In the Netherlands we have about 3.000 business parks. Over a 100.000 ha of these business parks are mainly grey. 

30% of the working population, works on a business park. So these areas are of major importance to the vitality of the Dutch workforce. Many of these areas are under pressure as they no longer appeal to the businesses of the future, who are facing a 'war on talent'.  Furthermore, these areas need to transform if we want our cities to become resilient to climate change.

It appears to be very difficult to transform these business parks from grey to green. It's a complex problem, as the ownership of the properties is fragmented. 

Furthermore, the benefits of green do not always come back to the one who pays for it and many business parks are not centrally organized or coordinated. So a broad, nationwide coalition is formed from knowledge institutes, government, businesses, green sector and experts to develop a strategy and approach for a national program (estimated at € 100 mln).

Business Design Agency is part of the core team. Heads the innovation agenda of the green sector. 

Aligns it with the overall strategy. We analyze the problem, co-create solutions and work with other partners such as Stec Groep, Tauw and Arcadis to do a thorough market analysis. 

We are working on a new local economy. We develop new concepts and businesses that challenge the old economy. By competing on other values than just financial.

How can we create more green, future proof working landscapes?

For IVN nature education, Business Design Agency is asked to take a seat in the core team that takes the lead in the program 'towards green, climate adaptive and future proof working landscapes'. Our role is to head the green sector with the innovation agenda and align it with the overall strategy of the application for  "Groeifonds".

About our project More green business parks. From grey business parks to green business areas of the future.

About our project More green business parks • Projects

Business Design Agency - About our project More green business parks

From grey business parks to green business areas of the future

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To answer this question, we had to dive deep into the cause of the occurrence of wrecks and faulty parking. We focussed on 2 areas where these problems mostly prevail: 

1/ Nuisance of incorrect and annoying parking near Rotterdam CS.

2/ Nuisance of bicycle wrecks and orphan bicycles in the Rotterdam district Bergpolder. 

At CS and Bergpolder we spoke with visitors, inhabitants, enforcers, pioneers and experts in the field of bicycle mobility. The findings were set out in a journey and further enriched in an online co-creation where we focused on positive prevention in advance instead of enforcement afterwards.

At CS we are committed to preventing wrong-way parking by separating the flow of 1st and 2nd bicycles.

The 2nd bicycle is the bicycle that people use as a commuter, i.e. from CS to work, school or other destination.

Research shows that a second bicycle is parked 4 times longer and takes up 45% of the space. Moreover, they take up the best spaces closest to the rail tracks. As a result the parking facility is quickly filled to capacity. At peak times, inbound and outbound commuters meet, causing further congestion. This (cluttered) congestion then contributes to wrongful parking outside the parking lot. 

We advised the municipality to introduce short- and long-term parking (including a 24-hour parking facility), accompanied by a package of communication and behavioral campaigns to guide cyclists.

For Bergpolder we recommend a phased approach, mainly focused on data and positive preventive measures.

Using data that shows heatmaps with abandoned bikes and  wrecks. 

Subsequently, we suggested a set of  positive measures to prevent people from leaving the bike behind like pro-active bike repair; collecting bikes by a local social enterprise and by returning a bike when buying a new one. 

In addition, we suggested to  reduce bicycle ownership (not usage!), by creating a neighborhood shared bike.

The number and use of bicycles continues to increase in Dutch cities (luckily so). In densely populated areas bike parking becomes an issue. Space can be created by removing wrecks and abandoned bikes. And by reducing faulty parking. But how can you do this without incurring high costs for enforcement? 

Reducing bicycle wrecks and faulty parking

Business Design Agency - Project Bicycle parking in the city. Reducing bicycle wrecks and faulty parking

Challenge

Why

How

Realize

A stronger local economy

More green business parks

Challenge

Why

How

Realize

A stronger local economy

Parklets as a transition tool

Het creëren van meer ecologische en sociale waarde

Bicycle parking in the city