Three Special Places in RotterdamAssignment for Designing Cities (www.coursera.org/course/designingcities)

Presentation by Martin van Elp (www.martinvanelp.nl)

Public Space

Street: Laan op Zuid

StreetConnecting roads

Laan op Zuid…is a great place because it is a strong effort to bring the more affluent to the southern bank of Rotterdam, which has mostly poor neighborhoods. There is a lot of housing on the street and in the area, and hence it seems successful. It is located on the former location of a railway depot, and is therefore a good example of replacing former transportation infrastructure. The municipality has made sure that several organizations moved to the street or its vicinity to make the area more attractive. It is still being developed as buildings are added.

StreetSquare

Blaak & Binnenrotte…is a great place as it features modern architecture with remarkable buildings. Like the library with yellow pipes. And the huge square is in use as a regular market, which makes the area even more dynamic. The area was initially built up decades ago by a cooperation of the municipality and a housing cooperative. And now that the added-value is evident, private investors join in. Like the donut-shaped building, which encompasses housing, retail and an indoor bazaar-like market. With this latest recent development the area seems more or less finished.

District: Blaak & Binnenrotte

ParkSquareMuseums

Public Space: Museumpark

Museumpark…is a great place as it combines several museums which are interesting inside and outside, and a park in between, partly functioning as an open air museum. The park is a former estate and redesigned by the city architect Witteveen. Part of the square area is being used for an open air cinema every summer. And lots of other cultural events are organized in the area during the year. There is now some controversy as the largest museum intends to construct its storage depot on part of the mentioned square, blocking some viewing lines in the process. On the other hand, the depot will be open for the public and special on the outside, adding to the cultural and architectural appeal of the area.

Sources

1. http://www.rotterdam010.nl/105-Overzicht-2006/02/R-Kop-van-Zuid-16-01-2006-05.jpg

2. http://www.nederland-in-beeld.nl/Zuid-Holland/Rotterdam/i/Zuid-Holland/Rotterdam/Laan%20op%20Zuid/foto10.jpg

3. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/RET-remise_Hilledeijk.JPG

4. https://www.facebook.com/komieuitrotterdamdan/photos/a.1479808258943191.1073741829.1479717615618922/1513971448860205/?type=1&permPage=1

5. http://markthalrotterdam.nl/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/markthal-rotterdam-impressie2_v21.jpg

6. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Rotterdam_potlood_kubuswoningen.jpg

7. http://www.rotterdam.info/data/organisation/11945/large/Museumpark-134212738459.jpg

8. http://www.paulderuiter.nl/new/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/R136_572002-Museumpark-garage-620x390.jpg

9. http://imagene.youropi.com/museumpark-bezienswaardigheden-in-rotterdam(p:location,1154)(c:0).jpg

10. Wikipedia

Presentation by Martin van Elp (www.martinvanelp.nl)