Revision as of 17:25, 23 September 2012

Site Analysis

This chapter covers everything from the historical analysis of the site to the developement of the project's activities and interactions.

History

The RDM area (Rotterdam Droogdok Maatschappij or Rotterdam Dry-Dock Company) is one of the four large industrial port areas close to the centre of Rotterdam. The site was developped at the start of the 20th century. Two contrasting elements mark the site: the large industrial buildings and ship-warfs close to the canal and the small-scale, green and cosy village (Heijplaat) behind it. The village provided housing for the industry workers.

The eighties mark a decline in activities in the Rotterdam port and finally result in bankruptcy of RDM. In the years following, other activities emerge in the abondened former RDM buildings. Among new industrial activities, some non-industrial activities discover the former dock area as an inspiring an interesting new accommodation.

Current Situation

The area currently hosts a wide range of new activities developped since the bankruptcy of the RDM. Besides the above mentioned industrial activities like the transfer of goods between different means of transport, the area attempts to shift its focus from transport industry to other fields of industry and non-industry. Currently, the list of activities include:

• - Maatschappij De Maas, restart of RDM, builds luxury yachts;
  
• - The RDM Campus, innnovation centre in one of the large assembly halls;
  
• - Albeda School, part of RDM Campus, ex-juveniles are educated in welding and such;
  
• - Innovation Area, assembly of small start-ups focusing on sustainable energy issues and water management;
  
• - Academy of Archtitecture, situated in the former RDM-headquarters;
  
• - Branch of Boijmans van Beuningen: Submarine Assembly Hall Exposition Area;
  
• - Public space and leisure area surrounded by the characteristic former industrial environment;
  

Future Plans

As the construction of the second maasvlakte is looking to be finished quite soon, a majority of the transport activities of the port will move away from the Stadshavens of Rotterdam. A huge area will be available for redevelopment. The Rotterdam Port Authority, the owner of the area, together with the municipality, set up a plan. The four ports, the RDM area is one of them, will be redevelopped in order to meet housing demands, to create (start-up) innovative business opportunities and focus on sustainable energy and water management development. The RDM area is supposed to be developped as a high-end innovative technological business area in combination with leisure activities for people all around Rotterdam and area. Thus, a good public transport connection has a high priority. In order to reach these goals, five strategies have been created. RDM takes four of these strategies in account:

• - Re-inventing Delta-technology (RDM);
  
• - Crossing Borders (RDM);
  
  • - Industrial RDM area and Heijplaat village;
    
• - Floating Communities (RDM);
  
• - Sustainable Mobility (RDM);
  
• - Volume and Value;
  

Inspiration and societal context

The era of individualism. The era of social media. The era of everything is possible. The era of ambition. The era of growth. Everything needs to go faster. Calendars are full even before they are bought. Everything needs to be done and everything needs to be better. Breakfast is combined with a meeting and reading the paper, a book is finished while shopping online and getting a new nail polish, multitasking is everywhere and taking over our lives.

The future of RDM does not differ much from this image. It is destined as an international creative hub full of start-ups, innovative companies, students and recreational activities. Taking in account both the planned and the MSc 1 assignments' development the area will be an overcrowded space filled with tons of activities.

One of the things best remembered after a visit to the RDM area was the dependance of the famous Boijmans van Beuningen museum. Housed in an old submarine manufacturing hall the satellite supplies a unique environment as an exhibition space. The current exhibition of the Armenian/Turkish/French artist Sarkis is already the third edition.

Visiting the exhibition feels a huge contrast to the surrounding context. Sarkis connected the huge industrial building with medieval gothic cathedrals. With his installations he tries to show what he means to the visitor. The grandeur, the size and the height. The contrast between the once pure functional industrial manufacturing hall and the now almost spiritual feeling could not be bigger and more interesting. Maybe the history of activities in the building now resemble themselves into this feeling. Sarkis said about his exhibition: 'when i’m at a place that lived, it’s a meeting of life' . It lets the visitor reflect upon their life and their perception of architectural space. It is a place to meet, to think, to reflect, to be amazed.

The exhibition will end on the 30th of september. This project is inspired by the exhibition and will try to fill up the emptiness left behind by the exhibition. A space to take a break from society and talk, discuss, reflect or simply to do nothing.

Activities and interactions

Interactions are based on program and on physical properties. The activities hosted are shown in the diagram shown under. Each activity will suffice a different architectural space. The activities interact with people and other activities and thus, other buildings. The physical properties also interact with other buildings, together they form the scenery of the area, a composition.

Projects

Project-Project:

• - The Babel Tower project hosts a similar spiritual activity.

Project-Building/objects:

• - The project is inspired by the exhibition of Sarkis in the Boijmans van Beuningen dependance in the Rotterdam port. The exhibition tried to create a spiritual environment in a huge former industrial manufacturing hall.
• - Sarkis almost created a cathedral for an industrial religion. In the same way, industrial elements in the surroundings could be of importance to the project.

Project-People:

• - For local workers, inhabitants and students the project could offer moments of reflection and silence after a hard day of work.
• - For visitors from outside of the RDM area the place offers a great contrast between the demanding and busy RDM area and the interior of the project focused on nature, peace and thoughts.

Follow-up Study

• - modern functions corresponding with activities
• - (architectural) structures supplying space for similar activities / precedents / references