The festival Making Almere is about the way the New Town of Almere will transform in the future. In the 1970s, the city was on the drawing boards of several professional designers and planners—without any input from residents. Now, those are roles are reversed. Today, the youngest city in the Netherlands is a leader in the development of a new form of urbanism: one where the inhabitants of Almere build their own city.

Making Almere will be located in the city center in a shop at CityMall Almere. A shop where the visitor doesn’t buy anything, but certainly gets something! A DIY-shop where you can work on ‘the city of the future’ directly: and there is still a lot of city left to be made!

Making Almere Architecture Festival
Making Almere is located in the shopping heart of the city and is also equipped as a shop. The exhibition showcases the city’s surprising turnaround – from a New Town directed by politicians and designers to a lively city made by many people; a peek at the future of Almere.

In addition, visitors are challenged to add their own input, designs and contributions to the further development of the city. For example, by participating in Play Oosterwold!, a game about the yet-to-be developed area of Oosterwold in Almere Hout. This is an exhibition that is constantly changing. During Making Almere there will also be several different presentations, debates and public events related to the making of a city. Making Almere is free, fun and educational for all ages.

The city as an exhibition
Almere has a lot of special architecture and an exceptional planning history. Many buildings and places demonstrate that character and are certainly worth a visit. During the fourteen weeks of Making Almere there will be a new building, district or place in the city spotlighted in a playful way each week. The question: "Who makes the city?" remains central throughout the festival.

With a specially-developed Making Almere smartphone application (free to download) or a handy guidebook, visitors can explore the city independently. Every Saturday there will also be guided tours led by different specialists.

Background Information
Making Almere is part of the 5th International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR) and made possible by the government program RRAAM, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, the municipality of Almere and Almere City Marketing (ACM). The International New Town Institute (INTI) is curator of Making Almere.

5th IABR: Making City
The 5th IABR: Making City shows how the city of tomorrow is created and what role designers play. The Dutch Architecture Institute (NAI) will host a series of related exhibitions and debates beginning on April 20, 2012. In addition, plans for the urban future wil be presented in different locations across Rotterdam. Het Schieblock will act as the headquarters, with a program of events, exhibitions, pop-up stores and pocket parks. Moreover, 5th IABR exhibitions will go on display simultaneously in Almere, São Paulo and Istanbul. There will be an international conference, debates, lectures and publications, along with (VPRO) TV and radio productions. For the full program see: www.iabr.nl