Critical cartographies for assessing and designing with planning legacies: the case of Jaap Bakema’s Open Society in ‘t Hool, the Netherlands

The Open Society appeared as a concept in planning discourse at the Congrès International d’Architecture Moderne (CIAM XI). It attempted to create urban conditions which would allow society to prosper. Despite its good theoretical intentions, the project did not always translate well into practice. We observe that historic approaches and tools have tended to be neglected in urban regeneration projects and discussions, yet we think that they can bring valuable urban transformations. This paper therefore considers the extent to which historic planning tools and theories can be useful for assessing built projects to provide fresh approaches for urban renovation. This paper will reappraise the concept of the Open Society empirically by analysing, critiquing, and imagining its relevance in twenty-first-century planning projects and discourse. This research uses a mostly qualitative approach through critical cartographies as a main medium and to draw conclusions that highlight the power relations in the Dutch neighbourhood of ‘t Hool (Eindhoven) as well as the local conditions and materials that can enable them to plan for a more resilient future. We aim to bridge the gap between theory and practice through a methodology that allows for a broader and deeper understanding of place, history, potentials, and urgencies.