AR1Ai015

SPRING 2012

Leeskabinet & Studycentre | herenplaats, rotterdam

Brief and Programme

The brief of the spring 2012 semester consists of the Rotterdamsch Leeskabinet, a Rotterdam based private library, to be combined with a study centre for the (international) students of the Erasmus University (ca. 3.500m2). The site is a small square called the Herenplaats, situated in the east of the city centre of Rotterdam. 

Didactic setup 
As from coming semester the chair will work with a vertical atelier structure. Two msc1 groups and one msc3 group will operate collectively around the theme of 'learning', discussing issues such as the meaning and the future of the library. The atelier structure will enable collective lectures and discussions in a first week workshop, exchange and visiting critiques from other studios and an inspiring learning environment in the studio. 

Focus of the Chair
 All studios in Interiors aim to teach how to turn a complex brief into a working and informed plan, how to translate an initial concept into architecturally rich, meaningful spaces, how to make details that clarify a position. In order to achieve this, the studio reflects upon a wide range of themes all relevant when designing a building. These range from the experience and use of spaces, technical and environmental requirements to general discussions on style and cultural position. We think an architectural position can only be the balanced result of all these considerations.
Please note that for the msc1 the number of students is restricted to 30 students. Students will be let in on a first come first serve basis. 
 

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FALL 2011

The brief



This fall semester the housing corporation Woonstad will act as your client.  For them you will design a primary school cum local community centre in Hillesluis, Rotterdam South. The school needs to be combined with a number of possible programs, ranging from a small swimming pool, a sports centre, a kindergarten to a local theatre. Your designs will help the corporation to compose the best possible programmatic combination and to find a suitable form for them on this specific site.

The site

The urban neighbourhood Hillesluis is situated in the heart of Rotterdam South. Despite its central position the area is relatively isolated, due to its location next to the railway system and the busy Putselaan. Its urban tissue of closed building blocks is the result of private developments in the period of mostly before WWI, originally intended for harbor laborers, and now housing an ethnic diverse population. Corporation Woonstad is the owner of more than half of the houses in Hillesluis.

The Hilleplein will be the site of your project. You are going to replace the current school de Pyramide, located in a quiet corner next to the railway line. In your design you will have to make an urban gesture that will have to strengthen and clarify the site, taking into account the (in)famous largest mosque of Rotterdam, the Essalam Mosque, located right behind the school. Adjacent to the site is the Varkenoordse park strip, a green rarity in this stony part of Rotterdam, and unfortunately not used so well. A tactical layout of the school and other program could enhance this rather large but peripheral park strip considerably.

The program
The chair of Interiors continues its program of a primary school, a very challenging design task and full of architectural and social possibilities. The user patterns and rituals of school life, with your own school experience as a starting point, offer ample possibilities to explore integrating these into a design. The combination with other community programs makes it a public building with a certain representation, containing a rich variety of public and more sheltered rooms and multiple connections between inside and outside.

A large question in this studio concerns the issue of specificity of a school building, in times of continuous shifts in didactic ideas and learning environments. You will learn how to organize a complex program into a coherent building type and how to translate didactic ideas into architectural principles that can guide your design.

The client Woonbron will specifically address the question how the different programs can benefit from each other both spatially and socially and how you can add characterful public space in a problematic urban area.

Focus of the chair

All studios in Interiors aim to teach you how to turn a complex brief into a working and informed plan, how to translate an initial concept into architecturally rich, meaningful spaces, how to make details that clarify a position. In order to achieve this, the studio reflects upon a wide range of themes all relevant when designing a building. These range from the experience and use of spaces, technical and environmental requirements to general discussions on style and cultural position. We think an architectural position can only be the balanced result of all these considerations.

The didactic setup

This studio starts with short design exercises that explore important choices both on the scale of the classroom and the typology of the building. The students will work on their design on an individual basis but discussions and critiques amongst students are encouraged. The first intermediate presentation will be a go-no go. After the midterm break the studio will focus on facades and sections. From the second intermediate the students will work on scale 1:20 to 1:5. The studio will work intensively with models.

Urban interiors

course (AR1Ai025) The urban interiors course will be connected thematically to the design program and researches themes and buildings that are relevant for the design work. You can however also take this course separate from the design studio.

Teachers:

Eireen Schreurs, Pelle Poiesz, Laura Alvarez, Laura Weeber, Ana Rocha, Nikolaas vander Keere

Responsibles:

Tony Fretton, Eireen Schreurs

For questions on content and organisation of the msc1 program: Eireen Schreurs, coordinator msc1, e.p.n.schreurs@tudelft.nl

For questions regarding grades, schedule and practical matters: Tomas Dirrix, student assistant, t.g.dirrix@tudelft.nl

FALL 2011 (Q1-Q2)

Full msc1 program of interiors (30 ECTS):

Eireen Schreurs

by David Schmidt

by Debora Heitz

by Cem Korkmaz