STUDIO BASIC

Bliek

Located South of Rotterdam, the new housing design by V8 Architects serves as a striking landmark at the entrance of the park leading into the city center. As Rotterdam continues to grow and expand, transforming existing neighborhoods, both on urban and architectural scales, becomes a strategic approach to enhancing these dense environments. For an upcoming participatory event and exhibition, we were tasked with creating a clear and concise model to showcase this exciting new addition to the cityscape.

exhibition model | 1:200
materials: MDF wood, foamboard, cardboard and mixed media
client: V8 Architects
architect: V8 Architects
location: Nissewaard, 2024

Centered around the metro station, this urban plan aims to create a green corridor between the public transport hub and the city center. The new building, standing at the entrance of this park, serves as a gateway while allowing nature and architecture to coexist seamlessly. 

Three volumes define the boundaries of the plot, shaping diverse street profiles and creating a dynamic sense of urbanity. Between them lies a courtyard that intentionally opens to the existing park, integrating greenery into the architecture. Surrounding the volumes is a colonnade that transforms from a parapet to a pergola to an ornamental feature, adding layers of depth to the design. By striping away color from both the architecture and the surroundings, the model highlights the massing, making it possible to give extra detail to the park and the design. Although the project has many strong concepts, tour focus was on the volumes and its thoughtful integration into the urban fabric. We aimed to emphasize how the tower marks the park's entrance, while its setbacks and loggias/balconies ensure a harmonious blend with the other developments. We also showcased the elegant flow of the colonnade, which transitions from facade element to an urban element, and how the green park extends  into the building through the courtyard, creating a semi-public space. 

The goal of this model was to represent a balanced vision for the neighborhood. By using the same material for all buildings, we allow viewers to focus on the architecture and the developments shaping the future of their community. This simplicity encourages participants to be an active member in the architectural and urban discussions, rather than just contributing to the aesthetic vision.