Architectonic Perspective
With the foundation of the Netherlands Architecture Institute in 1988 in Rotterdam, the status of Rotterdam being the city of Architecture in the Netherlands was once again confirmed. It’s not only the recent history, but also the period of post-war reconstruction and the architecture from before the war, that presents Rotterdam as the city of modern architecture. The enormous population explosion at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century created an enormous increase of new houses, where little attention given to comfort, hygiene and variation. Modern architects like J.J.P. Oud, L. van der Vlugt, M. Brinkman and W. van Tijen felt responsible for building good quality housing, districts and buildings. Dutch Functionalism formed the international reputation of Rotterdam as modern living- and industry city. The Kiefhoek by Oud is a good example of the functionalist housing of this movement.
The bombings on the 14th of May 1940 and the fires that broke out afterwards almost destroyed the entire inner-city of Rotterdam (The Coolsingel with the city hall, post office and trade centre where saved for the greater part).
The reconstruction is dedicated to the radical new base plan with a functional lay out of the centre and a rational traffic system with wide car lanes. The heart of the new centre is created next to the central traffic axes, the Coolsingel, and is formed by the new traffic free shopping area ‘de Lijnbaan’ by Van den Broek & Bakema. This Rotterdam based office is responsible for the reconstruction of the centre, together with Groosman, Bakker, van Tijen and Maaskant.
From the mid eighties on, the next building explosion takes place in the centre of Rotterdam, after the World Trade Centre, one after the other high-rise-block appears along the Weena, Coolsingel and Boompjes. Architects like W. Quist, J. Hoogstad and C. Weeber are important pioneers for the modernist revival. This development continues with the building of the internationally renowned Museumpark and Kunsthal by Rotterdam architect R. Koolhaas and the revolutionary redevelopment of the Schouwburgplein by West 8.
An important new impulse for the city is the transformation of the outdated harbour and industry areas. On the Kop van Zuid (Southbank) a complete new urbanised area is created, completed with offices, restaurants, a theatre and schools. The Erasmusbridge, connecting the southbank with the centre, has become the new symbol of the renewed modern Rotterdam.
