Stan Majoor (1977) is assistant professor at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, research center AISSR (Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research). He is member of the research group Urban Planning, chaired by prof. Willem Salet and prof. Luca Bertolini.

Between 2008 and 2012 he was program director of the bachelor in human geography and planning at the Department of Geography, Planning and International Development Studies and on the board of the College of Social Sciences of the University of Amsterdam.

Since 2001 he holds a Master degree in Urban and Regional Planning, and in Politics and Public Management from the Universiteit van Amsterdam. In 2008 he defended his PhD thesis on three large-scale urban development projects, Zuidas in Amsterdam, Ørestad in Copenhagen and Forum in Barcelona and their ambition for 'new urbanity'. From june 2007 till august 2008 he was visiting assistant professor at the Centre of Urban Planning and Environmental Management (CUPEM) of the University of Hong Kong.
In 2009-2010 and from 2011 on he is holding the "Chair Leerhuis" at the Project Management Bureau of the municipality of Amsterdam. Since 2013 he is editor-in-chief of Rooilijn, the popular-scientific journal of the department. He is board member of the geographers and planners official alumni association.

His research interests are focused on large-scale development projects, institutional and communicative approaches to planning, organizational ambidexterity, and urbanization in Pacific Asia, China in particular.

• AISSR - Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research - Urban Planning Programme Group

• Department of Geography, Planning and International Development Studies

• Alumnikring geografie en planologie

• LinkedIn profiel

Intercultural (mis-)understanding at the border between South- and North Korea

Photo: Taco Anema

Projects

• APRILab - Action oriented planning, regulation and investment dilemmas for innovative urban development in living lab experiences (with Federico Savini and Willem Salet) (JPI Urban Europe Pilot Call 2012)
• Ambidexterity in urban megaprojects (2011-)
• Urban Mega Projects in Pacific Asia: Coalition formation and societal embeddedness of urban mega projects: mirroring new Asian experiences, part of the Synergin program ( www.synergin.nl ) (2007-2009)
• Institutional Conditions for Multiple Use of Space. Employer: Habiforum, end user: City of Amsterdam, projectbureau Zuidas: PhD thesis on comparing projects in Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Barcelona. Promoters: prof. dr. W.G.M. Salet, prof. dr. E. Gualini (2001 - 2008, finished)
• Competitive Metropolises, Economic Transformation, Labour Market and Competition in European Agglomerations (COMET). EU funded project (2001- 2005, finished)

Education and Career

• 2013 Editor-in-chief Rooilijn
• 2009 - 2010; 2011-: Chair Leerhuis at the Project Management Bureau Amsterdam
• 2008 - present: Assistant professor in urban and regional planning, Department of Geography, Planning and International Development Studies, Universiteit van Amsterdam
• 2008 - 2012: Program director bachelor geography and planning, Department of Geography, Planning and International Development Studies, Universiteit van Amsterdam
• 2008: PhD degree, Universiteit van Amsterdam
• 2007 - 2008: Visiting Assistant Professor, the University of Hong Kong
• 2001 - present: Staff member InterFuture NL, trustee InterFuture US
• 2001 - 2007: Junior researcher, Department of Geography, Planning and International Development Studies, Universiteit van Amsterdam
• 1999 - 2001: Doctoral Social Sciences, politics and public Management, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Cum Laude
• 1999 - 2000: InterFuture scholar: fieldstudy in Boston (Ma) and The Hague
• 1999 - 2001: Teaching assistant, Department of Geography and Planning, Universiteit vanAmsterdam
• 1996- 2001: Doctoral Urban andRegionalPlanning, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Cum Laude
• 1995 - 1996: Propaedeutic year, Urban and Regional Planning,Universiteit vanAmsterdam, Cum Laude
• 1995: Pre-university secondary education (VWO), Scholengemeenschap Huizermaat, Huizen

• Rooilijn

• Website InterFuture

Barcelona Forum

Foreign experiences

• June 2007 - August 2008: Visiting Assistant Professor, Centre of Urban Planning and Environmental Management (CUPEM), the University of Hong Kong.
• May 2005 - June 2005: Guest researcher at the Institut d'Estudis Territorials, Generalitat de Catalunya, Universite Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
• November 2004 - December 2004: Guest researcher at the Royal Veterinary and Agriculture University, Center for Forestry, Landscape and Planning [Den Kgl. Veterinær- og Landbohøjskole,Center for Skov, Landskab og Planlægning], Copenhagen, Danmark.
• September 1999 - December 1999: Student intern at the Boston Redevelopment Authority, City of Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, US.

Awards and nominations

• 2008: Finalist AESOP (Association of European Schools of Planning) Prize for Best Published Paper 2008. Gualini, E. and S.J.H. Majoor (2007). "Innovative practices in large urban development projects: conflicting frames in the quest for 'new urbanity'", Planning Theory and Practice, 8(3), 297-318.
• 2005: The 4th AESOP (Association of European Schools of Planning) prize for Excellence in Teaching. Cursus "Methoden en Technieken van Ruimtelijke Beleidsvorming" (with E. Gualini).
• 2001: Nominated for the annual thesis prize of the Bond Nederlandse Stedebouwkundigen en Planologen [Dutch Professional Organisation of Urban Designers and Planners], thesis Creating Connectivity: Complex Decision Making in the Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project and the The Hague CS Kwadrant Project

• Majoor, S. J. H. (2015). Retrofitting Melbourne docklands: Opportunities and constraints. Planning News, 41(2), p. 12-13.
• Majoor, S. J. H. Urban megaprojects in crisis? Ørestad Copenhagen revisited. European Planning Studies DOI: 0.1080/09654313.2015.1014780
• Majoor, S. J. H. Resilient practices: A paradox-oriented approach for large-scale development projects. Accepted in Town Planning Review.
• Majoor, S. J. H., Hengeveld, E. & Van Leuven, W. (2014). Laveren tussen vast en vloeibaar. Tijdschrift voor de Volkshuisvesting, 20(5), p. 27-31.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (Ed.) (2014). Organisaties in verandering. Inspiratie voor de Amsterdamse opgave. Amsterdam: ProjectManagement Bureau, 80p. (see link below)
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2014). Inleiding: Inspiratie voor organisatieverandering. in: S. J. H. Majoor (Ed.). Organisaties in Verandering. Inspiratie voor de Amsterdamse opgave. Amsterdam: ProjectMangement Bureau, p. 8-15. (see link below)
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2014). Grote projecten na de crisis, Rooilijn, 47(5), p. 318-327.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2014). Ørestad: Copenhagen's radical new town project in transition, Planning Theory and Practice 15(3), p. 432-438.
• Vermeulen, R., Salet, W. G. M., & Majoor, S. J. H. (2014). Locating exhibition centers. How to explain divergent spatial developments in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan and Munich, disP, 50(2), p. 6-17.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2014). Het opkomende tweede centrum van de stad? Hochparterre, Mai, p. 40-41.
• Savini, F., Salet, W. G. M. & Majoor, S. J. H., Source of political power in the urban periphery. Accepted in Environment and Planning C.
• Savini, F., Majoor, S. J. H. & Salet, W. G. M. (2014). Dilemmas of planning: intervention, regulation, and investment. Planning Theory (online first)

• Majoor, S. J. H. (Ed.) (2013). Hervorming stedelijke vernieuwing. Een paradox tussen vast en vloeibaar. Amsterdam: Projectmanagement Bureau. (see link below)
• Majoor, S. J. H. (Ed.). (2013). Stedelijke vernieuwing: een paradox tussen vast en vloeibaar, in: S. J. H. Majoor (Ed.). Hervorming stedelijke vernieuwing. Amsterdam: Projectmanagement Bureau (p.8-19).
• Heide, M. van der & Majoor, S. J. H. (2013). Ambidexterity in de Zuidas. Rooilijn, 46(3), p.172-181.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (Ed.) (2012). Het lezen van de stad. De organisatie van improvisatie. Amsterdam: Project Management Bureau. (see link below)
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2012). Paradoxaal management, in: S. J. H. Majoor (Ed.) Het lezen van de stad. De organisatie van improvisatie. Amsterdam: Project Management Bureau.(p. 78-89) (see link below)
• Majoor, S.J. H. (2012). Il progetto urbano di Amsterdam Zuid, in: L. V. Ferretti (Ed.) L'architettura del progetto urbano. Procedure e strumenti per la construzione del paesaggio urbano (p. 205-212). Milano: FrancoAngeli.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2011). Framing large-scale projects: Barcelona Forum and the challenge to balance local and global needs. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 31(2), p. 143-156.
• Majoor, S. J. H., & Hakvoort, L. (2010). Integraal management in gebiedsontwikkeling. Stedebouw & Ruimtelijke Ordening, 91(6), p. 56-59.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (Ed.). (2010). Voorbij de beheersing? Bijdragen aan de stadsontwikkeling van Amsterdam. Amsterdam: Project Management Bureau. (see link below)
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2010). Werken aan verandering. In S. J. H. Majoor (Ed.), Voorbij de beheersing? Bijdragen aan de stadsontwikkeling in Amsterdam (p. 6-13). Amsterdam : Project Management Bureau.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2010). The Zuidas: Combining a space of flows and a spaceof places. In M. Horn, R. van Bladel, & F. Lomme (Eds.), Intimate stories on absence: Vrije ruimten Zuidas AIR 2010 (p. 13-53). Eindhoven: Onomatopee.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2009). The disconnected innovation of new urbanity in Zuidas Amsterdam, Ørestad Copenhagen and Forum Barcelona. European Planning Studies, 17(9), p. 1379-1403.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2009). Externe en interne synergie in grootschalige ruimtelijke projecten: Lering uit Tokyo en Hong Kong . In W. G. M. Salet, & L. B. Janssen-Jansen (Eds.), Synergie in stedelijke netwerken, Tussen competitie en complementariteit (p. 195-211). Den Haag: Sdu Uitgevers.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2008). Progressive planning ideals in a neo-liberal context, The case of Ørestad Copenhagen. International Planning Studies, 13(2), p. 101-117.
• Majoor, S. J. H., & Salet, W. G. M. (2008). The enlargement of local power in trans-scalar strategies of planning: Recent tendencies in two European cases. GeoJournal, 72, p. 91-103.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2008). Dubbelstrategie voor de Zuidas. Stedebouw & Ruimtelijke Ordening, 89(1), p. 48-53.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2008). Amsterdam krijgt de Zuidas die ze verdient. Agora, 24(3), p. 14-16.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2008). Stedelijkheid in grote projecten. Rooilijn, 41(3), p. 166-173.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2008). Nieuwe stedelijkheid als onverbonden innovatie, Zuidas Amsterdam, Ørestad Kopenhagen en Forum in Barcelona. ArchitectuurNL, 63(3), p.14-17.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2008). A cultural approach to city building: Lessons from Forum Barcelona. In J. Boomgaard (Ed.), Between high rise and common ground: Art and the Amsterdam Zuidas area (p. 65-91). Amsterdam: Valiz.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2008). Disconnected innovations, new urbanity in large-scale development projects: Zuidas Amsterdam, Ørestad Copenhagen and Forum Barcelona. Delft: Eburon. (see link below).
• Gualini, E., & Majoor, S. J. H. (2007). Innovative practices in large urban development projects: Conflicting frames in the quest for 'new urbanity'. Planning Theory and Practice, 8(3), p. 297-318.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2007). Zuidas, Amsterdam: Ambitions et incertitudes d'un project d'un nouveau centre métropolitain. Les Cahiers d'IAURIF, Institute d'Amangement et d'Urbanisme de la Region d'Ile-de-France, 146, p. 60-69.
• Majoor, S. J. H., & Schuiling, D. (2007). New key projects for station redevelopment in the Netherlands . In F. Bruinsma, E. Pels, H. Priemus, P. Rietveld, & B. van Wee (Eds.), Railway development: Impacts on urban dynamics (p. 101-123). Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2007). Amsterdam Zuidas,The dream of a new urbanity. In W. G. M. Salet, & E. Gualini (Eds.), Framing strategic urban projects: Learning from current experiences in European urban regions (p. 53-83). London : Routledge.
• Majoor, S. J. H., & Jørgensen, J. (2007). Copenhagen Ørestad: Public partnership in search of the market. In W. G. M. Salet, & E. Gualini (Eds.), Framing strategic urban projects: Learning from current experiences in European urban regions (p. 172-198). London: Routledge.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2006). Conditions for multiple land use in large-scale urban projects. Journal of Housing and Built Environment, 21(1), p. 15-32.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2006). Transformerend Barcelona. Stedebouw & Ruimtelijke Ordening, 87(1), p. 55-59.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2005). Paradox van grote projecten. Rooilijn, 38(2), p. 57-63.
• Salet, W. G. M., & Majoor, S. J. H. (Eds.). (2005). Amsterdam Zuidas European space. Rotterdam: 010 publishers.
• Salet, W. G. M., & Majoor, S. J. H. (2005). Reshaping urbanity in the Amsterdam region. In W. G. M. Salet, & S. J. H. Majoor (Eds.), Amsterdam Zuidas European space (p. 19-41). Rotterdam: 010 Publishers.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2004). Amsterdam Zuidas: Verkeersbundel en toplocatie. In H. de Bruijn, G. R. Teisman, J. Edelenbos, & W. Veeneman (Eds.), Meervoudig ruimtegebruik en het management van meerstemmige processen (p. 77-98). Utrecht : Uitgeverij Lemma.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2002). Meervoudig ruimtegebruik in Hong Kong. Atlantis, 13(4), p. 36-39.
• Majoor, S. J. H.,Uffen, F., & Wijk, M. van (2002). Conditions for multiple intensive land use: The Asian experience. In J. Jakovic, A. Yamanoto, & J. Cabrias (Eds.), Loose Maneuvers (p. 49-53). New York : Colombia University.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2001). Kijken over de schutting: De bachelor/master-structuur in Angelsaksische landen. Stedebouw & Ruimtelijke Ordening, 82(6), p.16-18.
• Majoor, S. J. H., Uffen, F., & Wijk, M. van (2001). Condities voor meervoudig ruimtegebruik. Rooilijn, 34(9), p. 428-434.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2001). Reflexieve beleidsvoering in Boston. Rooilijn, 34 (1), p. 10-15.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2001). Planning marvels: The Central/Artery Tunnel Project. In S. J. H. Majoor, G. de Munck & M. van Wijk (Eds.), Trading places: An international exchange of people, places and planning ideas between Europe and the US (p. 295-301). Amsterdam: Planet - International Student Planning Network.
• Majoor, S. J. H., Munck, G. de, & Wijk, M. van (Eds.). (2001). Trading places: An international exchange of people, places and planning ideas between Europe and the US. Amsterdam: Planet - International Student Planning Network.

Other

• Koolmees, T., Koudstaal, M. & Majoor, S. J. H. (2014). Puzzling towards people-oriented planning [interview with Patsy Healey]. Rooilijn 47(2), p. 144-147.
• Savini, F. , Salet, W. G. M., & Majoor, S. J. H. (2010). Enabling strategic projects: Assessment of key instruments for national spatial planning. Amsterdam: Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research.

Bookreviews

• Majoor, S. J. H. (2013). Book review [Review of the book Stedelijke Iconen, by. W-J. Verheul]. Stedebouw & Ruimtelijke Ordening, 94(3), p. 54-55.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2010). Book review [Review of the book Strategische ruimtelijke projecten: Maatschappelijk en ruimtelijk vernieuwend, by J. van den Broeck, L. Albrechts, & R. Segers]. Stedebouw & Ruimtelijke Ordening, 91(5), p. 71-72.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2005). Book review [Review of the book Planning world cities, by P. Newman, & A. Thornley]. Stedebouw & Ruimtelijke Ordening, 86(2), p. 58-59.
• Majoor, S. J. H. (2003). Book review [Review of the book Stad en land in een nieuwe geografie, by W. Asbeek Brusse, H. van Dalen, & B. Wissink]. Mens en Maatschappij, 78(4), p. 414-416.

Reviewer for: European Planning Studies, Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Journal of Planning Education and Research, International Planning Studies, Geopolitics

Links to documents:

• Dissertation for sale at publisher

• Dissertation for download

• Voorbij de Beheersing? Bijdragen aan de stadsontwikkeling in Amsterdam

• Het lezen van de stad. De organisatie van improvisatie

• Hervorming Stedelijke Vernieuwing. Een paradox tussen vast en vloeibaar

• Organisaties in Verandering: Inspiratie voor de Amsterdamse opgave

Overview of current teaching activities

Inleiding Planologie [Introduction in spatial planning], 1st year bachelor course (6 ECTS)

In this course, together with colleague prof. dr. Zef Hemel and several junior teachers, an introductory overview is given on spatial planning. With the use of a Dutch and International handbook we talk about the most important theories in planning and theories of planning of the last century. Famous Dutch and international spatial plans and planners will be introduced and placed in the context of their time. The students do literature studies and explore the built environment and link their observations towards the literature.

Hervorming Stedelijke Vernieuwing ['renewing urban renewal'] (6/12 ECTS)

This course is part of the undergraduate 'talent' programme. A select number of highly qualified students from the social sciences is selected to study bottom-up approaches of urban renewal in the Amsterdam area. Students use ethnographic research methods to get an in-depth understanding of these processes and make a paper and a documentary to publish their results (links to documentaries see below). Course taught together with Wouter van Gent. The Documentary Institute Amsterdam (Hilbert Kamphuisen and Kim Buisman) teaches the documentary part of this course

Urban Transformation and Strategic Planning, Master course (6 ECTS)

This course focuses on spatial plans and projects with significant impact on processes of metropolitan transformation. Three intergrative key issues of metropolitan transformation are selected to study strategic planning and projects: (a) the emergence of new urbanity (changing spatial pattern and meaning of urban activities), (b) the meaning of water and landscapes in metropolitan transformation, and (c) the dynamics of the living environment (teaching this course together with Willem Salet, Jochem de Vries, Federico Savini and others).

Supervisor of bachelor- and (research) master thesis and internships

• Documentaires Hervorming Stedelijke Vernieuwing

• Course Catalog of the University of Amsterdam

Overview of past teaching activities

Methoden en Technieken van Ruimtelijke Beleidsanalyse (Methodsand techniques of spatial policy analysis), 2ndyear bachelorcourse (2002-2007)

This course, mostly taught together with former colleague Enrico Gualini, dealt with the basics of policiy analysis. It introduced (classic) schemes to unravel complex policy processes and also learnt students to take a critical stance. In 2005 the course was awarded the AESOP prize for excellence in teaching.

Strategische Ruimtelijke Planning: Grote Projecten (Strategic spatial planning: large-scale development projects), 2nd-3rd year Bachelor course (5 ECTS) (2008-2010)

In this course the students are familiarized with large-scale development projects as important aspects of strategic planning. Critical national and international literature isused to assess different aspects of large-scale development projects: their design, decision-making, economics, environmental effects and social impacts. Together with the students an analytical framework is built to analyse projects, by distinguishing project-internal and a project-external dimensions. The students use this framework to critically analyse a current large-scale project, nationally or internationally, in one of these three categories (1) infrastructure projects, (2) mixed-use urban projects or (3) green-blue-red development projects.

Kwalitatieve Onderzoeks Methoden (Qualitative research methods), 2nd year bachelor course (5 ECTS) (2008-2010)

In this course students are trained in a variety of key qualitative research methods in geography and planning. With a group of teachers we train them in: case study methodolgy, open interviewing, interview decoding, visual analysis, policy analysis and policy evaluation.

Innovative Planning Practices (International Lecture Series), Masterprogramma (5 ECTS) (2003-2009)

Lecture series wherein foreign experts are invited, and seminars are organized together with Dutch academics and practitioners. The seminars are both for master level students as well as for professionals. The students have to write a paper one of the topics of the seminars and read additional literature (organisation and supervision together with Willem Salet, Leonie Janssen-Jansen and Sebastian Dembski).

Ruimtelijk Planning Stad en Regio (12 EC)

This course focuses on (1) an analysis of contemporary conditions for urban and regional development and (2) approaches (possibly innovative) to deal with the current challenges. A wide range of topics, both national and international are covered. The students are closely supervised in the writing of an individual paper on a topic relevant for the course. (together with Leonie Janssen-Jansen, Pieter Tordoir and junior-teachers).

Foreign fieldtrips

During the last years I supervised many foreign fieldtrips with students to exciting locations:

2002: South Africa: Capetown, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban

2004: Hong Kong and Shenzhen, with Dick Schuiling

2007: Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, with Dick Schuiling

2008: London and Amsterdam, for students of the University of Hong Kong

2008: Hong Kong, Shenzhen, with Wim Ostendorf

2009: Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Guangzhou, Bangkok, with Dick Schuiling and Bart Lambregts

2010: Shanghai, Nanjing, Beijing, with Guowen Dai, Dick Schuiling and Bart Lambregts

2013: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, with Wendy Tan and Ching-Wen Yang

• No ancillary activities