SPACE November 2024 (No. 684)
Project Rotterdam Rooftop Walk
Architect MVRDV
Partner Rotterdam Dakendagen
Location Rotterdam, Nederlands
Length 600m
Construction period 2022
Opening May 26 – June 24, 2022
Client Rotterdam Dakendagen, City of Rotterdam
2008 Introduction of the Green Roof Subsidy policy
2012 Opening of Europe’s first rooftop farm, DakAkker (City of Rotterdam + ZUS Architects)
2014 Opening of the rooftop park, DakPark (City of Rotterdam + residents)
2014 First Rotterdam Rooftop Dakendagen festival
2017 Launch of the local government initiative, Life@Uran Roofs
2018 Opening of the rooftop garden at Erasmus MC (City of Rotterdam + Erasmus MC Foundation)
2018 Development of the green roof solution app ‘Klimaatdakje (Climate Roof)’ (City of Rotterdam + Sobolt)
May 2018 Publication of Rotterdam Rooftops (City of Rotterdam + Esther Wienese)2019 Development of the Hofbogen elevated railway rooftop garden (expected completion in 2027, City of Rotterdam + Dudok Group)
2019 Launch of the National Dakenplan
2020 Development of an investment cost calculation tool for multifunctional roof development (Life@Uran Roofs)
2020 Opening of the 1,500m² rooftop garden at the public art storage facility, Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen (City of Rotterdam + MVRDV)
May 2021 Conversion of the Peperklip housing complex’s roof into a rooftop garden (subsidised by Life@Uran Roofs)
July 2021 Development of rooftop space solutions and publication of Rooftop Catalogue (City of Rotterdam + MVRDV + Rotterdam Dakendagen)
A Festival on the Rooftops
From the 26th of May to the 24th of June 2022, a new path opened 30m above the streets of Rotterdam. An orange walkway connecting various rooftops stretched across the bustling city centre, making a bold statement. Designed by MVRDV and Rotterdam Dakendagen▼1 at the request of the city, the Rotterdam Rooftop Walk showcased how rooftops in dense urban environments can serve as a ‘second layer’ in public infrastructure. For over a month, citizens and tourists enjoyed the festival while seeing the city from a fresh perspective. Though the structure was dismantled afterward, it left a lasting impression, opening people’s eyes to the potential of rooftop spaces.
A Long Story, Short
Using rooftops in modern architecture isn’t exactly a new idea...
