The Almere Principles

'It would be impossible for anyone building a city today to ignore the major ecological and environmental issues involved in climate change, energy, raw materia... » 

'It would be impossible for anyone building a city today to ignore the major ecological and environmental issues involved in climate change, energy, raw materials and waste. Ecological, social and economic welfare and stability are all at stake. Anyone avoiding these themes is acting without foresight. It is better and more profitable to face the challenge presented by sustainability issues from the very start, and to search for radically better solutions. The choice for sustainable urban development is therefore the choice for a vanguard position.'

The young city of Almere, the Netherlands, will double in size between now and the year 2030. Ecology and sustainability will feature as the central themes of this large-scale urban development, so the city council and the national government have decided.

The Almere Principles summarise just what this means in ecological, social and economic terms. The result is a powerful and inspirational declaration of intent for the sustainable city.

The Almere Principles are the result of a close collaboration between the Municipality of Almere and William McDonough, the American architect who was one of the spiritual fathers of the Cradle to Cradle sustainability philosophy.

In this concise book, the Almere Principles are presented, explained, introduced and placed in a historical context. It includes contributions from Jacqueline Cramer, Adri Duivesteijn, William McDonough and Fred Feddes. «