BodyBackground

the Lectoraat City and Countryside

The Objective is to reinforce the knowledge base of teaching design in the domain of public space at Design Academy Eindhoven (DAE). The Lectoraat is attached to the department of Man and Public Space. This department’s work field comprises public space and the public domain: the environment where the ‘I’ meets the other.

Lector (United States: Professor, Great Britain: Reader): dr. David Hamers.

Education and research
The City and Countryside Lectoraat aims to introduce knowledge from spatial research (empiricism, theory, concepts, methods, backgrounds, et cetera) in design education. Such knowledge will help public space designers to position themselves in the social context in which they operate, the context of urban planning and development, and that of policy making.

The curriculum focuses on a range of concepts including:

  •   concepts of spatial planning;
  •   design traditions;
  •   current planning and design challenges;
  •   the representation of spaces, places, and connections;
  •   the relationship between town and country;
  •  the relationships between the various disciplines in spatial research and design;
  •   research skills that can be used in the design process;
  •   design skills that can contribute to (design) research.

The focal point within the Lectoraat is teaching in the department of Man and Public Space. David Hamers’ activities include giving lectures and workshops, inviting guest teachers, organising field trips and supervising graduate students. Hamers’ DAE-wide contribution to teaching includes giving lectures open to students from all departments. Furthermore, the City and Countryside Lectoraat activities take place outside the academy as well, for instance in the shape of lectures and debates on spatial issues within the Eindhoven region and beyond.

Hamers works with Louise Schouwenberg (professor of Design Theory) and Bas Raijmakers (professor at CRISP – the Creative Industry Scientific Programme) to help shape the development of (design) research within DAE. 

 

Contact
DAVID HAMERS
david.hamers@pbl.nl

 

David Hamers’ biography in a nutshell
Dr. David Hamers is a spatial researcher.
He was trained as a cultural scientist and economist.
In 2003, he obtained his doctorate at Maastricht University’s department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences with a research into representations of the American suburb. Since then, Hamers has been working as a researcher in the field of urbanization. He is a senior researcher for Urban Areas at the Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving (PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency) in The Hague.
His publications mainly deal with the development, design, and use of space within and around the city. In addition to his work as a scientist and strategist, Hamers has worked with spatial designers and artists. Since 2009 he has been a lector for City and Countryside at Design Academy Eindhoven’s department of Man and Public Space.