Ebook – An Exemplary City
This E-book (PDF) about Groningen is part of the Bold Cities Brave Decisions exhibition, exploring visionary urban planning and the power of bold choices in shaping cities.
In 1928, Hendrik Petrus Berlage, together with H.P.J. Schut, devised a plan for Groningen that prioritized coherence, continuity, and proximity over speed, nuisance, and curve radii. Nearly a century later, this vision remains strikingly relevant. It offers an inspiring foundation for tackling today’s urban challenges—ranging from the urgent demand for housing and the need to keep cities compact to the pressing issues of climate change and energy transition.
An Exemplary City is an ode to urbanism and the art of city-making. It calls for a renewed commitment to the fundamental principles of urban planning: placing public space at the heart of city design, valuing more than just financial gain, and approaching the city with care, love, and a deep understanding of its context. Only by doing so can we keep the city exemplary.
Groningen serves as a deliberate case study. It is a city close to the authors’ hearts and one where urban planner Jeroen de Willigen served as city architect for six years, the context in which this book was created. More importantly, few cities in the Netherlands tell the story of urban development as completely and distinctively as Groningen does.