine that in 10 years' time there will be hubs where different groups such as residents, students, the municipality and the business community meet.” Leontine also expresses the wish that lecturers will share more with each other. I don't know what happens at other faculties. “I find that a pity. If lecturers do something in the city, let's pay more attention to its visibility. Maybe we can make a digital notice board where lecturers can exchange ideas and learn from each other.”

Leontine indicates that a lot of time goes into realising projects in the city. “Think of the advance discussions of the plans with the client, coordinating everything, organising the exhibitions...” Nevertheless, it does not stop her from initiating projects in the city. In fact, she is already working on a follow-up. “Michael van der Meer, the director of the Science Centre, was so enthusiastic about Behind Closed Windows that he would like to work with us again. Of course it takes time and energy, but it is all worth it. It yields so much. Both for the students and myself, and for the city”, Leontine concludes with satisfaction.

WIJStad

Are you, like Leontine, a lecturer or researcher committed to the city of Delft and its inhabitants, or do you want to discover how you can do this? Make an impact in Delft with your research or bring students in your classes in contact with inhabitants of Delft to work on real issues!

WIJStad can literally and figuratively give you a stage in Delft. They provide more visibility and can bring you into contact with the people of Delft and relevant organisations in Delft.

The TU Delft program WIJStad inspires and connects residents, lecturers, students and researchers in Delft. Together they work on a better version of the city. For example, they are linking up issues that are current in the city with researchers, lecturers and students. And they involve the people of Delft in everything that is conceived and developed for the city at TU Delft.

They are also involved in setting up the Special Interest Group 'Community Engagement', in which lecturers and researchers who are doing or want to do something with and for Delft share their experiences. Would you like to learn more about and discover your possibilities around community engagement? Then you are welcome to join this group or to listen in.

Do you want to know more about the SIG or about what WIJStad can do for you? Please contact: wijstad@tudelft.nl

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