Jane Jacobs is often celebrated as the Guru of today’s planning. Her approach to the city as a place for diversity – in uses, spaces, inhabitants, and buildings became enormously popular among planners across the world. In Amsterdam, planners are also deeply inspired by Jacobs perspective.

Director and former director of the Amsterdam Planning Bureau Jos Gadet and Zef Hemel refer to Jacobs extensively in their strategies for the future of Amsterdam and blogs. Jacobs seems to be the Guru of Amsterdam planning. But when I look at recent projects, I observe that Amsterdam seems to selectively choose some of Jacobs’ lessons and neglects others.

Read the rest of my blog at the Centre for Urban Studies