2012-01-25Archipelago Kyiv

img

The Dnieper is a wide river with a series of green islands. The river, or beter: the nature area, divides the city of Kiev into two separates areas. The ancient city on the left bank and the new city on the right bank. The river and the archipelago is primarily a recreational area for the residents of both districts. In summer the area is intensively used and therefore there are some small facilities present on the islands. Real Estate Investors and developers are keen to develop the green islands. Which is strange because in both districts there is plenty of possibilities to (re) development.

The Department of Urban Planning and Architecture in Kyiv organize together with the architect bureau Zotov&Co an international urban design competition with the aim of a comprehensive strategy for the islands. Urban development is hardly practiced in the Ukraine and it is brave to write such a contest to try and achieve good vision first and then build. The winners will be involved in future plans for the city.

As one of the judges I have a fifty plans assessed. Finally we found three plans that make on a comprehensive way the island accessible, make a smart perseveration and make small scale development in a careful manner possible. It might be a start to a first step towards a structural approach to spatial development of Kyiv.

2011-12-08Souper #30

img

Quartermaster Nicole Hoven (Hof van Hoven, o.a. Rotterdamse Oogst) and event organizer Jasper Scholte (JMR, o.a. Nacht van de Kaap) really take care of the branding of Rotterdam. Creative urban development in their eyes has nothing to do with permanent physical structures, but all with brief public environments that allow a good temporary atmosphere. The city shudders through these events.

All people at the table concerns for the future of Rotterdam. Where to bet on Rotterdam? At large, many and uncontrolled or small, fine and carefully. Massive crowd pullers versus exactly programmed events. Generic apartment buildings versus allowing small -scale private initiatives. We discussed over a large number of possible ideas and solutions. Everyone left the restaurant with a lot of inspiration and energy.

The dinners are always on the last Monday of the month, but due to circumstances it became the first Wednesday of the month. This allows us to visit a different restaurant. This souper was in the restaurant-bar-club Blender . The food was excellent. The wines were good. The service friendly. We were very lonely with just six of us alone in the big room. No reason for the DJ to put the music lout from 22:00 on. This is tragic when a limited number of people and inconvenient if you're still eating. Too bad.

Daan Bakker (Daf-architecten), Jeroen de Willigen (DeZwarteHond), Jasper de Haan (architect) and I invite each month a number of colleagues to eat, drink and discuss about our profession, the city of Rotterdam and related matters.

2011-12-01Kuipvrees

img

Text only in Dutch

2011-11-08Souper #29

img

A souper with two guys form the province: Helmut Thoele (Senior Urban Planner Provincie Zuid-Holland and Joks Janssen (Quartermaster Knowledge & Research at Provincie Noord-Brabant). Helmut and Joks have a very enthusiastic and convincing talk about the usefulness of the province in relation to spatial planning. Rotterdam The Hague Metropolitan region and urban and rural developments in the Noord Brabant are successful concepts. We have to be more proud of this spatial developments. Let's lift the disabled planning services at the municipal now. The regions, cities and rural areas are in better hands at a regional planning service. Here are more intelligent people and there thinking is more integrated. This only know something too few people.

In Rotterdam, many restaurants are closed on Mondays. Fortunately restaurant Lux is again open seven days a week for a good Italian meal.

Daan Bakker (Daf-architecten), Jeroen de Willigen (DeZwarteHond), Jasper de Haan (architect) and I invite each month a number of colleagues to eat, drink and discuss about our profession, the city of Rotterdam and related matters.

2011-10-04Souper #28

img

Monday we were a bunch of privileged boys. Our charming dinner guests Gus Tielens (korth tielens architecten) and Martine de Wit (DUS architecten) came especially for us all the way from Amsterdam.

Restaurant Huson this trip is worth it alone. During our delicious meal we tried to analyze the Amsterdam architecture scene. Many issues, institutions and individuals are reviewed. We have heard many enthusiastic stories and a single critical remark. Enthusiasm about Rotterdamis a good start. We have immediately begun.

In between there was a quiz. Lyrics of a several Dutsh sentimental songs were performed. To us, the task to guess in which city its singer was. A very difficult task and the conclusion is that the cities are sung in the same way.

Daan Bakker (Daf-architecten), Jeroen de Willigen (DeZwarteHond), Jasper de Haan (architect) and I invite each month a number of colleagues to eat, drink and discuss about our profession, the city of Rotterdam and related matters.

PREV