February 3rd, the “3 projects for Beverwaard” exhibition will be launched at the Rotterdam Academy of Architecture and Urban Design. After several months of work, Cecilia Dobos, Maartje Franse and Christiaan Harmse along with MAKS / Marieke Kums, present their transformation studies for social housing blocks in the south of Rotterdam. Their research is on exhibition at Tony*s and compiled in a publication.

Intro

Renewal projects often emerge out of necessity to preserve or salvage existing infrastructure, rather than act as an opportunity to improve living conditions. This predisposition is even more apparent in poorer, unattractive and socially problematic areas. In The Netherlands, approximately 25% of all housing was built during the 70’s and 80’s according to the “Bloemkoolwijk” or “Cauliflower” planning model. Its original intentions were good, but the execution presented many problems - built in the previous crisis period, these houses were often constructed fast with use of cheap materials. Now after 35 years, many of these housing areas are in drastic need for physical and “social” updates.

Process

Given these areas were planned and built at once, people tend to think renewal schemes must be carried out in a similar manner: a single system for the area in its entirety. These kind of schemes often turn out to be unrealistic; they are too big, involve too many people and cost too much money.
Alternatively, an approach can be taken that develops these areas gradually - replacing and rebuilding parts bit by bit, as we do in our older (inner) city areas. It might not solve all problems at once, but will contribute to the complexity of each area, allowing each neighborhood to develop a quality of its own.

3 Projects

Around 30% of the housing in the Beverwaard is owned by Woonbron. Rather than starting an ambitious master plan for the entire area, Woonbron decided to focus their energy and investment on three pivotal blocks in the neighborhood. A team of RAVB students together with MAKS have researched various options to transform, update and optimize these blocks as well as their immediate surroundings. The team pushed the limits of what to preserve and change in order to balance existing qualities while creating new opportunities.

The results are compiled in a publication, where its pages and models are presented in this exhibition.

Exhibition: 3rd of February @ 13.00, Tony*s (first floor), Rotterdamse Academie van Bouwkunst, Directiekade 23, Rotterdam
Team: Cecilia Dobos, Maartje Franse, Christiaan Harmse (RAVB), Marieke Kums, Adriana Suarez and Thanasis Ikonomou (MAKS)