Interview with Bianca Seekles and Edward van Dongen from Era Contour, partner of Europan NL 15.

For the first time, Europan is focusing exclusively on Rotterdam. Is this a sound decision?

Bianca: ‘Yes of course, especially now that Rotterdam is booming. The city’s economy is good and people want to live here. That wasn’t always the case. In the past, we had to work together, and so we’ve continued to work that way. That’s what makes Rotterdam so special. Developers don’t get in eachother’s way, but instead pull together. We all want the city to progress, and that’s why we’re participating in Europan. What I appreciate about this edition is the dialogue that is stimulated between architects and developers. Frameworks have been created to work on this together. I think this was missing in earlier editions.’

The sites selected include Vierhavensblok, Visserijplein, Kop Dakpark, Groot IJsselmonde and Brainpark I. What are some of the opportunities and challenges do you see in these locations?

Bianca: ‘The locations selected are sites where no one really has a foothold. We’re particularly curious about the ideas generated for Visserijplein, Vierhavensblok, and Kop Dakpark, because these sites are adjacent to the neighbourhoods ERA Contour has developed, Le Medi and The Hudsons.’

Edward: ‘M4H, of which Vierhavensblok is part, is located in the Stadshavens, for which we developed the Skill City vision: an area where living, working and learning come together and where people can develop themselves and their career. This is dependent on seven anchors in the area, such as Katoenveem and the Daan Roosegaarde property. Places that have to be preserved, if you are to maintain the character of the area, in our opinion. It is still quite rough. The question is how we can make it a friendlier place, accommodating all the necessities of life. It’s not an easy location: because there are so many port activities, you can’t put housing everywhere.’

Bianca: ‘What I might find even more exciting than M4H is the Visserijplein. On the one hand, you have the feeling you want to stay away from it. On the otherhand, the area is ready for a totally radical plan.’

Edward: ‘I think so too. And sometimes, the way an idea is generated makes it one that’s actually realized. Especially if those ideas are unconventional, it helps that we didn’t invent them.’

Bianca: ‘I also think that Kop Dakpark is a special location. It’s a bit of a strange place. Kind of disconnected. You want it to be something other than what it is.’

Edward: ‘I don’t know Brainpark very well.’

Bianca: ‘Me neither, because it’s not really an ERA Contour kind of site. We build in the existing city, in places that need love. Brainpark certainly needs some love, but there you just have to start from the ground up.’

How do you see Groot IJsselmonde, the fifth site?

Edward: ‘Kind of the same story as with Kop Dakpark. The neighbourhood is not finished and it needs to be developed. Here you can use density to increase quality. The Netherlands has many places like this, these so-called suburbs. These were created in the 1960s.’

Bianca: ‘They’re characterized by an abundance of greenery, but the public space lacks hierarchy.’

Edward: ‘By dividing the vast spaces, you can create more intimacy, making it a more pleasant place to live. I think that Groot IJsselmonde is very relevant to the task because it’s representative of Rotterdam. By experimenting with density there, you can repeat the same logic in other areas.’

What kind of living and working environments does Rotterdam need?

Edward: ‘We want new city residents to choose Rotterdam, not because it’s less expensive than Amsterdam. No. We have to make something here that really inspires people to make a conscious decision that they want to live here. This way, they’ll engage more in their community and its environment.’

Why is ERA Contour participating in Europan?

Edward: ‘Rotterdam is very dear to us. To make quality places in the city, sometimes it’s necessary to zoom out, and think about the city on a more abstract level, and to allow yourself to be surprised by the insights that outsiders might offer.’

Bianca: ‘A competition like Europan becomes even more relevant when developers are involved. After all, we have the capacity to actually realize the ideas. But most importantly we like to participate to be offered new perspectives, to be surprised and inspired.’

In concrete terms, what do you hope Europan 15 will deliver?

Edward: ‘Something that would not come about if you leave it to developers to dream up or the Municipality of Rotterdam to issue a tender.’

Bianca: ‘We are not looking for the safe answer, but for the best answer. I hope that the competitors will surprise us with quality and radical ideas. And radical can also be modest, as long as the impact is spectacular. Radical with a story, that’s what I mean.’