Going up the roof
Zuidplein Rotterdam
This studio at the Academy of Architecture had a dual purpose for me. As a ‘supervisor,’ I focused on the narrative of the studio as a whole while also creating a design myself. The ambition is to make Zuidplein increasingly function as the center of the city of Rotterdam South. Due to the lack of space, we need to build upwards with the new program. The developments around Zuidplein call for a new approach to urban development because the construction of towers by real estate developers could destroy the authentic street culture of Zuid.
Scale: Roof of the shopping center
Challenge: “How can we preserve the unique street culture of Zuid?”
Period: 2023
Now Zuidplein is functioning well as a regional center, but less as a local center for the neighborhoods around. By going up the roof, local oriented program could be added.
Rotterdam South is the 5th biggest city of The Netherlands, based on the amount of inhabitants.
Diagrams showing the entrances and staircases to the roof and the concept behind the layout.
Final eye level perspective of one the roof, its main entrances. A gradual human-scale transition between the streets and the roof. The concept adds housing and bring street culture to the roof of the shopping mall.
Final top view map of the roof, its structure and program.
