“POETIC FREEDOM” SPANGEN, ROTTERDAM

THE CITY ROTTERDAM

City centre was destroyed in the war Culture of Demolition and Reconstruction Large investment in former docks and city centre Consequently has the reputation in the Netherlands as the “Skyscraper” city Resulting in many competing iconic buildings

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD SPANGEN

Inner City Suburb One of many traditional working class neighbourhoods Large immigrant population Drug and crime problems Locals describe area as one of the “worst” in Rotterdam

THE HOUSING BLOCK

THE PROJECT Demand for low cost housing – shortage of housing Desire by City Council to regenerate area Houses were in a poor state Some derelict, some owned by slum landlords Thorough costing for RENOVATION of properties versus DEMOLITION and RECONSTRUCTION COSTS WERE FOUND TO BE IDENTICAL

STREET VIEW

THE PROCESS Architect worked with Authority to convince them to take on the project The Council purchased the properties in the block Adverts placed for “Free” Houses – the freehold is free but renovation costs must be paid for by the purchaser

THE DESIGN Street facades restored to original glory maintaining the sense of place and neighborhood Each family or person in the group states how much space they require Buildings gutted and reconfigured by removing rear façade Foundations required underpinning

Total build cost divided by total square metres of entire floor space, then multiplied by the amount of floor space each person purchased to establish their individual cost for the property Rear façade dictated by architect, interiors complete flexibility and fit out not included Variety of different personal expressions inside People worked together to maintain the communal areas Management committee run by residents

PRIVATE SPACE

CONCLUSIONS THE PROJECT WAS JUDGED A SUCCESS AND THE CITY OF ROTTERDAM IS NOW UNDERTAKING SIMILAR PROJECTS ELSEWHERE IN THE AREA THE REGENERATION OF THE AREA HAS BEEN ACHIEVED AT NO IMMEDIATE COST TO THE TAXPAYER OR THE COUNCIL IN TERMS OF CREATING AND RUNNING NEW PROJECTS OR BUILDINGS AS ALL WORKS WERE PAID FOR BY THE NEW RESIDENTS THE RESTORATION OF THE STREETSCAPE HAS MAINTAINED THE CHARACTER OF THE AREA LOCAL LONGSTANDING RESIDENTS, INITALLY SCEPTICAL OF THE PROJECT ARE NOW FULLY BEHIND IT HAVING BEEN CONVINCED OF THE BENEFITS