Rendering desires (research/ public intervention/ installation/ projection/ Rotterdam - 2019)
A collaboration between Benjamin Schupp, Samein Shamsher, Noelle van den Dungen and various people in Middelland and Delfshaven, Rotterdam; residents or passersby.
As some cities develop rapidly, there lies a danger in overlooking, ignoring or misunderstanding the voice of the local. (How) do city development and local identity co-exist? Havig lived in Rotterdam West and walking the same streets, not even 8 months after I moved, I witnessed change. New stores, new signs, new public benches, some new people.
Looking at it from a very objective perspective, there is one thing that jumps in the eye most: the facades. That the new plans of development are as well closely linked to a particular aesthetics becomes very clear in just a simple street walk. Many streets do adapt to the new trend, dressed with brand new (or ‘renovated’) higher, opener, glass instead of roll down shutter, tagged with modern type fonts ‘2.0 facades’.
What does an (architectural) design decision like this imply? Who does feel invited to enter the spaces behind these new facades?
Based on this observation we brainstormed together with residents and passers-by on the potential (in function and aesthetics) of a vacant building at Schiedamseweg, Rotterdam. Asking the following:
What if this place was...? Every building is a prediction, and each vacancy an opportunity to imagine a new future. Let’s use this time to collectively imagine all the possibilities for this space. Take a moment and write down your own wishes, needs or dreams for vacant spaces in the neighbourhood.
Why can’t you develop from the spot? How can you design space that includes as many people as possible?
This research was presented in a projection- and audio- installation on an double layered facade skeleton. Stories (audio and text projection) from the neighbourhood, were hearable and readible from the inside, whereas the facade collages, based on these stories, compiled by us are seen from the outside.
