To examine how health and urban development issues can be coupled, the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR) and the city of Utrecht have established IABR–Atelier Utrecht: The Healthy City. The Atelier investigated what innovative spatial development strategies can contribute to the creation of an inclusive, healthy city that prioritizes solidarity between different generations, cultures, and income groups. The Atelier focused on both spatial and programmatic transformations in the city as related to health and wellbeing, and on changes in the funding of health care. To visualize the results of its explorations and to define where the opportunities for a healthier Utrecht lie, the Atelier zoomed in on a number of strategic test sites in two areas of Utrecht: Overvecht, the area with the weakest health statistics and Merwede Canal Zone, a transitional area between well- and poorly performing parts of the city.

The result comprises a number of promising scenarios that use densification as a catalyst to achieve a healthy city. Increasing the number of places for social encounter will strengthen social networks and thus the residents’ independence. Proximity encourages healthy mobility and, in addition, living, working, shopping, and relaxing all within walking or cycling distance stimulates local economic and social networks. Besides spatial opportunities, municipal authorities are given an opportunity to position themselves as choreographers of a ‘cooperative’ urban development and to involve a variety of actors with very different investment potentials and ambitions in area and neighborhood development.

The IABR Atelier Utrecht: The Healthy City provides insights that can also inspire other cities in the Netherlands and abroad.