The Vlaardingen Zuidbuurt is on the verge of transformation. The Municipality of Vlaardingen, Waterweg Wonen, and ERA Contour are working on plans to improve the neighborhood, ensuring it remains a great place to live for both current and future residents. But how do we make sure these changes truly reflect the needs and wishes of the people who call Zuidbuurt home?

That’s why we organized Postcard from the Future—a creative and engaging participation event where residents could imagine and shape the future of their neighborhood.

Fourty residents of Vlaardingen took part in this creative participatory workshop. Guided by Lior Steinberg and Pedro Gil Farias, they explored what makes a good neighborhood and how Zuidbuurt could evolve over time.

By stepping into the shoes of different personas, they discussed diverse perspectives and community needs through a series of creative exercises, for exapmle postcards: residents wrote and visualized postcards from 2035, capturing their hopes and dreams for the area. These AI-generated images helped bring their ideas to life and will help guide future plans of development for the area.

A neighborhood is always changing, shaped by the people who live there. Some residents may move, new families will arrive, and children who aren’t even born yet will one day call Zuidbuurt home. That’s why it’s crucial to create a shared vision—one that balances technical and development requirements with the community’s desires.

This workshop was just the beginning. The insights gathered will help architects and planners design a Zuidbuurt where everyone continues to feel at home.