A new design strategy for the Rotterdam hofbogen station area

MSc 1 Socio-Spatial processes in the city TU Delft

KRISTIAN VUKADINOVIĆ

FROM ISOLATION TO A SUSTAINABLE NODE AGAIN

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Content

1. Location and assignment 4

2. Analysis 5

3. Location for intervention 7

4. Survey research 8

5. Historical analysis 10

6. Strategy 11

7. The framework 12

8. Masterplan Pompenpark 15 Node 17 Environmental sustainability 18 Social sustainability 19 Economic sustainability 20 9. Timeframe and stakeholders 21

10. Detailed plan 23

Time for an interference

1. Location and assignment

The Hofbogen line area in Rotterdam is in need for a transformation. The line which was constructed during the beginning of the twentieth century and connected Rotterdam with The Hague and Scheveningen through a railway line has fallen into decay after going into disuse. This together with the fact that the city of Rotterdam is losing its middle income inhabitants asks for an interference.

The assignment is to analyse the public space and to view it from the human eye. Conclusions will aid in producing the type of interference which is need-ed to give a boost to the area. The analysis will address the following points:

- Legibility of the infrastructure and use of public space- Morphology of lines- Transition between public and private public spaces- The size of public spaces- The typology of public space

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Analysis on public space

2. Analysis

The Hofbogen has a somewhat equal scattered pattern of public space sizes. There is a fair amount of small spaces which are mostly filled in with playgrounds. This in order to prevent families from leaving the city. The large public spaces are found in the southern part, but are not used in the way they could be used.

The typology of this southern space can be grouped into incidental or leftover space as a subgroup of green/grey space. Going up north the use turns into recreational space and plazas, while in the North the parks are situated and were constructed during the up rise in the late 20th century which asked for more hygiene and clean air in the city in the form of parks.

The morphology of the area shows a clear structure moving from the north to the south in somewhat parallel lines. The outer lines represent traffic streets which are heavily used due to their legibility. The inner lines represent the Hofbo-gen line and the Noordensingel, which are not heavily used and one of the causes can be found in the fact that they are not ongoing lines.

Further analysing infrastructure and use gives information on the relation be-tween these two aspects. The most urban spaces with amenities attached to them can be found in the streets which have a clear and ongoing structure running through them.

smallmediumlarge

green spacegreen/grey spacegrey space

The size of public space The typology of public space

Morphology Use of public space and infrastructure

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A hidden gemThe morphology gives an indication why the Hofbogen line is not used heavily in relation to its potential. The southern tip does not give a readable introduction to the line. The line is hidden within the urban fabric of Rotterdam. The middle part of the area with clear ongoing streets running through them gives an impression of an urban and busy neighbourhood. The southern part on the other hand is completely introverted and is spoiled with large left over spaces. The urban struc-ture is not readable and therefore the use is not fulfilling its full potential.

Changing the typology and scale of the southern public space (Adjusted Image from: Stanley, B et. al. , Urban open spaces in historical perspective: a transdiscipli-nary typology and analysis, Urban Geography, 2012, 33, 8, pp. 1089–1117, Bellwether Publishing)

Morphology Sizes and typology

introvert or extrovert

transition public and private spaceLegibility and urbanity

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A focus on legibility and improving the use of public space

3. Location for intervention

The focus of the strategy and design will be on the southern area. This is the area were the Mini Mall in the former station of the line is located. This initiative is not running well and the strategy is focusing on improving the use of the public space in the area. A survey amongst visitors will be conducted to search for the reason why people omit this part of the city. There is an opportunity to attract people from the city centre towards this area.

Found points from the analysis- Chances for further connecting the Hofbogen line towards the city centre- Connecting it with a legible structure- Improving the transition between public and private spaces- Chances for scaling the public spaces to city level

The location with the mini mall visible

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4. Research

How do people walk towards the city centre?How do people get to the mini mall?Ten visitors and employees of the mini mall were asked to map the route which indicates how they travelled to the mini mall. The outline of the survey can be found in Appendix A. Twelve routes were given and they show that people were mostly coming from the north and the east. The visitors who came from the north indicated that they knew the area because it was on their route towards the city centre. When asked if the area was accessible many people answered with yes. When it was asked if it was findable many answered no. Here lies the paradox and special attention should be given on making the area findable. Not many people came from the city centre to the mini mall and this is the area for improvement.

In order to come up with a framework it should be clear were the cause of this illegibility is located. The visitors and employees were asked how they would walk towards the city centre. Almost all the visitors indicated that they would use the tunnel, walk besides the gasoline station and then use the Coolsingel. When it was asked why they had chosen this area, they answered that this was the most well known area to them and that they don’t know the other areas that well. The employees on the other hand gave different routes which were located in the eastern part of the centre. They are coming to the mini mall almost every day and their knowledge of the area is more extensive. Also explainable because they arrive from the east and have to pass through this area.

Result of the first survey question Result of the second survey question

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An isolated opportunityThe mapped routes and answered questions of the visitors and employees of the mini mall were used to create an image of the area. Kevin Lynch with his book The image of the city (1971) has introduced the term way finding and explained how people view a city and how they map the form in five elements. When draw-ing the map according to these elements, it becomes visible that the streets with the strongest image can be found in the western part of the city centre. The east-ern part lacks recognizable streets and the ones which do have a strong image are the Hoogstraat and de Meent. The mini mall lies isolated within this structure. Special attention should be given to connect the strong carrying streets with an image and extending them towards the mini mall.

Coolsingel a street with an effective imageThe resulting image of the area

Path

Landmark

Node

The five elements people read a city with by Kevin Lynch

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5. Historical analysis

Once a node in the city

Hofplein in 1929 Source: stadsarchief Rotterdam

Images collected from the city archive in Rotterdam give a strong impression of the situation before the bombings of 1940. The station was in full use and the streets were swarming with people. Many roads gathered from the city in front of the station to form a spider web structure. This centrality resulted in the creation of a node which attracted many business to set up their firm in the base of the buildings alongside these streets.

A spiderweb of infrastructure in front of the station

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From isolation to a sustainable node again- Make spatial improvements with the focus on connections

- Integrate water and green systems in the connections

- Put the emphasis on pedestrians, bicyclists and public transport, but

don’t exclude cars if not needed.

- After and/or during making the connections search for the addition of

program and mixed use

- Create new public spaces

- Improve the transition between public and private space

- Repeat the cycle

6. Strategy

The analysis and conducted survey resulted in the problem statement of the area being an underused, isolated and unfindable part of the city. The big dimensioned roads surrounding the area emphasize this isolation. In order to provide a neigh-bourhood with used public spaces and amenities to the inhabitants of Rotterdam the area should break its isolation and attract visitors.

Isolated part in the city Roads and railway tracks emphasizing the isolation

Breaking the isolation and attracting people

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7. The framework

1. focus on the two tramstops 2. make the minimall visible from the Schiekade

3. Create a connection from the Haagseveer towards the hofbogen

4. Create a connection from the Binnenrotte towards the hofbogen

5. Remove the gasoline station and improve the underpass

6. Improve the visibility from the Hofdijk

7. Connect the luchtsingel to the overall plan

8. Connect the Benthem water-plein with the minimall

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The LUT-CycleObstructed view from the Schiekade

Investment against the effectiveness of the improvements

The framework in timeThe framework consists of 8 improvements in the overall structure of the city in order to make the area better findable and better connected. Some of the improvements are more vigorous than others. By plotting the needed invest-ment against the effectiveness it becomes visible which improvements are the most economical. During non-prosperous economic times it seems more logical to choose for these investments. The second and the fifth suit these times. While during prosperous economic times improvements which need a high investment but also yield a high effectiveness are the ones which should be carried out. The area therefore can be transformed in steps by improving its structure. When taking the LUT cycle2 in mind, improving the accessibility will result in a more used transport system, which in turn will lead to activi-ties in the area and the demand for new land uses. Improving the accessibility therefore should go hand in hand with searching for additional program. This will ensure that the cycle will repeat itself and regenerate this part of the city.

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In order for the total framework to be effective not only the immediate surroundings of the mini mall should be transformed. The area which yielded no strong images during the survey south of the location should be trans-formed as well. This area has potential in connecting the eastern part of the city centre to the mini mall and thereby closing a new loop in the city centre. The state of the public space in this area is of a low quality and this translates itself into the low amount of people who walk through this area and the high amount of vacancies. Transforming this area will ensure that people will move northwards in the direction of the mini mall.

Conditions for the framework

SOCIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICAL

SUSTAINABLENODE $

Plan 1:4000 City center and Pompenburg connected

8. Masterplan Pompenpark

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16 Section 1:1 500 Ecological park

The strategy and additional framework has been translated into a master plan of the area. Implementing the framework will improve the accessibility which will attract new program in order to create a new node in the city which will carry the name Pompenpark, the central point of the plan. The name refers to the neighbourhood Pompeburg and in time refers to the fortress tower which once stood in the area and was constructed in 1589. The sustainable part of the strategy makes sure that all the components of sustainability are implemented in the plan. Not only the environmental but the economic and social component as well.

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To Rotterdam Noord

To the river Maas

Node

Connection from the Binnenrotte

Connection from the Haagseveer

A new spine in the City

The two most important connections which will ensure the centrality of the area and thus create a node are the connection from the Binnenrotte and the connection from the Haagseveer. These two lines will create a new entrance to the area and make a flow of people through the area possible. The connec-tion from the Haagseveer will lead through a new created street which has a legible form due to transformation of the street, cutting out 90 degrees angles , letting the buildings follow the street profile and adding amenities to the street. The connection from the Binnenrotte will ensure people won’t stop at the market but continue walking northwards towards the park.

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Different biotopes

Natural water managemant system

Environmental Sustainability- Keeping as much unpaved areas unpaved in order to create a more natural water management system- Connecting the two unpaved areas beside the railroads to create an ecolog-ical park with slopes and a low nutrient soil to ensure wild plant species can thrive in the park. - A differentiation in biotopes connected with the differentiation in public space- Integrated water management strategy- Reducing the heat island effect by introducing a park, green roofs and trees. The temperatures in the city centre of Rotterdam are ten degrees higher than in the surrounding rural lands3

- Search for the addition for producing sustainable energy in solar panels, biogas, heat pumps and windmills on top of the high-rises- Making the city walkable again

INFILTRATION

RUN OFF

ABSORBATION AND RETENTION

EVAPORATION

LOW RUN OFF

UNPAVED SURFACESPAVED SURFACES

HIGH RUN OFF

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Social Sustainability- New public open space for people to meet and a differentiation in typology ; park, square, waterfront, lanes and streets- New public buildings for people to meet ; mini mall, open air cinema, bowling centre, swimming pool, supermarket, retail, restaurants, cafes, mini mall gar-dens- Connecting the public space and buildings and making a good transition possible in order to provide safety in the streets- Make room for private initiatives in the park and on the roof of the mini mall to create the need of a community- Use the park for activities and make the city walkable which will improve the health of the citizens

Water Square

Urban Park

Water Front

Green Lane

Urban Street

Las Ramblas Barcelona

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Economical Sustainability- Create a mixed use environment and don’t limit the area in development by land use plans. Give an indication of best land uses, but let the market decide. - Upgrade of the environment will lead to a more desired location to settle for business, the Hofpoort building will gain tenants- A mixed use will provide local jobs- Make room for bottom up initiatives and divide the blocks in smaller building plots and build new housing in relation to the need- Transform the area according to the LUT cycle to prevent the plan from failing and make sure the area can regenerate and add new program whenever needed.

Large scale facilities

Land uses

mixed use

large facilities

retail and restaurants

residential

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The strategy is focused on improving the area by steps in order to make the LUT cycle repeat itself. Investing in development of better accessibility will attract new program. The first step includes a short term vision and makes the entrance of the mini mall more defined and opens the view for visitors, including a new design for a public square.

The middle term vision includes constructing the park above the railroad and transforming the Hofpoort build-ing and removing the gasoline station. Many studies have shown that the vicinity of a park increases the ground prices of real estate. This and the inclusion of a connec-tion with the street Haagse Veer will start the catalysation process of the area.

After the construction of the park, the southern area will increase in value and this can commence the transforma-tion including a connection with the Binnenrotte. In this step additional program in the park itself may be a reason-able option.

9. The masterplan in time

The situation now The situation within 10 years

The situation within 20 years The situation within 30 years

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Bottom Up Initiatives

Stakeholders

Stakeholder analysis

- Municipality of Rotterdam (ground owner)- shop tenants of the mini mall- inhabitants of Pompenburg- office tenants in the office district- Provincie Zuid-Holland- Nederlandse Spoorwegen and Prorail- RET Rotterdam- Housing corporations- Investors (banks etc)- Community members

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LocationThe public space in front of the mini mall does not do any justice to the monument. The mini mall is hardly visible from the Schiekade and respondents to the survey stated that it’s hard to find the mini mall if you have never been there before. The improvement of this area in the framework has priority above others. The assignment is to improve the visibility by opening the view from the Schiekade, upgrade the public space and integrate a water system and search for new program.

10. Detailed plan

The situation right now

Location within the masterplan

24Detailed plan 1:750

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Legibility Transition Human scale View on water

The transformation of the entrance to the mini mall includes the overall strat-egy on making the space better legible. Opening up the view and directing the visitors towards the mini mall with the use of materialisation are part of it. The public space is unused at the moment and the design focuses on making better us of the public space. By adding program with the focus on retail and restaurants/cafes people will have new places to meet and relax after visiting the area. To satisfy the need of people for atmosphere, the human scale will be introduced and a view on an ecological pond. The addition of trees with a raised grass plateau and surrounded seating will provide a place to rest.

From left over space to a legible and used public space

The quality of water, Oude haven Rotterdam

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sewage overflow storage tank water pump filter pond irrigation system

Section 1:250 with the water system concept

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The Waterplan versie 2 of Rotterdam addresses the problems in water management in the scale of the whole city. Due to climate change the city has to become more adaptive in dealing with the huge amounts of water. By introducing more natural water systems in the public spaces and the addition of green roofs, the city can become more resilient in regard to the changing climate. The system consists of a water storage culvert underneath the square which collects the rainwater from the roofs of the buildings and pavement in the area. This water is stored and pumped into a filtration pond which filters the water with water plants and helophyte filters. This water can then in time be used as irrigation water for the green roof on top of the mini mall. In order to prevent the square from flooding, the storage culvert is connected to the sewage system with an overflow.

Water system

Materialisation

Reference : Neuvo jardin botanico Barcelona

grass

polished concrete water

brick pavement

wooden planksWater plants

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To add publicity to the mini mall new signs will be introduced. It is hard to read the function of the building in the current situation. The current sign is hardly visible and will be joined with a larger sign on top of the building. This will make sure that the people who use the traffic artery Schiekade will get to know the building and area and may plan to stop for a visit. To add more value to the area signs with reference to the history of the area may be included as well. The area has a rich history and people will get better attached to the area.

Way finding signs

Current mini mall sign

New mini mall sign

Information on history signs, Nova Riva in Zadar, Croatia

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Onderzoek Wayfinding Minimall TU Delft Urbanism Kristian Vukadinovic

Kunt u op de kaart zo duidelijk mogelijk de route aangeven hoe u bij de minimall bent gekomen? Hoe bent u hier

gekomen? Lopend Fiets Openbaar

vervoer Auto Anders

Wat vindt u van de

bereikbaarheid?

Zeer slecht Slecht Neutraal Goed Zeer goed

Onderzoek Wayfinding Minimall TU Delft Urbanism Kristian Vukadinovic

Kunt u op de kaart aangeven hoe u naar het centrum zou lopen /fietsen tot aan de lijn? En omcirkelen waar u het liefst zou willen eindigen?

Ik ben een: Bezoeker Werknemer / werkgever

Appendix A

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Literature Images

Page 6

Stanley, B et. al. , Urban open spaces in historical perspective: a transdisciplinary typology and analysis, Urban Geography, 2012, 33, 8, pp. 1089–1117, Bellwether Publishing (adjusted image)

Page 7

Misha van Broekhoven. Mishvb flickr account, flickr.com, Hofbogen photo

Page 9

Saskia, saskya flickr acount, flickr.com, Coolsingel photo

Page 10

Stadsarchief Rotterdam, Hofplein 1929

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Fred Barzilay, Fred’s Fotoblog, Oude haven photo

1 LYNCH, K. 1960. The Image of the City, MIT Press.

2 WEGENER, M. , FURST, F. 1999. Land-use transport interaction: state of the art, Dortmunf; institut fur Raumplannung

3 VAN HOVE, L.W.A. , et al, Stadsklimaat in Rotterdam, Eerste analyse van de meetgegevens van het meteorologische meetnet, Alterra-rapport 2192

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Colofon

Urban DesignerKristian Vukadinovic

TutorBirgit Hausleitner

Assignement forMunicipality of Rotterdam

© January 2014