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About

design philosophy

Urben is the design studio from urban designer and researcher Ruben Ferwerda MA for urban and spatial design on various scale levels. Through the use of design research as approach for making designs and strategies new design instruments, tools and research methodologies are continuesly developed and shared.

Urben aims to contribute to improve cities and places by intervening with strong concepts and integral design strategies and interventions, based on existing qualities, potentials and sense/’genius loci’ and narrative of place.

Cross-disciplinary research education & workshops

Part of the research projects take place in collaboration with students in the field of urban design at a Dutch University of Applied Sciences because of my position as lecturer/professor and researcher. I’m constantly looking for new opportunities and related fields to research in collaboration with other design practitioners and students.

Site-specific cross-disciplinary design workshop called ‘Design Detour’ are initiated in collaboration with designers, stakeholders and the public. The aim is to increase awareness of local narratives and identity, develop visionary and speculative ideas and translate outcomes into lasting spatial and urban design.

 

Clients & Collaborations

Commercial & public:

Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, College van Rijksadviseurs, Provincie Drenthe, Over Morgen, Gemeente ApeldoornGemeente Arnhem, Gemeente Alkmaar, Gemeente GroningenWoningcorporatie Portaal, Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie, Stichting International New Town Instituut (INTI), CASA Arnhem, AIA Alkmaar, Gelders Genootschap,  Oog voor Ruimte, Marcel Barzilay / Architectuur (MB/A),  The MINT workshop,

Education & universities

Saxion Urban Design/stadsLAB University of Applied Sciences (NL), ArtEZ University of Arts (NL), Universidad Camilo José Cela (Madrid, ESP), Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de A Coruna ETSAC (A Coruna, ESP),  Universidade Positivo (Curitiba, BR)

 

Portfolio

Selection | Urbanism & Design Research
ExperimenteleWoningbouw-Urben-7

Casestudy ‘De Nieuwe Weerdjes Revisited’ – Experimentele Woningbouw ’68-’80 Revisited (2019)

In navolging op de verkenning Predicaat Experimentele Woningbouw 1968-1980 wordt middels casestudy’s verdiepend onderzoek verricht met aan de basis de volgende...

Learning from Neave Brown: Housing the Dutch towards 2030 (2018)

This is project in collaboration with second year students in urban design from Saxion, Deventer. Context of the student project...

Reurbanization of the docks| Urban Design Workshop in A Coruña, Spain (2018)

Urban Design students of Saxion University of Applied Sciences performed a design research to compose an urban design strategy for...

Publicatie ‘Urgent Urbanism: Practice and methods for urbanism facing crises’ (2018)

Geraakt door de krantenkoppen over de vluchtelingencrisis, begin 2015, stond het beeld van één vluchtelingenkamp al snel op mijn netvlies...

Experimental social housing REVISITED | Urban Design workshop in San Blas, Madrid (2017)

Urban Design students of Saxion University of Applied Sciences are performing design research to compose an urban design proposal for...

Director of atelier Urban Design – SiCWB 2017 Curitiba Brazil

  Universidade Positivo in Curitiba (Brazil) invited me over to participate in the sixth edition of the Curitiba International Seminar  in October...

Publicatie Verkenning Experimentele Woningbouw ’68-’80 – i.o.v. Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed (2018)

In samenwerking met initiatator Marcel Barzilay / Architectuur onderzoekt URBEN de ‘Experimentele Woningbouw’ in de periode jaren ’70. Tijdens de eerste...

Workshop ‘Design Detour’

In de ontwerpende disciplines hebben we er allemaal mee te maken op het moment dat we een probleem proberen bloot...

Publication: ‘Narrative Design’ Toolbox & Method (2011)

  Besides written and spoken storytelling, visual storytelling has been around for ages and started since cavemen were drawing on...

Vision for Brennero, Italy 2030: Linea in Lignum (2010)

Vision for Brennero, Italy 2030: Linea in Lignum (2010)

In the utopian research ‘Brennero 2030: Linea in Lignum’ Urben investigates an intensified land use in the Italian Brenner region....

Graphic Music Score ‘Chaincurve’ (2016)

As contribution to the MA thesis of graphic and Zsa Zsa Linnemann I took an existing figure ground analysis of Paris...

‘Vessel’ Conversation Piece & Installation in Public Space (2016)

This project started as an iterative experiment in the MA design research of two designers: Rinze Borm and Ruben Ferwerda....

Design Research – Conversation Pieces & Urbanism

Conversation pieces as generative and speculative urban design instrument –  An alternative approach for participatory and inclusive urbanism As societal...

PLUK – Game ‘Vissen naar de stad van 2050’ (2010)

  Pluk’ staat voor ‘Platvorm Uitwisseling Kennis over stedelijke vernieuwing’ en startte in 2010 met een dag waarop een onderzoeksagenda...

Bomenkwartier, Woerden – locatie ‘de Badkuip’ (2009)

In deze ontwerpende studie (i.o.v. CITY4870) wordt gezocht naar een nieuwe invulling voor locatie ‘de Badkuip’ in het Bomenkwartier van...

CONTACT

Bezoekadres / Visiting address

Roggestraat 44 (ACEC-gebouw) Apeldoorn
(Betaalde Q-park parkeergarage naastgelegen)

t | +31 (0)6 42 42 00 01
e | mail@urben.nl

Postadres / Mailing address
Beyerinckstraat 16
7424 BC Deventer

KVK | 62845926
BTW | NL101221472B01