Urban Park Laboratories

1. Westergasfabriek

2. A culture park
Westergasfabriek is a culture park of
14 hectares in the heart of
Amsterdam.
It’s a significant cultural hotspot that
attracts a broad audience interested
in culture, entertainment, music and
nature.

7. The buildings
The industrial historic buildings have
been meticulously prepared for
creative entrepreneurs and cultural
events. This cultural heritage site
has been restored and maintained
as far as possible in its original
state.

9. ERIH route
There is a mysterious, invisible path
crossing Europe: the European
Route of Industrial Heritage. The
historic buildings of
Westergasfabriek are also included
on this route. Beautiful old factory
buildings throughout Europe are
linked, not only literally, but also
virtually and in an intensive
exchange programme.

10. The park
The park that has been created is a
unique, prize-winning modern urban
park, designed by Kathryn
Gustafson. There is space for major
pubic events but also a wealth of
intimate spots in beautiful rural
surroundings. The soil, once
polluted, has been cleaned.

12. ncounters
Westergasfabriek is a place where
enterprising and creative people
meet up. Where you can allow
yourself to be surprised by unusual
happenings, art and events. A spot
where you acquire knowledge and
encounter the avantgarde. But also
an area for a pleasant stroll, a rest
or for sport.

13. Exploitation
Westergasfabriek BV exploits the
buildings. They are rented out to
audience-oriented cultural and
creative entrepreneurs for temporary
events. Westerpark Urban District
administers and rents the outdoor
space. Both Westergasfabriek BV
and the urban district regard
creativity and culture as leading
elements in the exploitation.

14. The Foundation
The cultural ambitions are guided by
the Westergasfabriek Foundation.
This acquires funding, programmes
indoor and outdoor areas, supports
cultural initiatives and ensures that
the industrial buildings get the
attention they deserve.

15. Facts
– 14 buildings
– 10,000 m2 rented permanently
– 7,000 m2 events space
– 20 creative companies
– 5 catering companies
– Cinema, theatre, TV studio
– Link to media ring
Per year:
– 120 audience events
– 700.000 visitors

16. Creative industry
Many creative entrepreneurs have
settled at Westergasfabriek. Online
creatives, web galleries, food
designers, nerds. They attract other
creative entrepreneurs and this
leads to new corporative ventures
and events. In this way they help
strengthen the urban economy.

17. Major events
The major audience events always
have a relationship with culture
(music, theatre, literature, fashion)
or knowledge (information
technology, architecture, history).

18. For example:
Picnic
For three days, the latest cross-
media developments. Products and
services on the cutting edge of art
and technology. The most innovative
speakers. A major international
audience. More than 8,000 visitors

19. For example
Next Web
Two days about the future of the
Internet. What’s possible, what’s
going to be possible and what
consequences these have for
business, people and be
environment. Major speakers and an
international audience..

20. For example
Affordable Art Fair
A lot of good artful prices between €
100 and € 5,000. Both artists and art
lovers profit from this brilliant
initiative. More than 13,500 visitors
in 2008.

21. For example
Manuscripta
The start of the Dutch book season.
With the very finest of literature and
the top heads of children and youth
literature. More than 5,000 visitors.

22. For example:
Winter parade
For three weeks, small-scale
accessible theatre, music, dance,
visual arts, film and humour in the
gasometer. Good food and drink
also helps turn the Winterparade
into a one-stop culture boost.

23. For example:
Fashion week
Major Dutch designers show their
work on several catwalks in
Westergasfabriek. And international
fashion event lasting three days with
more than 14,000 visitors.

24. Business market
The business market has also
discovered the energy of
Westergasfabriek. Companies like
to organise product presentations,
seminars or give parties there. The
venue helps give their event and
adventurous and energetic élan.
The many creative companies at
Westergasfabriek also make it
possible to organise an exciting
production.

25. START
UPlabs is mede mogelijk gemaakt met steun van Economische Zaken van de Gemeente
Amsterdam, het Europees Fonds voor Regionale Ontwikkeling van de Europese
Commissie en Stichting Westergasfabriek.

26. Urban Park Laboratories

27. rban Park Laboratories
Plabs is an initiative of
estergasfabriek.
Plabs encourages active contacts
etween artists, scientists, creatives,
istorians and technicians to create
oncrete digital projects around
estergasfabriek.

28. omTech and park
UPlabs wants to offer
visitors adventure,
inspiration and relaxation
and focuses specifically
on experiencing the park.
Using modern communication
technology, Uplabs
involves visitors actively
in the rich creative life
and energy of the culture
park.

29. ast, present and future
here will be a central database
toring as much information as
ossible about the history, use and
reams of Westergasfabriek.
nformation about projects is
ontinuously added to this database.
ast, present and future can be
ade available to audience, artists
nd researchers.

30. nteractive and user friendly
igital techniques make it possible
or visitors to take an active part in
rojects in the park. This increases
he involvement and enriches the
nformation that is then available to
thers.

31. eal and virtual
Visitors can stroll
through the park and allow
themselves to be amazed by
unexpected events. But
even if you’re not in the
park, you can be there in
a virtual sense. This
greatly increases the
range of the park.

32. nformative and educational
rojects in the park are practical as
ell as surprising.
aps, programmes, building histories
nd visitors’ stories give the users
elevant and accessible information.

33. nfrastructure, projects,
etwork
The bases has been laid. There is a
digital infrastructure, a project
organisation and an extensive
network.
The projects of UPlabs are financed
by sponsors and grants.
So far contributions from:
• he City of Amsterdam, Department of
T
Economic Affairs, the European Fund for
• egional Development and the European
R
Commission and Westergasfabriek BV

34. Projects 2009

35. Interactive multimedia tours
– Discover the park on your mobile
phone.
– History, effect, park design,
architecture, etc.
– What happens now
– Add your own information Sadie Rose Zavgren
The Westergasfabriek Foundation,
Westerpark Urban District, Hogeschool van
Amsterdam, Logica Working Tomorrow,
Amsterdam Archive, Local schools, Nemo
Westerpark Walking Association

36. Story Well
• Personal experiences in the
Westergasfabriek Culture Park:
– Interactive installation in the park
– A story website
– Personal stories
IJsfontein, Logica Working
Tomorrow, Mediamatic, University
of Amsterdam, Westerpark Urban
District, schools and
neighbourhood organisations.

37. Westergas Periscope
• ime mixer:
T
– A real telescope in the park
– A glimpse into the past
– With extra information about what
you can see
Stichting Westergasfabriek & IJsfontijn

38. Urban Screens
Presentation in the
outdoor space
– Several interactive screens
– Real-time input by visitors
– Links to other projects
– Information transfer

39. ParQ
A social network in a tangible
location:
– On your mobile
– Who are you
– Where are you
– What do you think
Waag Society in cooperation with the
Westergasfabriek Foundation, Beam Systems,
Westerpark Urban District and the University of
Amsterdam.

40. More, more, more...
In the future:
– Links to the mobile phone
– Add game elements
– Make programming accessible
– E-card opportunities
– agenda
– etc.

41. ohesion
ll projects contribute to the key
alues of the Westergasfabriek:
pen, adventurous, cultural and
nterprising.
n addition, the projects are not
solated but closely related in
ubstance and technology.

42. Westergasfabriek as Living
Lab
AIM (Amsterdam Innovation
Motor) aims to put
Amsterdam on the map as
the most innovative city
in Europe.
Living Labs are
spots where real people in
real situations test and
develop new products,
services or business models.

43. Westergasfabriek
Foundation
The cohesion between
everything that happens at
Westergasfabriek is guided
by the Westergasfabriek
Foundation. The Foundation
programmes, invites and
acquires funding. It
ensures that the
enthusiasm on and around
Westergasfabriek acquires
direction.

44. Partners

45. Westergasfabriek BV
Westergasfabriek loves
culture and focuses on the
audience. Modern
communication technology
is a catalyst for art and
community. That’s why
Westergasfabriek supports
the Urban Park
Laboratories.

46. Economic Affairs of the City
of Amsterdam
The City of Amsterdam
attaches great value to
creative entrepreneurship
and information
technology. That’s why it
is contributing to Urban
Park Laboratories.

47. European Fund for Regional
Development of the
European Commission
Europe thinks it’s
important that bonds are
created between the
regional development,
regions, cultures and
technology. That’s why it’s
contributing to Urban Park
Laboratories.

48. Benefits

49. What can this offer to
tenants?
– Signing and information
– Stronger profiles towards culture/
technology
– More attention, more audience
– Participation in content
development of existing projects
– Developing its own cultural and
creative concepts
– Communication with target
audiences via Digital concepts

50. What does this offer to the
neighbourhood?
– Possibilities to record the history
of the Westerpark Urban District in
personal stories
– Upgrading the neighbourhood
– Relaxation and education

51. What does this offer the
local authorities?
– Strengthening the creative and
innovative image
– An impulse for the knowledge
economy
– International congresses
– Attracting more tourism
– Distributing tourism better
throughout the city
– Stimulating small and medium-
size businesses

52. What does this offer the
province?
– Incorporation in canal-zone area
(ERIH)
– Attention for historic links
– Tourist value
– Attention for the cultural wealth of
the province

53. What does this offer the
Netherlands?
– Strengthening the creative image
– Strengthening the innovative
image
– Export opportunities for the
creative industry
– Opportunities for international
cooperation

54. Why support UPlabs?
As sponsor you link
yourself to:
– Durable, cultural and innovative
developments
– An appealing, innovative and
cultural platform
– Mass audience appeal
– And an international character

55. We do this together with:
University of Amsterdam
Hogeschool van Amsterdam
Digital Life Centre Almere
Westerpark Urban District
City of Amsterdam
Province of North Holland
European Cultural Heritage Route
EU EFRO Kansen voor West
Waag Society
Mediamatic
H&S Computer Services
Technicolor NL (NOB)
IJsfontein
Logica
Interlace
Invent
Pleon
Xirrus

56. Urban Park Laboratories