THE IMPLOSIVE CITY
Discovering 12'000 ha of potential building sites within the Rotterdam ring road
THE IMPLOSIVE CITY
ROTTERDAM, 1999
At 400 people per km squared, Holland is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The few left over natural areas are under permanent pressure of constantly growing cities. The city of Rotterdam commissioned Maxwan - once again collaborating with Crimson architectural historians - to research the possibilities of inner city densification.Maxwan discovered that 17% (12'000ha) of the ground within the city ring road is underused or not used at all. In order to develop these plots it would be necessary to soften or adapt the building regulations, for example to allow a more diverse mix of their uses. In different case studies Maxwan proved how this could lead to an exciting city of increased density with no compromise to quality.
Credits:
client
Experimental Housing Foundation
country
Netherlands
city
Rotterdam
scale
XL
team leader
Mathis Güller
partner in charge
Rients Dijkstra
team
Nuno Almeida, Kirsten van den Berg
collaborators
Crimson architectural historians: Michelle Provoost, Wouter Vanstiphout,
Rotterdam
Based on 6 different urban fabric types with potential for densification, Maxwan revealed 12.000ha space for development within the city boundaries (17% of total area).
study area highway
study area hospital
study area inner city plot
study area train triangle
case study hospital:
Various functions such as a gasoline station,
a food-court and a motel could be added to the
parking decks and the park of the hospital Dijkzicht.
Various functions such as a gasoline station,
a food-court and a motel could be added to the
parking decks and the park of the hospital Dijkzicht.
case study inner city plot :
Around the dilapidated train station Hofplein
one could take advantage of the easy connection to the
Dutch administrative city Den Haag and develop an enclave for
government officials in the form of a super-urban apartment complex
on top of a parking deck and a shopping mall.
Around the dilapidated train station Hofplein
one could take advantage of the easy connection to the
Dutch administrative city Den Haag and develop an enclave for
government officials in the form of a super-urban apartment complex
on top of a parking deck and a shopping mall.
case study train triangle
