City Hall Utrecht

Soda has recently been asked to advise on the use of the publicly accessible part of Utrecht City Hall, located at the Oude Gracht. The city hall is now mainly known as the location where the council and the college meet. However, many people do not have a really clear idea of what this entails, and that is exactly what the city government wants to change. People should be able to experience in the city hall, in the political heart of Utrecht, how the council and the board actually operate and how the democratic process works. The city hall should become far more lively; a 'House of the City' where one can participate not only in political activities, but also in educational or cultural events. A welcoming place where inhabitants of Utrecht enjoy coming. 

These wishes also pose demands on the publicly accessible part of the already many times renovated national monument and its use. Soda investigates what is required in terms of traceability, accessibility, flexibility, commuincation and visitor experience.

Photo: Thomas Hovels