How is the rooftop related to urban space in a spatial way?
The location of the ‘Lijnbaanflats’ is in a very dense urban area within Rotterdam. However, the rooftops currently have no references to an urban space as the roof is partially filled with functional machinery for the building and there is no access for pedestrians to the roof. However, the dimensional space of the rooftops is interesting as it has a width of 15m and is 100m long creating a large area for activities to occur to give the roof a function, which can lead to a relation with the current urban space the building locates itself in.
How big is the roof, related to other public spaces?
The roof is longer (100m) then wide (15m), and therefore, compared to other places within Rotterdam it seems a bit narrow especially when comparing it to ‘Schouwburgplein’ located on the Groundfloor next to the ‘Lijnbaanflats’. This roof shape reminds me a bit of the ‘Lijnbaan’ itself but a bit narrower.
What kind of spatial qualities can you find at the rooftop and surroundings?
Some spatial qualities I was able to define when looking at the ‘Lijnbaanflats’ was that it is spacious/continuous in the sense of that the roof is narrowly shaped but long giving a spacious/ continuous feeling when walking on it. Furthermore, the visible aspect of the city from the roof gives the roof an openness quality. Due to being in a city it is always busy wherever you look with tall buildings around you, and by being able to overlook the city of Rotterdam it creates a feeling of calmness and order.
Relation time and program, what is happening in the near area and at the rooftop? Are people using it, how?
Within the area of the ‘Lijnbaanflats’ there are a variety of activities to do. There is the shopping centre called ‘Lijnbaan’ as well as a cinema, concert hall ‘De Doelen’ and a theatre ‘De Schouwburg’. Furthermore, there are a variety of restaurants across and in front of the ‘Lijnbaanflats’. At the back of the flats there is another shopping centre called ‘De Koop Goot’. Lastly, on the other side of the flats is a parking garage called ‘Interparking Lijnbaan’. Looking at the area around the flats there is enough to draw the attention of pedestrians towards that area. However, the rooftop of the ‘Lijnbaanflats’ is currently not used for the public, only for maintenance if the machinery on top of the roof needs fixing fir the building to work efficiently.
What kind of possible future programs would be possible?
To develop Rotterdam as a city for the future we need to make up for lost space. By having a large variety of flat roofed buildings in the city of Rotterdam it would be crucial to put these roofs to good use by creating an urban environment on top of these roofs and connecting them to bond citizens with one another as well as bringing the city’s architecture together. Therefore, it would be a good idea to introduce more roof gardens, which are key to the mental well-being of a citizen (according to ‘A Pattern Language’ by Christpher Alexander). Furthermore, possible activities for the neighbourhood (e.g. relax spots, playing sports) can be possible future programs for the purpose of city roofs including the ‘Lijnbaanflats’.
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