How Amsterdam Uses the Doughnut Economics Model to Create a Balanced Strategy for Both the People and the Environment

In 2020, in the midst of the first wave of lockdowns due to the pandemic, the municipality of Amsterdam announced its strategy for recovering from this crisis by embracing the concept of the “Doughnut Economy.” The model is developed by British economist Kate Raworth and popularized through her book, “Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist”, released in 2017. Here, she argues that the true purpose of economics does not have to equal growth. Instead, the aim is to find a sweet sport, a way to balance the need to provide everyone with what they need to live a good life, a “social foundation” while limiting our impact on the environment, “the environmental ceiling.” With the help of Raworth, Amsterdam has downscaled this approach to the size of a city. The model is now used to inform city-wide strategies and developments in support of this overarching idea: providing a good quality of life for all without putting additional pressure on the plant. Other cities are following this example.

Mozaic of Tirana Cultural Intervention / SONarchitects

The Mosaic of Tirana is a significant part of Albania's cultural heritage, offering a glimpse into the country's ancient past. Situated near the city center, the site faces challenges stemming from urban development pressures and the need for both preservation and revitalization.

Pier One Dishui Lake / TM Studio

The Pier One Dishui Lake is located within the 80 meter green belt surrounding Dishui Lake in Lingang New Town, Shanghai. It is also adjacent to the Dishui Lake terminal station of Metro Line 16 and is an important node connecting Lingang New Town and the urban area of Shanghai. According to the overall plan, this will be a place for cruise ships to dock and tourists to board, and supporting buildings will be set up to provide services. Given its specific location and functional positioning, Pier One should not be just an embellishment building independent of the green belt surrounding the lake, but should strive to fully integrate the entire site into the waterfront environment and become a part of the lake landscape.

ANJIN Gosho Ebisugawa / STUDIO ALUC

This project involves the conversion of a traditional townhouse near the Kyoto Imperial Palace into a whole-house rental accommodation. The building is a small wooden house with a wide façade and a courtyard called "Tsuboniwa" at the rear. Passing through the noren curtain, the path meanders deeper and deeper toward the courtyard, revealing new sequences at every turn. The design seeks to express the unique linear depth, subdued atmosphere, and the sense of "refinement" that originates from the concept of "depth" inherent in Kyoto machiya, within the limited spatial depth of the building.

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