Rotterdam: Phoenix Risen From the Ashes_img 0316
In Greek mythology the phoenix was a bird that was cyclically reborn, dying in a fiery conflagration and then gaining new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor—an apt metaphor for the Dutch port city of Rotterdam. On 14 May 1940, Rotterdam fell victim to a massive bombing raid carried out by the German Luftwaffe. In addition to the immediate large-scale destruction, the bombardment resulted in uncontrollable fires that raged for days in an inferno that consumed virtually all of the city centre.
In the face of this catastrophe, the decision was made to accept the devastation as an opportunity for urban renewal. The result is a city with a modern architectural aesthetic that is unique in Europe. Avant-garde commercial buildings, revolutionary living spaces, and large-scale public sculptures compete for attention in the progressive post-modern metropolis.
The photograph above was taken looking east across the Nieuwe Maas River and features the elegant Erasmus Bridge. Opened in 1996, the bridge plays a crucial role in connecting central Rotterdam to the southern neighbourhoods of the city—and in opening up the latter for large scale commercial development.
The two buildings to the right of the bridge are respectively the KPN Tower and the De Rotterdam building, each a stunning architectural statement. Rem Koolhaas, the architect of De Rotterdam, once experimented with a career in film and when designing the structure he reasoned that the most frequent view of the three transparent towers would be from the window of a moving car. As one approaches and then passes the building, the towers separate and merge, almost as if they themselves were in motion. Reinforcing this “motion picture” theme, the glass facade provides endless fascination acting as a projection screen that mirrors the constantly changing moods of the weather.
© Irwin Reynolds, all rights reserved. If you are interested in using one of my images or would like a high quality fine art print, please send me an email (irwinreynolds@me.com)
Rotterdam: Phoenix Risen From the Ashes_img 0316
In Greek mythology the phoenix was a bird that was cyclically reborn, dying in a fiery conflagration and then gaining new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor—an apt metaphor for the Dutch port city of Rotterdam. On 14 May 1940, Rotterdam fell victim to a massive bombing raid carried out by the German Luftwaffe. In addition to the immediate large-scale destruction, the bombardment resulted in uncontrollable fires that raged for days in an inferno that consumed virtually all of the city centre.
In the face of this catastrophe, the decision was made to accept the devastation as an opportunity for urban renewal. The result is a city with a modern architectural aesthetic that is unique in Europe. Avant-garde commercial buildings, revolutionary living spaces, and large-scale public sculptures compete for attention in the progressive post-modern metropolis.
The photograph above was taken looking east across the Nieuwe Maas River and features the elegant Erasmus Bridge. Opened in 1996, the bridge plays a crucial role in connecting central Rotterdam to the southern neighbourhoods of the city—and in opening up the latter for large scale commercial development.
The two buildings to the right of the bridge are respectively the KPN Tower and the De Rotterdam building, each a stunning architectural statement. Rem Koolhaas, the architect of De Rotterdam, once experimented with a career in film and when designing the structure he reasoned that the most frequent view of the three transparent towers would be from the window of a moving car. As one approaches and then passes the building, the towers separate and merge, almost as if they themselves were in motion. Reinforcing this “motion picture” theme, the glass facade provides endless fascination acting as a projection screen that mirrors the constantly changing moods of the weather.
© Irwin Reynolds, all rights reserved. If you are interested in using one of my images or would like a high quality fine art print, please send me an email (irwinreynolds@me.com)