Kunsthal Rotterdam
IABRExhibition entry
- Client: International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam
- Status: Exhibition 'Visionary Power'
- Location: Kunsthal, Rotterdam
- Year: 2007
The 3rd International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR) asked Zandbelt&vandenBerg to contribute to the exhibition Visionary Power about the contemporary Dutch city. We developed a benchmark study in which we position the Randstad metropolis amongst global competitors and compare them on metropolitan development, landscape, mobility, migration and government.
The Randstad is the driving force behind the Dutch economy. Within Europe it functions as a window to the world and on the global playingfield it has potential to become a major player. Its current position is under pressure, as global competition increases. Decisions should be made to keep up with the rest.
For 150 years, a majority of the Dutch live in cities, yet many refuse to see the dense Randstad area as one urban system. This narrow vision on urbanity blocks the view on the bigger picture. A competitive Randstad needs a coherent vision on mobility, landscape government and migration.
In a comparison with other world-class cities we show how different metropolises deal with the same issues. The one simple lesson that marks out is: believe in the power of the city. And for the Randstad: consider the West of The Netherlands as one urban field and take that interpretation as the starting point for solutions. And choose.