BUROPPOSSO

This is the area of ​​the 'forgotten bombardment', which has undergone little structural changes after the war reconstruction of the urban area. The structure of the reconstruction is a outdated spatial scar: The buildings and voids cause both safety, economic and live-ability problems. In 2016 this accumulated in the question to answer the following different tasks and developments:

• To provide the degenerated Mathenesserweg short-term interventions and a long-term vision commissioned by the 'stadsmarinier' Daniëlle van den Heuvel.

• Facade revitalization guidelines for the  shopping street Schiedamseweg

• Reorganization of primary schools and gyms in the Mathenesserkwartier, Tussendijken and Bospolder.

• The call of entrepreneurs in MerweVierhaven (M4H) area for better connections with this area of Delfshaven via Dakpark and Marconiplein.

• Initiative of MerweVierhaven entrepreneurs, together with the large maintenance planned by RET, to provide the Marconiplein metro station with a (luminous) artwork which should form a route to the new innovation area.

• There was demand from the market to develop the plot 'Kopgebouw' of the Dakpark.

This has led to a short and long term concept vision in the field of public space and urban development. A short film was made in January 2017, see Mathenesserweg Rotterdam: new impetus for an old city street

Survey of Marconiplein and it's surroundings
The partly lost Mathenesserweg from 1915 was a gem in urban design. Before that, it was special that the many contractors realized a spatially coherent building. Spatially, this image has been affected by many advertisements and renovations. SteenhuisMeurs researched together with Molenaar & Co architecten researched the characteristics of the façade structure and how this could be reduced.

The Marconiplein was once the city entrance from the meadows. From here one could catch a tram along the Mathenesserweg or Schiedamseweg, into the city. The after-war-reconstruction  foresaw ramps for car infrastructure, that is why the Mathenesserflats are bending so far away from the main axes and got the straight Schiedamseweg a strange twirl at the end.

After the war the Marconi square is no longer a limited space by building facades. Around it are the buildings situated as objects in space. Although it is called a square and it is a public transport hub, the car has the most space here and the square is no longer suitable for pedestrian and recreational use. The metro entrance building takes up a lot of space and is not very attractive. A shopping street such as the Schiedamseweg suffers (economically) from the lost connection to Marconiplein.

The short-term interventions involve cleaning and replacing street furniture and, in the medium term, disposing of nuisance functions in buildings, a light vision for the entire area up to  Mathenesserplein. The façade approach on the Schiedamseweg has restored many facades already and ensures more quality of the façades.

For the long term:

• a new reconstruction of the urban plan based on the restoration of the pre-war structure. This recreates an urban square and entrance to the now older inner city.

• The primary schools located between the Schiedamseweg and Marconiplein can come more into the neighborhoods with a rearrangement of all schools, which is better for the health and safety of the children.

• All in all, a higher housing density and housing for new income groups arises. This ensures that the shops and facilities in the area will function better.

• As an entrance to the city (by metro or tram) and access to M4H, the square is also suitable for a hotel. This creates many jobs in an area where there is a need for it.

• As a dream image, a residence square is created, where the influence of the car is limited. The icing on the cake is an attractive pavilion-like metro station building. Because attractive functions such as restaurants, shops and businesses come into the plinth of the new buildings, a lively and safe picture emerges. The new underground underground station forms a welcoming picture to the adjacent innovative M4H-area.