Rotterdam Think Tank (Netherlands + Belgium)

Students will explore the history of 20th century welfare state as a vantage point
to rethink the current challenges of our cities and societies. Specific topics
include the post-war housing stock and the future of social housing, the role of
cultural institutions in the urban economy, the decision-making process and user
participation in urban governance (and the use of digital platforms), and the
impact of colonialism on the establishment of the Western European welfare
state and its ongoing consequences. The workshop includes visits to Rotterdam,
Amsterdam, Leiden, the landscape between Rotterdam and Dordrecht (bike trip),
and Antwerp (Belgium). Taubman and Rotterdam students will explore the topic
by means of lectures by tutors and invited guests from Dutch architectural and
landscape offices, archives, research centers, municipalities, think tanks, and
NGOs. The course will culminate in a public debate in Rotterdam about the future
of the welfare state, curated by Taubman and Rotterdam students.

Meets

Faculty

Łukasz Stanek