Dayton Hudson Faculty Fellows: Julia Williams Robinson

Julie Williams Robinson, Professor, Department of Architecture
Dayton Hudson Faculty Fellow, 2006-2007

Contemporary Housing and Urbanism in the Netherlands

For this project, Professor Robinson addresses the design approach that makes Dutch housing and urbanism special, as well as the societal attitudes and practices that affect its implementation. Some of the important issues that Robinson has identified are: Orientation to Pedestrian and Public Transportation, Concern for Hydrology and Land Use, Ecological Assumptions, Typological Approach, Creating Visible Urban Form, Orientation to User and Participation, Individuality in Service to Community, Housing and Income as a Right, Pattern in Repetition and Variety, Interest in Bold Statements, Contemporary Expression, Attention to Material and Detail, Orientation to Long-Term Investment. This list identifies practices or approaches that contrast in important ways with those in the United States and therefore beg analysis and explanation.

This research builds upon Robinson's plans to take graduate students on an M-Term trip to the Netherlands in May of 2007. The trip will provide an opportunity to organize seminars of experts who could contribute to a discussion of various issues. For example, panel discussions and field trips related to the issues would be arranged with Dutch designers, planners, policy-makers and developers as appropriate. Student work would involve analysis of one or more of the issues.

The results of this project will lead to a book, which addresses the question "What is so extraordinary about housing and urban design in the Netherlands?" In addition, Robinson will write an academic paper for a professional conference that will summarize the content of the book and also serve as material for a book proposal to a publisher.

 





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