Schouwburgplein (West8 Square), Rotterdam

Schouwburgplein or Theater Square is located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The square is surrounded by De Doelen concert hall, Municipal theater, Central station, shops, offices. It was built to feel like an open urban stage which provides an expansion view on the city's skyline.

The 4 red lamp post are operated hydraulically and extend up to 35m high. They change there positions at programmed times and also can be altered by people inserting coins into the coin-operated feature hereby changed the programmed settings.

NB: The idea of using movable lamp post is to represent the tall huge cranes used in harbour which mainly summarises the Port activities in Rotterdam.

There are 3 tall towers made up of clad light weight gauze. On each tower,there is a digital clock that shows the time in a red digital figures. These towers are ventilation shaft for the large underground car park below the square.

The square is divided into different zones with various functions by using various combination of paving materials and use of dramatic lighting.

source:courses.umass.edu/.../2007/schneider/index.html

The pavement used are:

• Perforated metal panels with beams of white and green neon light shinning up through them at night.



• Epoxy resin concrete




• Steel panels with a herringbone pattern of narrow timber decking.

Steel Panels

The combination, texture and layout of these simple and basic materials gave the square an elegant look an also looks unique when it is viewed from a distance.

Behind the towers are 13 long elegant slatted benches made out of "Robinia wood"

Conclusion:

I think this is a lovely square and its concept behind the huge lamp post is good and very interesting but i don't really like the huge lamp post because i think the square is unique because of its use of different materials and the patterns created.The major feature is the lighting which plays an important role in the space. The space is quite big but its not really used by people that much expect if there is an event going on in the neighbouring theaters or the cinema.

Architecture in Rotterdam

NAI - Netherlands Architecture Institute


Bibliotheek


Beurstraverse - an underground shopping mail



Cube Houses, Overblaak

The cube house is designed as an abstract tree by Piet Blom. His idea was to have the cube (the top) like a tree house which is accessible through the pole (the trunk).

This a stunning architectural building in Rotterdam. Its so surprising that there isn't any straight wall in the Cube houses but still the people who live in these houses have a great view because of the sloping windows.










The Cube House Square











Tram Station


KPN Telecom Company

It is suitated southern end of the famous Erasmus bridge. The façade is cladded with green lights distributed over the glass which acts as a giant billboard.



Centrum, Blaak


Wiillemsburg




New Luxor




Monte Video


Scheepvaart en Transport College

Rotterdam Is Public Art

Waterloo Open Space

Researches on Amenities available in Waterloo

The following are the Amenities found:
· Schools
· Libraries
· Post offices
· Pubs
· Place of worship
· Museum
· Transportation – Bus stops
· Theatres
· Hotels
· Groceries & convenience stores

All this are all mapped and shown where these amenities are situated on the maps

Implications and conclusions:

· From the research of data of amenities that I have found, collected and mapped, is that most of the amenities are not situated close to the local residential people.
· The major amenity used in waterloo is the “pubs”. Waterloo has a lot of pubs at least on average about 2-3 pubs on each street. This is the main reason why waterloo has a lot of problems with street drinkers because the more the pubs are the more the street drinkers will become an issue to the local residents. The Street drinkers are a menace to the environment and are making people feel unsafe.
· Most of the amenities are found mostly around major landmarks (tourist areas), therefore it’s concluded that the government or local council are providing these amenities for mainly the tourist in other to that means to raise funds rather than the local people.
· For a small area like waterloo its got quite a lot of good available amenities to support the local people, the problem here is that its not been distributed evenly across waterloo.
· There are some areas, like for example lower marsh. This is a much known and heavily used are by both the local residence and the people from outside waterloo and neighbouring areas but looking at the mapping of the amenities, there is very little around the area which I think is very surprising. It’s the main place I was expecting to see quite a lot of amenities but instead my expectations are wrong.