jan scorelbrug

achterhavenbrug

20 original bridge houses are scattered around Rotterdam like candy at Halloween trick or treat. These mini-icons define spaces in the city where different historic and infrastructural layers intertwine.

Once machined by physical human power to open and close bridges, these ‘houses’ are now mostly automated and thus unhabited. Together they form an urban heritage network. Each house is unique by location, size and architectural design.
They are one of a kind. 

In my final thesis for my studies in Human Geography and Planning I put the focus on the current position of these bridge houses within the larger context of urban (heritage) planning and development. Why and in what way are the citizens of Rotterdam involved in re-use ambitions? And even more important, have ambitions been translated into successful actions? My thesis project provides (attempts to) answers – please contact me if you’re interested in reading my conclusions. 

Resulting from thorough literature research, 16 interviews with involved citizens, and my own observations, I have developed my own love and ambition for these icons. I am currently in collaboration with architect Maria Vera van Embden Andres (http://www.mariavera.nl/), who has transformed four bridge houses on the Koninginnebrug into light art installations, to further explore opportunities to redefine the relevance and value of these houses within contemporary Rotterdam.

De gele draad, the yellow thread, is an urban design proposal for the area surrounding the original Veerhavens along the Maas river in the Rotterdam, the Netherlands. 

The current courtyard structure and its adjacent historic buildings hold an important heritage value for the city of Rotterdam – this area is one of the few intact after the world war II bombings. However, the potential of these court yards haven’t been fully explored and utilized in the recent decades. The courtyards are invisible to the eyes of passing people, overgrown and abandoned behind walls and fences.

Taking inspiration from industrial port infrastructure, this proposal introduces a literal yellow thread which lights up at night due to a fluorescent coating. It opens up these enclosed court yards and invites both locals and visitors to explore historic inner city grounds. The thread and its entrees transform the former unused, concrete areas into peaceful, recreational spaces by reorganizing car parking, creating (water) bassins, introducing street art and adding greenery.