Dam & Partners Architecten’s Post

Daily Travel Knowledge… Exploring Warsaw: A City of Resilience and Transformation 🌆 My recent trip to Warsaw revealed a city rich in history and filled with energy for the future. Here are some of the highlights: 1. Old Town Charm: Rebuilt after WWII, Warsaw’s Old Town is a symbol of resilience. Its colorful facades, charming streets, and historic landmarks like the Royal Castle make it a must-visit. 2. The POLIN Museum: A powerful journey through the history of Polish Jews, the POLIN Museum offers deep insights into the cultural and historical heritage of the country. It’s a moving experience that combines history with modern interactive exhibits. 3. Rising Business Hub: Warsaw is rapidly growing as a business and tech center in Europe. With a strong startup culture, it’s a city full of opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. 4. Green Spaces: From Łazienki Park to the Vistula River boulevards, Warsaw has plenty of green spaces where you can unwind and connect with nature in the heart of the city. 5. Dynamic Food Scene: Warsaw’s diverse food scene blends traditional Polish cuisine with modern dining. Whether it’s pierogi or international flavors, the culinary variety here is fantastic. Warsaw is a city that honors its past while embracing the future, making it an exciting destination for both culture and business. #Warsaw #Travel #BusinessInnovation #History #Resilience

Let’s talk a little bit about Travel… Exploring Warsaw: A City of Resilience and Transformation 🌆 My recent trip to Warsaw revealed a city rich in history and filled with energy for the future. Here are some of the highlights: 1. Old Town Charm: Rebuilt after WWII, Warsaw’s Old Town is a symbol of resilience. Its colorful facades, charming streets, and historic landmarks like the Royal Castle make it a must-visit. 2. The POLIN Museum: A powerful journey through the history of Polish Jews, the POLIN Museum offers deep insights into the cultural and historical heritage of the country. It’s a moving experience that combines history with modern interactive exhibits. 3. Rising Business Hub: Warsaw is rapidly growing as a business and tech center in Europe. With a strong startup culture, it’s a city full of opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. 4. Green Spaces: From Łazienki Park to the Vistula River boulevards, Warsaw has plenty of green spaces where you can unwind and connect with nature in the heart of the city. 5. Dynamic Food Scene: Warsaw’s diverse food scene blends traditional Polish cuisine with modern dining. Whether it’s pierogi or international flavors, the culinary variety here is fantastic. Warsaw is a city that honors its past while embracing the future, making it an exciting destination for both culture and business. #Warsaw #Travel #BusinessInnovation #History #Resilience

This past weekend, I had the privilege of revisiting Toledo, Spain—a city that captivates and inspires me more than my morning coffee (and that’s saying something!) ☕🏰✨ As I explored its ancient streets with a dear friend visiting me, I was once again struck by how this historical gem embodies resilience and adaptability—qualities crucial in today's business world. Toledo’s ability to remain significant through centuries of change offers invaluable lessons for modern businesses and orgazniations: 1️⃣ Embrace diversity: Toledo’s rich history as the "City of Three Cultures" reminds us that our greatest innovations often come from collaboration—like mixing chocolate and peanut butter! 2️⃣ Balance tradition with innovation: The city has modernized without losing its historical charm—a feat many businesses could learn from (take notes, folks!). 3️⃣ Adapt to changing times: From a center of religious and political power to a hub of craftsmanship and tourism, Toledo's economy has evolved. It teaches us that reinvention is not just an option; it’s a necessity—like updating your wardrobe after binge-watching fashion shows! 4️⃣ Build on your strengths: The renowned Toledo steel serves as a metaphor for resilience in the face of challenges. Strong yet flexible? Sounds like my ideal work-life balance! 💪 As we are talking about the parallels between Toledo's history and modern business challenges, I was reminded of the timeless wisdom embedded in its walls. Each visit peels back new layers of insight—like unwrapping a gift you didn’t know you needed! And let’s not forget: after conquering those hills that could double as cardio workouts, I’m always left feeling more exhausted than ever! 😂 But hey, nothing beats sleeping like a baby after such an adventure—who knew history could be so tiring? 😴 Have you been to Toledo or anywhere in Spain? What unexpected sources anywhere have provided you with profound business insights? Share your experiences of finding inspiration in unexpected places! #BusinessLessons #ResilienceInLeadership #ToledoSpain #AdaptabilityInBusiness

During Placemaking Europe Week in Rotterdam, Jennifer Goold, our Executive Director, explored a city that shares Baltimore's creative, resilient spirit. Some big takeaways from the conference to help strengthen our neighborhoods: 1️⃣ 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙉𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙨 Rotterdam’s quick-turnaround greening grants empower neighbors to take action—whether planting greenery, hosting events, or organizing cleanups. Imagine Baltimore City or Prince George's County adopting a similar model, supported by the Health Department as a wellness initiative! 2️⃣ 𝙍𝙚𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙩 The Keilepand in Rotterdam is a beautiful example of adaptive reuse—transforming industrial spaces into vibrant community hubs. What if we reimagined the old Lexington Market with this same creativity? 3️⃣ 𝘼 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 Jen’s water tour of Rotterdam offered a unique view of its history and innovation. Iconic spaces like "The Red Apple" celebrate their roots with features like the last remaining orchard tree by the water. Imagine Baltimore’s waterfront connecting past and present through thoughtful design and historic preservation. 

Part VI: Amsterdam and The Journey Home Danes Diary Days 8 & 9 FOCAL POINT: Amsterdam Draws You In Amsterdam has so much to do and so much to offer! From the Van Gogh Museum to Anne Frank House, beaches, windmills, Heineken, and so much more, Amsterdam is it spot. Did I mention the airport, that literally reminds you of a shopping mall? One of the kids play areas is a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing plane that's attached to a shop. #somuchtodosolittletime Amsterdam is known for its state-of-the-art architecture, canals, and of course the Red Light District. Tourism brings in an estimated total of 7 billion visitors a year. #UltimateTrip I spent some time in Leiden Centre and there is so much you can do around the city. While my time here is very short, I don't think enough credit is given to Amsterdam for having accessible transportation and linking so places together plus the farmland. Growing up in Jackson, TN. I always wondered what if there were trains that ran through some of the country allowing people more access to the city instead of just by car. #Possibilities So many factors, constraints, and nuances to take into consideration. No city, no collective group of people, customs, traditions, values, needs, wants, and desires are the same. In more ways than one, there are many things I am coming to appreciate about each city. While sustainability best practices, shared values, and principles are extremely important, not all solutions fit nor need to fit all places. #nomonoliths In fact, I loved every single minute (and still do) of Cerro Gordo Road, Denmark, Steam Mill Ferry, Mercer, and the list goes on of the communities that raised you, feed you, and protected you. You had MORE than what you ever needed or could imagine. You played til the sun went down and had all types of fun games, friends, and family. #whereyourefrom I don't know if I'd trade that for anything in the world. Final Stop ✋: H-Town aka Home #copenhagendelegation #circularsanantonio #sustainablecity #circularity #rurallife #amsterdam

Join us for Placemaking Europe in Rotterdam! Placemaking Week Europe is an annual festival that brings together more than 500 placemakers, urban planners, city officials, and community leaders from across Europe and beyond. Placemaking Week Europe is created in the spirit of collaboration and inspiration, and it has proven to be an essential platform for sharing best practices, fostering groundbreaking collaborations, and experiencing the various locations within our city, Rotterdam, up close. Placemaking is the core DNA of Concrete Culture. At Concrete Culture, we believe that placemaking doesn’t have an end date; it is rather a continuous process that needs to be organized permanently on various levels. Our mission is to embed art, culture, and technology permanently within urban developments, ensuring that these elements are not misused as temporary catalysts. During Placemaking Europe, we will present our vision for Koelhuis District Eindhoven during the session “How to create a vibrant and lasting cultural district in a rapidly gentrifying city?” as well as strategies for fostering permanent cultural initiatives with the session “A roadmap of the ambitions of the Keilekwartier from now until 2050” together with Folkert van Hagen and Arnold van de Water. Join us this week at M4H and don’t miss out on the opportunity to co-create better cities together. *The above activity is part of the City Program. These are various activities during the Placemaking Week Europe for all Rotterdammers. Where are you going? Look at City Program Rotterdam - Rotterdams Weerwoord #concreteculture #placemaking #koelhuisdistricteindhoven #eindhoven #brainprot #rotterdam #m4h #placemakingeurope #keiledistrict #rotterdammakerdistrict #gemeenterotterdam

✨ Reflecting on another great Placemaking Europe Week in Rotterdam During the conference, I asked Tim De Waele, a lifelong Rotterdammer, to sum up the city in 3 words. His answer resonated deeply with me: 🔸 Raw 🔸 Do-ers 🔸 Diverse 🏙 The city made a strong impression on me, with its skyscrapers juxtaposing old gables, its water everywhere and the amount of generous public spaces and rough buildings with so much room for creativity. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀: ✅ 𝘒𝘦𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘥 & 𝘒𝘦𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘬: these hubs reminded me of Trifolium in Copenhagen. Both offer lessons on the role of maker spaces in strengthening local communities + raise important questions on how to protect such spaces from urban redevelopment pressures. ✅ 𝘛𝘪𝘭𝘦-𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴: I was inspired by this competition where citizens flip floor tiles to create gardens, parklets, and community spaces. Municipal counters even track each tile flipped! ✅ We definitely need better ways to measure 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 (community impact), but get better at understanding the financial side of placemaking ✅ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨: how do we safeguard progressive urbanism when political shifts threaten it, and courageous mayors and leaders are forced out? ✅ Workshop on Art in the City: Together with Maria Gimenez Grau and Moral Masuoka, we led a community collage workshop exploring the vital role of art in urban spaces. We ended up discussing whether urban art needs a specific purpose and how to foster a sense of agency so everyone feels invited to create art in the city. ✍ You know me, I love drawing to highlight the importance of making cities with people. I was honored to illustrate a session led by Charles Landry on “Bridges to Be Built - How can we foster connection and trust" The Urban Mycelium ➡ Curious about Placemaking Week Europe? Drop a question below! Photo by talented María Blau | Placemaking Europe

How Pontevedra is transforming cities for people.🚶♀️⤵️ In 1999, the city of Pontevedra took a bold step by reclaiming its streets for pedestrians—paving the way for a healthier, safer and more sustainable urban environment. Today, the city center is car-free, traffic accidents have dropped to zero, and emissions have been significantly reduced. Pontevedra’s pioneering pedestrianization strategy, which covers 1.3 million square meters, has set a global standard for people-centered urbanism, proving that cities can thrive without cars. 🚗❌ This Galician city reshaped its urban landscape + inspired cities worldwide to rethink their approach to mobility and livability. ➡️ Read the full story: https://loom.ly/iPFFKpg

What does it mean to you to live surrounded by beauty and design? Luxury is more than just a property; it’s a feeling—something you live and experience deeply. It’s that sense that guides you to choose the place where you truly belong, the space where you invest and create lasting memories. Through spectacular properties, luxury becomes an experience that transforms your daily life, elevating every moment and decision into an exceptional way of living. What does it mean to you to live surrounded by beauty and design? If you agree that Madrid is one of Europe’s great cities to build and expand your wealth while enjoying life, let’s talk.