The built environment is often seen as neutral. But in practice, not every location is used in the same way by everyone. Differences in perception, for example in terms of safety, lead to different behaviour, different routes and different use of the city. And that has consequences. This also ties in with the fact that many spatial standards have historically been developed from a single dominant (male) perspective. As a result, the same place can feel natural for men, while for women it can feel unsafe or inaccessible.
If people use an area or a building differently from what was intended, this has a direct impact on its performance and value. Yet the ‘S’ in ESG is often still approached as a list of incidents or facilities, rather than a factor that actually steers usage and value.
In this panel, we explore how design choices and decision-making affect behaviour, how this feeds through into the way the city is used, and what it means for real estate and area development. Participants will receive concrete tools to drive change; precisely small interventions can make a big difference.
From design, practice, policy and data, we bring perspectives together. Because, as the PROVADA theme says: We All Stand Together. The key lies specifically in the collaboration between public and private parties—not only in naming social value, but also in actually realising it.
The question is not whether we build for everyone.
The question is: do we understand how our buildings and areas are actually used, what impact that has on social value, and how we steer accordingly?
Sprekers
Catelijne Elissen
Sr. Urban Planner Gemeente Den Haag
Charlotte de Mos
Head of Marketing & Business Intelligence Savills
Klaas Verschure
Alderman Urban Development, Europe, Libraries and City Districts Segbroek and Haagse Hout Gemeente Den Haag
Rosalie de Boer
Development Manager for Social and Physical Approach Synchroon
Esther Vlaswinkel
Urban Planner and Partner SVP architectuur en stedenbouw
Liese Vonk
Head of Department, Spatial Planning, Housing & Environment Gemeente Rotterdam
PROVADA winner Michel Baars: 'MOOS will become the ASML of housing construction'
Not a man of one company, but a man of movements. His strength? Not shouting from the sidelines, but starting new companies himself that set the market in motion and challenge existing systems. That's how the jury of the PROVADA Inspiration Award 2026 describes winner Michel Baars. 'Michel gives direction to our entire construction and real estate sector.'
PROVADA 2026: It's a wrap!
For three days, the real estate sector stood shoulder to shoulder at RAI Amsterdam. With a record number of visitors, a packed programme and plenty of energy, PROVADA 2026 was an edition to remember. Below, we look back at the highlights — and at the end you'll find the photos and aftermovie to relive it all.
PROVADA Inspiration Award 2026 for Michel Baars
At PROVADA 2026, the PROVADA Inspiration Award 2026 was presented to Michel Baars. The award is presented annually to an individual who realises sustainable change within the built environment through vision, courage and decisiveness. This year's presentation marks the award's fifth edition.