Genesis of Urban Frame, case study: New Town Almere, Public Space in Contemporary City.

1970’s New Towns such as Almere are founded upon a then solid base of social consideration and production motives. At that time (and in contrast to earlier Post-War projects) the individual household with its small scale needs and wishes set in the world of planning. Naturally, planners and designers responded by trying and creating an everyday environment, wherein all residents would find some fulfilment, but instead of differences and conflict in appreciation they sought agreement, the spatial separation of function and the ever so economical average. The result is a rather bland townscape with little peculiarities, a lack of image, an almost mechanical yet insufficient and completely illegible traffic system, an overkill of public space and an ever increasing maintenance deficit. On top of the bill, in spite of the oldest parts of the town being only 25 years of age, due to little neighbourhood binding and instant architectural fashion statements the first signs of pauperisation and social segregation can already be found. Do New Towns such as Almere represent the future of all of our recent urban developments and major expansion areas?