How Indie Architects Revitalize An Area From The Inside Out

Together with The Hague architecture institute Stroom we’re organizing the Stadsklas, a spring school that teaches innovative and curious individuals interested in cities and design the ins and outs of DIY urbanism. The series will span six days of learning in May, with each day set in a different location. Trend-setting city-makers will take the participants on a trip to their world, and demonstrate new ways to look, act, and make.

The most effective way to bring positive change to an area is through personal understanding of problems as well as involvement and investment in solutions, but how does one go about accomplishing this? Architecture firm ZUS and urban strategist team Stipo have been responsible for extensive bottom-up spatial planning projects in Rotterdam. Together, they will utilize the city of Rotterdam as their classroom to explore these concepts in the fifth installment of Stadsklas on May 22nd.

The Luchtsingel, a crowd-funded layer of pedestrian infrastructure in Rotterdam

The Luchtsingel, a crowd-funded layer of pedestrian infrastructure in Rotterdam

Architecture firm ZUS is headquartered in the Schieblock building, one of central hubs in the area. On the right you see a part of the Luchtsingel

Architecture firm ZUS is headquartered in the Schieblock building, one of central hubs in the area. On the right you see a part of the Luchtsingel

The Dakakker, a farm on top of the Schieblock building that overlooks downtown Rotterdam

The Dakakker, a farm on top of the Schieblock building that overlooks downtown Rotterdam

ZUS Architects is familiar with addressing problems in cities through resident-based, pragmatic solutions. The firm is in the final stages of completing an extensive three-year campaign to bring new life to the previously run-down areas of Rotterdam, in particular by raising finances for the construction of a pedestrian bridge connecting Rotterdam’s Central and North districts through an extensive crowd-funding campaign. The realization of the Luchtsingel bridge addresses growing concern over bringing more creative innovation as well as commercial activity to the neglected economy of the North with a solution expressed by the residents themselves. The bridge in conjunction with other initiatives in the I Make Rotterdam campaign is facilitating the social and physical reconstruction of an entire neighborhood, all completed without government aid or intervention. During their Stadsklas on May 22nd, ZUS and Stipo will work their way across the Luchtsingel, which extends through the Schieblock to the Hofplein Station, to discuss the process of their project and how it has come to fruition.

Join the Stadsklas!
Registration is capped at 12 to 15 people. The costs are €100 including food and drinks, and transport on location. Click here for more information on how to participate!