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YEAR

2013

TITLE

Living Monument

PROGRAM

Public Building

LOCATION

Coolsingel, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

STATUS

Concept

As cities become fuller, the amount of recreational space per citizen is decreasing. At the same time this is making the boundary between public and private space more complex and contested.

In Rotterdam they are planning an enormous shopping mall, but because it will be on top of existing buildings, there are not enough entrances and exits. What we propose is re-using the existing vacant building on the corner as a strategy. This will provide the new shopping space with new attractive entrances, offer the city more recreational space and invigorate this corner building by becoming part of the shopping mall. We remove big parts of the building that will enhance public space, accentuate elements with a new finish and develop a strategy for a program that fits.