Architecture and urban development shape the way people live, meet and experience their surroundings. Yet residents increasingly feel left out of the decisions that transform the places they call home. Media reports and public discussions show a growing call for governments and developers to involve communities more actively in the future of their neighborhoods and public spaces. For our team, this raises an important question: how can development truly serve people if their voices are not part of the process?
Developing for people
Too often, projects are driven by economic growth, tourism targets or the maximization of land value — instead of asking a more fundamental question: what does this contribute to the people already living here? Hotels are a good example. While they may generate economic activity, they are typically used by a relatively small group of visitors who can afford them, rather than by the local community on a daily basis. Development should therefore always be evaluated not only on financial return, but also on its social value and long-term impact on public life.
As Lyongo explains: "In every park, square, shared space, or building, we look for ways to connect people. Every project of ours pays attention to meeting places. To know what people need to meet each other, it is important to engage in dialogue. With the Montaña Abou social housing project, for example, we conducted extensive participation with people from the district and the surrounding neighborhood. For us, dialogue is essential. We always start by speaking with stakeholders and residents to understand how they envision the development themselves. We take signals from the media seriously and investigate what is truly happening within the community. Ideally, we also organize follow-up moments later in the process — for example after the final design — so people can see how their input has influenced the outcome."
Listening to the public
For several projects, creating a communication strategy is an official part of our assignment. In those strategies, it is clearly defined that conversations with local communities should begin from the earliest stages of the design process. We organize public meetings where residents and stakeholders can ask questions, share concerns, and contribute ideas. Our starting point is simple: if a development works for residents, it will ultimately also work for visitors. The reverse, however, is not always true. We strongly believe that public space should remain genuinely public. And the opinion of the public is therefore also important. We view them as an indispensable part of the stakeholders within a design. For example, we take concerns recently expressed in the media on Curaçao by residents seriously. This is also evident from the fact that we previously were part of a first meeting with stakeholders regarding the design for the development of a beach area.
Emma Heinhuis, Marketing & Communications, emphasizes this: "Every development benefits from a strong communication strategy. It is essential to involve people and explain plans in a clear and accessible way. Too often, there is a lack of information in regard to a new development, or information is shared in a way that feels distant or is difficult for the public to understand. Public spaces are for everyone, so any changes made to them concern the entire community. That's why communication about any changes should be transparent, allowing everyone to follow and engage with the plans and developments. Throughout the duration of a project, we will try to stay in dialogue with stakeholders as well as the wider public. And of course, we share updates via our website so that everyone can easily follow the latest developments."
Giving back public life
This applies not only to beaches, but also to residential neighborhoods, waterfronts, and larger urban developments. With projects such as WaterfortPlaza, we aim to reintroduce public squares and accessible urban spaces as part of wider area developments, giving public life back to the people of Curaçao. Public spaces should encourage interaction, culture, and everyday use by residents, rather than becoming isolated areas that mainly serve commercial interests.
Safety also plays an important role in successful public space design. Real safety is not created through fences, gates, and isolation, but through visibility, activity, and social interaction. Lyongo: "As a designer, you are the expert when it comes to creating space. So, you can devise the elements that contribute to users experiencing this area as pleasant. For example, creating a sense of safety. You know immediately when you walk somewhere—you might not know exactly what you need for that when you are walking here as a passerby. But you do know exactly when you feel unsafe, and the area is therefore not well designed. That is where we come in as designers. For instance, spaces feel safer when they are lively, open, and used by different groups of people throughout the day."
Protecting the identity of Caribbean Islands
This conversation is especially relevant in the Caribbean, where tourism-driven development increasingly shapes urban and coastal areas – and where local communities often feel excluded from decision-making processes. Ultimately, development is not only about buildings, infrastructure, or investment. It is about creating places where people feel connected, represented, and at home. The success of a project should therefore not only be measured economically, but also by the extent to which it strengthens public life and preserves the identity of a place for future generations. Our team continues to work on designs that contribute to this vision.
