ARCAM presents 'De Stadsvernieuwers', an exhibition exploring pioneering urban renewal architects. It highlights their collaborative, resident-focused approach to creating affordable housing projects in Amsterdam. This exhibition connects their historical ideas to contemporary housing crises, offering insights into social design and urban planning today.
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This exhibition explores the work of urban renewal architects Paul De Ley, Lucien Lafour, and Theo Bosch, who collaborated with residents on affordable housing projects in the 1970s-1990s. It connects their ideas and projects to contemporary housing crises, examining lessons learned from their inclusive approach to architecture.
The exhibition 'De Stadsvernieuwers' highlights the pioneering work of architects Paul De Ley, Lucien Lafour, and Theo Bosch during the urban renewal period of the 1970s to 1990s. These architects, who began their careers at Aldo van Eyck's firm, focused on developing affordable housing in close collaboration with residents and community initiatives. The exhibition revisits their projects from a 2025 perspective, emphasizing the societal role of architecture and contrasting their inclusive, citizen-driven approach with today's market-oriented construction practices. Through a rich selection of archival materials including photos, drawings, sketches, and personal audio stories from their partners—Marijke Bouman, Inez Liem, and Fenna Oorthuys—the exhibition delves into the architects' thought processes, methodologies, and motivations. It reveals the personal narratives behind their designs and underscores the importance of placing the human scale at the center of development. The exhibition not only displays buildings but also the underlying networks and values, illustrating how their careers evolved as the housing market shifted from collective ideals to commercial interests. 'De Stadsvernieuwers' prompts reflection on contemporary urban planning, asking what lessons can be drawn from this social design practice and who the urban renewers of the future might be.
Adult admission is €5.00, with concessions available for students (€2.50) and free entry for Stadspashouders Groene stip, children 0-18 years, and holders of the I Amsterdam City Card. Online tickets can be purchased in advance via the provided link.
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