Complex Projects: Design or

Planning?
Author Prof. ir. C.H.C.F. Kaan
Co-author PhD candidate M. Triggianese
design process of ‘complex projects’ as well as the
capacity of the design to deal with it. This paper aims to
take the results from Claus en Kaan team’s involvement
during the run of the design process of Weena Boulevard
project in Rotterdam (2005-2010) in order to provide an
insight into the current practice and the definition of the
role of architecture.
Focusing on the initial phase or pre-design phase of the
process, the paper aims at better understanding how
within this phase a programme can be developed and a
new role for the design created (the creation of a ‘pre-
design’).
The development of a cluster of mixed commercial, leisure
and residential use, as for areas around transportation
hubs, universities campuses and health care centres,
attracts high-value service employment and mobilizes
public and private parties to invest in a range of spin-of
projects to boost the local economy.
Allowing the private interest to exploit the commercial
opportunities associated with such large-scale
interventions, or ‘complex projects’, public interest can
demand resources to improve and develop the city at
strategic sites.
The quantification of stakeholders and their interests deeply influences the