Introduction
After studying urban planning at TU Delft, my career was dominated by the pursuit of spatial quality. Among other things, I have been involved in the protection of town and village views, with national architectural policy, with leading post-academic architectural research and with the establishment of a European network of spatial designers and policy makers. After that, as an independent entrepreneur, I assisted various governments and agencies with advice and I am a director of the foundation that manages the Dutch pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
As a council member, I strive for a holistic approach to policy issues, in which people and the human dimension are central in all respects. I work from the realization that technical or administrative issues cannot be approached without involving the social background. Short-term decisions must fit into a long-term vision of the future.
Motivation
I knew Hilversum long before I came to live there as the internationally renowned garden city with the work of Dudok and his famous contemporaries. My decision to become politically active two years ago was motivated by the indifference to that legacy. In particular, the plan to radically urbanize Hilversum (the '10.000 homes plan') is said to have caused irreparable damage to the unique character of Hilversum.
Through a few letters to the council and articles in the newspaper, I came into contact with Edwin Göbbels, who offered me the opportunity to join Democraten Hilversum. Since then, we have jointly strived for a careful, quality-conscious and balanced development of Hilversum, with respect for people, cultural and natural values. The healthy, beautiful and sustainable Hilversum that Democrats Hilversum stands for is laid down in the political program Tuinstad in Balance, our compass for the longer term. During the elections, Democraten Hilversum received enough support from voters to be able to continue that mission with a three-member council party in the coming years.
Designing a beautiful, safe and healthy living environment is a cultural task that involves many disciplines, often with diverging interests. Architecture and urban planning are pre-eminent fields for forging those interests into a sustainable and broadly supported vision of the future. In the coming years I will be at the service of Hilversum and the Hilversummers to make a political contribution to this from my professional background.
(Ancillary) functions
- Rob Docter BV - owner/director
- Herderstraat Pension Fund Foundation - director
- Rietveld Pavilion Venice Foundation - director
- Foundation for the safekeeping of assets in Agri Word 14 - Board member
- Historic Café Hilversum - Co-initiator
- De Geus Community Center - board member
- Stichting Raadhuisconcerten Hilversum - board member
- Cultural Initiatives Foundation - director
- Fietsmaatjes Foundation - Involved in the establishment
