ROTTERDAM GROOT IJSSELMONDE (NL) PROJECT SCALE — L/S – urban + architecture /
SITE PROPOSED BY — Municipality of Rotterdam
architecture + context
OWNER OF THE SITE — Public and private ownership
LOCATION — Rotterdam, Groot IJsselmonde
POST-COMPETITION PHASE — Design (or research-by-design)
POPULATION — 650,000 inhab.
assignment on implementation on the project site (or a site with
STRATEGIC SITE — 125 ha
similar characteristics) commissioned by the municipality of
PROJECT SITE — 6.7 ha
Rotterdam and/or private partners
Europan Nederland — 1. WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THE SITE MUTATION?
Groot IJsselmonde in the south of Rotterdam is an archetype of a post-war neighbourhood built in the early 1960s. It is green, watery, spacious and easily accessible by car and public transport. The central area is typical in its paradoxical combination of low vitality, rather outdated communal services, and the presence of a wellconnected but currently underused public transport hub. The project site is next to, and could become part of the central area and consists of a large open green space and a couple of small-scale building blocks. The challenge is to develop a spatial strategy implementing a new mix of functions on site to revitalize the local economy, while rethinking the role of a suburban landscape, communal facilities in a central area, and other characteristics of the post-war neighbourhood philosophy in the perspective of the 21st century. 2. HOW CAN THE SITE BE INTEGRATED IN THE ISSUES OF PRODUCTIVE CITIES? HOW DO YOU CONSIDER THE PRODUCTIVITY ISSUE?
The City of Rotterdam seeks opportunities in the combination of 202
accommodating its growth and reactivating urban life in peripheral post-war neighbourhoods. The aim is to attract and retain residents, in particular young generations, to improve the socioeconomic status, to diversify the composition of population and to stimulate healthy and productive suburban living. Densification is part of the city’s strategy, but to make Groot IJsselmonde 21st century proof a new mix of functions is crucial to spark productive interaction milieus and to create social anchors for the next economy. The City of Rotterdam believes that the resurgence of the central area is key to setting this transition in motion. 3. HAVE YOU ALREADY DEFINED A SPECIFIC PROCESS FOR THE URBAN AND/OR ARCHITECTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE AFTER EUROPAN COMPETITION?
Characteristic of Rotterdam is the credo “making city together”. Municipality, market parties, corporations and other enthusiastic city makers are working together to build a productive, inclusive, healthy, circular and compact city. In order to put their money where their mouth is, the parties involved are now trying to actually bring the rich harvest of Europan 15 one step closer to realization, together with the winning teams. To this end, a workshop programme is established, in which thinking and doing go hand in hand. First leading questions for Groot IJsselmonde: The solutions being tested at Groot IJsselmonde on the level of development strategy, densification, public space and mix of functions could help to tackle issues on other similar places. To unlock the real potential of this neighbourhood, getting to know the place through the eyes of local residents, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders is an important step. With multiple activities and creative interventions, we aim to create a strong network and to move forward collectively.
