You can learn more about the challenge on the Den Bosch City website. 

The Challenge 

Students were asked to: 

Design a sustainable environment that inspires young and older residents, and where greenery and innovation come together in an environment that is accessible to all. 

Students considered in their designs:

Student design in Den Bosch 

• Areas for activity: spaces to play that are free from traffic hazards, and encourage alternatives like walking, cycling, or using public transport. Including sports courts, walking trails, and cycling lanes encourage active lifestyles.
• Hydration: including fountains for residents to refill bottles.
• Accessible: including pathways that accommodate strollers, wheelchairs, and the elderly and spaces for people to rest and connect.
• Cultural Exchange: creating spaces that foster a community that celebrates diversity.

Student design in Den Bosch 

• Biodiversity: including native plants that can attract pollinators, tree for shade, birdhouses and insect hotels to invite biodiversity, and space for residents to plant flowers, fruit and vegetables.  
• Water safe: including ways to collect water have heavy rain so areas do not flood.
• Cooling: making streets cool during hot weather.

The Celebration

Students shared their ideas in a workshop with the architect that is designing the new neighbourhood.

“The students worked groupwise on the project. The groups were formed by the children and their roles were crafted towards their strengths or the part they wanted to learn more about. One group had an architect, a project manager and even a craftsman that could plaster walls. The children were enthusiastic and able to perform in their own capacity.” - Jolanda Verleg, Program Coordinator for The Digital/Data Skilled City at City of Den Bosch

About the site

• The De Haren district is a neighborhood currently being renovated by the city; they are seeking sustainable ideas for this renovation from the younger generation. 

• The Zayaz housing cooperative, which currently manages the houses, is working with architectural firm KAW and the municipality to on the rennovation of existing housing. 

• Besides renovating homes, new construction is also coming to the neighbourhood. This new construction will replace existing homes, so creating higher density housing in these locations is one of the design challenges for the participants in the Minecraft challenge. 

• There is also a lot of greenery in the neighbourhood. Here, too, participants may come up with new ideas to make these areas more accessible and inclusive for everyone. 

• More elderly people live in this neighbourhood of Den Bosch, so it is important students designs take into account what is needed for them.