IMDonehere

Thanks to the people on these boards, we are altering our plans and instead of spending a day in Haarlem from Amsterdam, we are headed for Rotterdam. We are intrigued by the modern architecture and city planning, During the trip we are also visiting Brussels, Brugge, Antwerp, Gent, and Delft, so we will view a wide range of architecture.

Although we have seen numerous modern structures while traveling through Europe they are usually isolated examples. Between the sense of style and functionality, it seems like a most interesting change. We have mapped out a basic walk including the Eramus Bridge and notable buildings.

menachem

I live in Rotterdam and everyone who lives here loves the city dearly, razed to the ground as it was in 1940. However, that is the city centre (inside the bombing line); surrounding that is beautiful 19th century architecture, for instance in the Scheepvaartkwartier.

The Rotterdam building by Rem Koolhaas is now done, and right across from where I live the big Market Hall is getting along fine. Central station is finished too and it's beautiful.

Please make a small detour across Rijnhaven bridge to Deliplein in Katendrecht for wonderful lunch. It's an area on the up with lovely restaurants and coffee places.

Rotterdam is not a tourist city, and it can sometimes be difficult to get beyond the surface to the things that make Rotterdam such an exciting city.

a small taster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HOg2KrNAPs

Cowboy1968

Aside from the big museums, and since you seem to be interested in architecture, I like the Sonneveld House a lot. Also the kijk-kubus, but must admit that I found the Sonneveld House almost more interesting.
In the evening you find many quirky places to eat or have drinks in the Witte de Withstraat.
Your route will probably also take you to the famous New York Hotel - which is also a nice place to stop for refreshments with a nice view to the water.

outwest

Another vote for the Sonneveld House--it has a great audio tour and you even get to open cupboard doors and sit on furniture--we loved it.

menachem

Huis Sonneveld also showed that there was a strong modernist tradition in architecture well before the Second World War. Those buildings (notably Oud's Bijenkorf department store on Coolsingel) were equally hit in the second world war. Oddly, the first reconstruction plan, begun already in 1941 aimed at creating a small scale city of medium sized apartment blocks with a ground floor dedicated to trade, situated around courtyards where small workshops and storage facilities could be. Remnants of this plan can be seen around Meent and Goudse Singel. Mid-war, City Hall changed tack, mainly due to "big trade" pressure and decided to develop Blaak thoroughfare with big bank and shipping offices, something which can now best be seen in the stretch of Blaak from Wilemswerf to Posthoorn straat.

An architectural gem is the Groothandelsgebouw next to Central Station, which was built right after the war to house businesses. It was designed by Maaskant, who built many buildings in Rotterdam (the Technion school complex on Hofplein is another one of his creations)

All this is classed as "reconstruction architecture" and is now preserved, although well into the 1990s these buildings were seen as temporary structures and were demolished as needed to be replaced by more modern buildings.

A place to get yourself acquainted with Rotterdam's architecture is the NAI/Nieuwe Instituut, which houses the national institute of architecture. (of course)

http://www.architectuurinrotterdam.nl/home.php?lang=en

menachem

commemoration of the WW2 bombing in 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOi0bDHvPrI

menachem

ps, we live in the city center, at ground zero, you might say.

IMDonehere

Thank you for the information about Rotterdam. It is highly instructive.

ribeirasacra

If you are interested in some impressive construction works then maybe try and visit these 2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maeslantkering which is an impressive flood prevention gate. The point of land just to the sea ward side gives a fantastic view on some of the outer reaches of the port. Plus you will see ships coming and going.
The other location is maasvlakte 2. A new port is being constructed and there is a visitors centre (FutureLand). https://www.maasvlakte2.com/en/index/

IMDonehere

Thanks, we plan on seeing the delta works at Oosterscheldekering.