Foreign eye

Although maintenance and cleaning can sometimes be a problem, Istanbul’s urban places function just fine, they’re lively and dynamic. Conversely, what you quickly realize here in the Netherlands is that every little tree, even in the polders, is planned, as are the urban parks, which are designed, re-designed and designed again. A good example of this regulation culture is visible in these special stones targeted for dogs to crap on. Or, another example, are the automated male peeing cylinders, like the one on the Beestenmarkt, which pop up from underground during events of high beer consumption. An instant urinal, fine, but my question for Delft’s city officials is this: You’re clearly very sensitive and concerned about serving male and dog deposit matters in public spaces, but how about us females then?

(Photo/caption: Ekim Tan, MSc, Turkey)

Coming from Turkey and studying urban design here, I find myself in a situation where I question even my own existence as a designer. Public urban places in Istanbul are most of the time non-designed; they’re either historically or usually spontaneously emerged. Although maintenance and cleaning can sometimes be a problem, Istanbul’s urban places function just fine, they’re lively and dynamic. Conversely, what you quickly realize here in the Netherlands is that every little tree, even in the polders, is planned, as are the urban parks, which are designed, re-designed and designed again. A good example of this regulation culture is visible in these special stones targeted for dogs to crap on. Or, another example, are the automated male peeing cylinders, like the one on the Beestenmarkt, which pop up from underground during events of high beer consumption. An instant urinal, fine, but my question for Delft’s city officials is this: You’re clearly very sensitive and concerned about serving male and dog deposit matters in public spaces, but how about us females then?

(Photo/caption: Ekim Tan, MSc, Turkey)