Ideas for public areas

Intuitive map drawing: 05/21/2010

On the third research day the Wolfert HS participants in team Rotterdam started to draw the intuitive map of Rotterdam. Unfortunately it is not finished yet, but here you can have a peak already of what they think of in their own environment.

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Academic group Rotterdam maquette sizes

Attached is a PDF of the academic group’s maquette sizes;

Academic Team Rotterdam Maquette sizes

We will also provide a more up to date description of our design intent and site specific concepts for the maquettes in the next coming days

Research on a responsive bridge.

Rotterdam is a windy and watery city. Since biking is so important in Holland I decided to build a responsive biking/pedestrian bridge, reacting on the water and/or wind around it.

In one way this bridge should embrace the powers of the water and wind and at the same time protect the users from these elements.

Or, simply put, taking what goes wrong here and using it in a good way:

Articles

Here you can find articles that were used for the research topics. Maybe they inspire you while doing your research.

• Sustainable and Green Architecture

Assessing

• Responsive Architecture

Intelligent buildings

Responsive architecture

TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTALLY-RESPONSIVE ARCHITECTURE

• Identity and Integration & Architecture

Cohesion text UK

Urban spaces and integration

• Demographic Changes

Novi Sad

Reurbanisation

• Other

Article Asie-Europe

Greetings,

Sanne

Skype Meeting 25th of May

Dear all,

That was a nice and fruitful Skype meeting today (25th).

Let’s now all define our plan and set our scale so I can set up the total floor in a Sketchup animation.
So please load up your ideas for the ground plan where we see 18 model areas roughly.
Load up a set of very raw sketches so I can model them roughly for each plan.
That means a layout (top view) and two side views, front and right view.

When we all agree on the floor plan we can start building the maquettes

Maarten

Research Zoro Feigl, Artist in Amsterdam: A first look at low-tech responsive sculpture

A public space should be a place that somehow is influenced by its surroundings, a place that reacts and moves around and with the factors that use the place, The space should react to the energies around them.

Most dynamic spaces are actually designed, to create a dynamic feel, but don’t really react on their surroundings, they have computers interfere and design nature by using natural forms and shapes instead of letting the shapes really be defined by the energies of the wind and water surrounding them. I like to see a direct relation between the energies put in and the reacting counter force.

I propose a not necessarily functional space or landmark that is either shaped by the wind or the flow of the water surrounding it.

Here are some images that respond to natural movement in a somehow mechanical nature. Most of these works are by others and are a start for my research on a landmark or public place shaped by the wind and water that surround Rotterdams harbor.

Hippo: a sculpture that is uncovered and covered by the changing water levels. Tom Claassen

Strandbeest – Theo Janssen. This wind powered beast builds dunes.

Mirage – Zoro Feigl, Transforming the reflecting surroundings by reactioning on the wind.

Tonkin Liu – Singing Sculpture, The form and sounds change by the wind.

Walter de Maria – Lightning Field, a sculpture that interacts with lightning storms.

George Rickey’s wind sculpture in Rotterdam

Zeger Reyers – Drumset, A sound making sculpture powered by the waves

James Turell- Light Reign, a sun clock room

Although all of these works are very different I see a similarity in the way they are all shaped by the natural forces of the world around them.

Best, Zoro

Research Wolfert High School Rotterdam

Questions and answers on Rotterdam’s past present and future by

Wolfert Rotterdam High School

Questions on the city’s history

What were the basic themes in history concerning city development?

(protection, merchandise, labour, logistics, accessibility, identity, technology)

Harbour city, Harbour South, city life in the North.

Improvement in accessibility for foreigners.
Harbour growing away from the centre
Development of the harbour.

Improvement in accessibility for foreigners
Influx of the population into the city
Harbour changing towards urban culture.

What was the meaning of the bombardment in WWII?

Germany wanted to take over the Netherlands  with the bombardment they hoped that Holland would surrender. The result was that most of Rotterdam was destroyed and that everything had to be rebuilt. They did this as fast and as cheap as possible, so that lots of buildings are very polluting and unsustainable.
Before the second World war people were used to building their own houses. When choosing a house it was usual that the plan was the responsibility of the house owner. The city planners took care of the placing of houses, but the design of the houses was up to the owners. Because of this lots of different and authentic buildings were build.

But then the industrialization arrived. A lot of factories were build and the factory owners wanted their employees to live close to their working places. So they build a lot of similar basic small houses around the factories.

Suddenly there was… World War II. Rotterdam was bombed, lots of houses were destroyed.  After the war freedom made population grow causing the baby boom.

Suddenly there were babies. The combination of many babies and very few houses caused a housing shortage. The government decided to intervene. Their plan was building as many houses in a very short amount of time, with very little money. Huge grey flats and other apartment facilities came into existence. Causing the end of individuality in architecture.

How do you think transportation technology has changed the planning of Rotterdam.

Harbour growing away from the centre because of containerization of sea transport
Development of the harbour.

Transport used to cross through city centres, now the Ring surrounds the centers.

How did the population change in different periods of Rotterdam?

Influx of the population into the city. Migrant workers invited to The Netherlands after the war. Rotterdam has faced a great population increase since WW1. Especially during the 60s, 70s, after Holland opened its borders for guest workers from Turkey and Morocco. Asylum seekers looking for European wealth.

What are the effects of the harbour moving towards the see?

Harbour changing from industrial towards urban culture.

Why did the communication between the city planners and the public flaw in the 80s and 90s you think?

Sub-politics rose in the 80s, 90s. So when the city planners (the government) made a decision, the public could form a group and protest against. Hereby they left the government no choice but to listen.

What would be the effect of a more lively communication between city planners and the population?

The population gets more influence on their environment and thus will be better pleased with their surroundings.

Questions on the city’s present situation

Is there any place in the city that give you distinct feeling of the space, try to describe the space and why it makes you feel special?

The Rose garden (De Rozentuin). It is a beautiful part of the Museum park with lovely statues and a fountain. There’s grass in the middle surrounded by a path with benches alongside. It is a good place to hang out with friends for the cops leave you alone and let you be. It is a special place for it so very green in the middle of the big grey Rotterdam.

Can you mention some differences between the recent developments in Shanghai compared to Rotterdam?

Rotterdam’s harbour is moving towards the sea.

What makes Rotterdam special compared to other Dutch cities?

Its modern architecture.

What do you think are the most important developments in Rotterdam, how have they taken shape?

The removal of the harbour from the city towards the sea. This took shape when Rotterdam needed more space for housing. Also the development of bigger ships meant that the harbour should be replaced because these big ships couldn’t turn anymore.

Do you think greening the city will make it sustainable?

Yes, especially by making green roofs, Rotterdam will become more sustainable. I have noticed that many roofs in Rotterdam are black so that they absorb way too much sun and thereby waste a lot of electricity for cooling.

What are the most interesting urban planning projects that are being realized at the moment? Why are they most interesting ones to you?

Rotterdam railway. This makes its inhabitants able to travel large distances within no time. This is very interesting to me because it makes you mobile. It gives you the possibility to leave your neighbourhood and look further than that which was already known.

Questions on the future outlook of Rotterdam

Have you noticed any climate change in the past few years, how does it affect people’s everyday life?

During the winter less days of snow, but more rain and during summer longer periods of warmth.

To me and probably many others, the Dutch weather is very confusing. The one moment it’s sunny and than all

of a sudden it starts to rain. On these moments people cannot dress to weather, which causes you to get sick very quickly.

Do you think new transportation technology will change the urban planning of Rotterdam in the future? How?

Yes, it probably will. There’s big chance our metro’s will get connected even more broadly than they already are,

instead of only Rotterdam and The Hague, one to Utrecht and Gouda as well. Just like trains, but straight away and under the ground.

The transportation technology of these days have gone to inconceivable measures

An example is the Amfie-bus. A bus that as soon as it gets on water, it changes into a busboat. Before 60′s it wasn’t even possible to take bus from your house into downtown and now you can drive over the Maas to get there!

I think this will make Rotterdam even more busy than it already is, instead of just traffic on the road we’re taking it further on the sea as well. Realize the fact that the population keeps on growing, meaning even more people to transport.

Do you think virtual reality will change the urban planning of Rotterdam? How?

I doubt it. It might affect how many wi-fi connections are made in the town, or commercials plates are shown. But that’s basically it..

In the future, how do you think the climate change will affect Rotterdam? How could buildings adapt to new climate?

Because Rotterdam is in the part of the Netherlands that’s under sea level, there’s a possibility the rivers might flood.

The summers getting warmer and the winters rainy. we could adapt by making more houses that are able to catch the water and clean it. Instead of these big cleaning area’s, the house itself cleans it. Another possibility is making houses which during summer can store the warmth of the sun so during winter we can use the energy to heat our radiators.

What if the sea level rises and current Rotterdam is disappearing, how can Rotterdam fight against that?

Well.. Build houses on posts, like in indonesia! Will give our multicultural society a whole different meaning!

How can Rotterdam be more sustainable in the future? What if the oil all runs out in 50 years?

There are different ways to make a city more sustainable. This doesn’t only have to be by new ways of generating energy but it can also be by adding more green to a city. A sustainable city is a city that has everything a modern society needs but without ruining the future of the next generations. A city that has been busy with developing a sustainable city is San Francisco. Their research and plans can be found here: http://www.sustainable-city.org/ .

A way to make Rotterdam more sustainable in the future is to add more green to the city such as parks. These parks are not only good for the environment, they are also pleasant to live close to. Another way to sustainability is the combination of water and infrastructure, something Rotterdam is already busy with. Before the Netherlands has tried to keep as much water out of the land. However, research has proved that by pumping water out of the country the country is so to say shrinking since the land works as a sponge. Besides, we have had periods when there was a lot of rain, so much rain the sewerage system couldn’t take it anymore and dirty water from the sewerage flooded into the streets and the rivers. Rotterdam has to make space for times of excessive rainfall such as the square they are developing. When there is a period of heavy rainfall this square can hold water, which is not only convenient because you can hold the water until the water can be taken somewhere else but it is also fun for children to play with.

If the oil runs out in 50 years Rotterdam, and also the rest of the world, would have to find new ways to generate electricity. This can for example be done by means of solar cells, windmills and water turbines. Oil is not only used to conduct energy but also for cars, planes etc. The techniques for electric cars should be further developed, but an electric car is still not a very sustainable car since you have to conduct the energy. I believe the use of bikes and the public transport should be encouraged since they are both a more sustainable way of traveling.

Opening 3rd Eye Powerpoint Maarten Rens dd 18 May

Presentation2

Research Finbarr McComb Stereo Architects Rotterdam

Wheatfield by Agnes Denes, New York, 1982

This is not a Photoshopped image. The image actually shows a cornfield in the middle of Manhattan, an art project consisting of a temporary 4-acre urban farm on a New York landfill, right where Battery Park now lies. While it was originally meant as a confrontation to urban culture, I think the idea is still usefull today as a reference for how it can enhance the city. Maybe the future of the city could be as simple as starting a farm there.

Do you know where your taco comes from? by Rebar, 2010

The reason I bring up the image is twofold. On the one hand the issue of sustainability asks us to rethink how our cities work, in terms of energy-use, infrastructure and food supplies. Urban farming is at least an answer to some of these questions. For example, by raising crops directly where they are consumed, energy costs for transportation disappear. On the other hand, reclaiming the ground of the city and using it as farmland instead of a location for real estate can uplift the relation between the city and its inhabitants.

Still form Our Daily Bread by Nikolaus Geyrhalter, 2005

It may not all be that simple, though. The image of agriculture as a ‘pure’ natural force against modernity is too simplistic to be true. By now farming has become just as rationalised as industry. Ironically enough, this may just be what could help introduce farming into the city.

Indoor plant facory Pasona O2, Tokyo

Today, many projects that try to introduce urban farming rely heavily upon technological developments in order to make it work – such as vertival farms with 30+ stacked layers of farmland. Here‘s an example.

Vertical Farm by Atelier SoA, 2005

On the other hand, some smaller projects deliver a different promise, that is impossible to realise in large-scale projects aimed at maximum efficiency. Agriculture can enhance urban culture by involving inhabitants is a sustainable way of life. This means that the projects should be small-scale, easily accessible and fit into the urban context. A good example is Work AC’s project the Edible Schoolyard, in which children learn about sustainability by working / playing in their own schoolyard farm. More information here.

Edible Schoolyard by Work AC, 2010

So, there is a tension between large scale, effiencient urban agriculture and the small scale qualities of urban farms. Both provide a most effective answer at a certain level: producing food at the least cost for city and involving the community are both desirable. The question then is what kind of strategy will provide the most benefit for cities on both counts, efficiently producing food without sealling itself of from the city in hermetic bio-controlled environments, or degrading in a naive representation of farming without bringing in the goods. Is there a half-way point, a mix or is a new solution asked for? What does it mean for the city as a whole? These are the kinds of questions we want to delve into in our research and design.

Farmadelphia by Front Studio, 2007

Finbarr McComb

Stereo Architects