Everywhen

The project explores how the philosophy of Everywhen translates into a design approach. Through spatial installations, maps, and narratives, its boundaries are tested, resulting in a series of spatial representations that challenge us to expand our temporal perspective. Do we see the city as it was, as it is, or as it could be? As these representations take shape, the lines between past, present, and future blur, unveiling a new vision of the city. The project culminates in the Act of Everywhen, a manifesto with seven principles to foster long-term thinking among designers and policymakers.

Through maps, models, and narratives, this project explores how we can perceive and understand the Dutch city of The Hague in the spirit of Everywhen. Stories collected from The Hague serve as a foundation for speculative future visions rooted in the city’s past. Central to this is the 'Act of Redemption', an age-old charter that has safeguarded The Hague's city forest for centuries—an enduring example of long-term thinking. The project links this charter to indigenous perspectives on long-term stewardship beyond the Western world. A key inspiration is the Seventh Generation Principle, a cornerstone of many Native American traditions, which ensures that decisions consider the well-being of future generations at least seven steps ahead. By weaving these cultural concepts into The Hague’s context, the project presents three 'zinnebeelden'—spatial representations that challenge our imagination and presents different pathways to long-term thinking. They invite us to ask: Do we see The Hague as it was, as it is, or as it could be? Through spatial installations, maps, and narratives, a new vision of the city emerges. The boundaries between past, present, and future blur—until we reach Everywhen.