How can spatial design contribute to a fair distribution of opportunity, proximity and quality of life in the growing city?

Cities are expanding, densifying and transforming, while space becomes increasingly scarce. At the same time, societal challenges are intensifying: housing shortages, health inequalities, climate pressure and growing social disparity. Not everyone benefits equally from urban development.

We approach the just city as a fundamentally spatial challenge. Justice is not only shaped through social programmes or policy, but through spatial choices: where we densify, where we invest in quality, and who has access to amenities, green space and mobility. In our view, spatial equity begins with acknowledging that differences between places and people require differentiated, yet coherent solutions.

In a just city, living, working, amenities and social interaction are organised in such a way that daily needs are within reach for everyone.

Through efficient use of space and a deliberate distribution of functions, the city shifts its focus from mobility to accessibility. Proximity thus becomes both a spatial and a social principle.
In our spatial projects, we aim for a balanced distribution of urban quality. Green space, public space, amenities and workplaces are not by-products of development, but structuring elements. By positioning these strategically, particularly within existing neighbourhoods, we strengthen health, social cohesion and overall wellbeing.

Our vision for the just city is explicitly long-term. We do not design fixed end states, but robust spatial frameworks and guiding principles that inform future decisions. This helps prevent densification and growth from leading to displacement, while keeping the city adaptable to changing societal conditions.

This way of thinking is reflected, among others, in the Environmental Vision for Nijmegen, developed in collaboration with the municipality as a long-term perspective towards 2050. In this vision, proximity is a central principle, and justice, health and broad prosperity are translated into concrete spatial structures and area-based strategies. It demonstrates how spatial choices at both citywide and district levels can contribute to a city that not only grows, but becomes more equitable.