The design team consisted of ECHO urban design, Orange Architects, More Architecture, Studio Nauta and MoederscheimMoonen Architects; adopting an integral approach which led to this winning concept with a strong focus on social inclusivity, as well as climate adaptation.
ZoHo is an area adjacent to Rotterdam’s CBD and Agniese district and in the past decade, creative professionals have turned a brownfield into a lively creative district. This lowrise business area with its own identity needs to be transformed into a mixed neighbourhood to meet the city's urgent densification challenges. A new creative district where not only existing local businesses and a community of creative professionals, but also a mix in where new neighbourhood residents can flourish.
The winning design identified space to accommodate multiple ambitions and withstand long term development. Building upon what is already there, a strong community of creative professionals working in studios and workshops. New layers were added to keep this creative population in the area and are capable of allocating residential space for a mixed population.
Three habitats were stacked; lab, land(scape) and city. Where a mix in housing, from social to privately owned, from micro-apartments to townhouses where studio and living space is combined, is spread across the levels. The main thought behind the plan is that different layers weren’t just stacked, but intertwined instead by adding collective spaces for social cohesion; with the rooftop park as the most visible and defining feature.
The elevated moor park makes this design climate adaptive, as the area is prone to flooding after downpours. It is a little sponge city with an underground reservoir and irrigation system for extreme drought in summertime; a unique climate adaptive concept that does not have to be connected to the sewer system.
Social inclusion and cohesion is created by a mix in typologies and social housing, work spaces, collective spaces and in the way these are configured. Existing plot sizes were reused and all components can be (re)built separately in time. This set-up accommodates the current (creative) entrepreneurs in affordable workspaces during and after the development of the new ZoHo. A shared mobility hub on a large scale with cars, bikes and scooters, has been added. Collective spaces that contribute to social cohesion, including the rooftop park, a ‘living room’ and a sports facility can be found within the three habitats and are accessible for all existing and new ZoHo residents, as well as the neighbouring Agniese district.