The Speed of Life 's Gravendijkwal
Rotterdam, NL
This project at the Academy of Architecture is about finding a healthy balance between the fast-paced life and consciously slowing down. The current ‘s-Gravendijkwal is the perfect bad example of this. Over the width of ‘s-Gravendijkwal, 82% is reserved for the speed of machines, and only 18% for a speed that feels comfortable for us as humans. By reversing this, a street is created where people want to be, instead of racing through. I bring the ‘Ramblas’ street type from Barcelona to Rotterdam to literally place street life at the center.
Scale: City street
Challenge: “What is the role of ‘s-Gravendijkwal in a city where the speed of people is central and efficiency is no longer the main value?”
Period: 2023
The ‘s-Gravendijkwal is one of the most polluted streets of The Netherlands. By downgrading the role of the car, it’s potential as a lively boulevard full of street life activity can be met.
The Braess paradox: the current 's-Gravendijkwal shortcut may actually cause more traffic jams and longer travel times within the city, because a great amount of car-drivers is trying to take the shortest route.
Analysis of the current situation using a softmap.
I bring the ‘Ramblas’ street type from Barcelona to Rotterdam to literally place street life at the center.
But of course this concept can’t be copied 1 on 1.
This will result in 3 types of typical Ramblas for Rotterdam.
Future top-view plan-drawing based on the 3 types of Rotterdam’ Ramblas.
Current state and future sections of the 3 types of Rotterdam’ Ramblas.
Flipping the amount of space available for vehicles and street life.
Eye level perspectives of the 3 types of Rotterdam’ Ramblas.
Bird eye view isometric drawing of the part near the current Maastunnel entrance.
