View allAll Photos Tagged UrbanRevitalization"
A twilight view to the east standing next to the 2nd Street (Butterfly) Bridge over Shoal Creek. The arches of the bridge are canted like a butterfly, hence the name by which the bridge is now commonly known. The bridge was designed by Touchstone Architecture of Miramar Beach, Florida.
The Butterfly Bridge is at the center of the larger Seaholm District Project which has transformed a formerly industrial section of southwest downtown Austin into a vibrant urban neighborhood. Austin's fabulous Central Library, directly behind me in this view and selected in 2018 for TIME Magazine's list of the World's Greatest Places, and Google's new Austin office (now under construction) are located in the Seaholm District. Photographs of both buildings are found in my Austin, Texas album.
With a population of just over one million residents, Austin is the 10th largest city in the United States. The Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos Metropolitan Area, now with a population of 2.3M, also is the fastest growing large metropolitan area in the country having added more than 579,000 residents since 2010.
A view looking east from the deck of the 2nd Street (Butterfly) Bridge over Shoal Creek. This bridge is at the center of the larger Seaholm District Project which has transformed a formerly industrial section of southwest downtown Austin into a vibrant urban neighborhood.
The arches of the bridge are canted like a butterfly, hence the name by which the bridge is now commonly known by. It was designed by Touchstone Architecture in Miramar Beach, Florida. The bridge can be looked at in two separate but cohesive parts, the first being a standalone vehicular bridge and the second a pedestrian bridge. The cable array creates a clear delineation between pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
With a population of just over one million residents, Austin is the 10th largest city in the United States. The Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos Metropolitan Area, now with a population of 2.3M, also is the fastest growing large metropolitan area in the country having added more than 579,000 residents since 2010.
A view looking north from the 2nd Street (Butterfly) Bridge, the center of the larger Seaholm District Project that has transformed a formerly industrial section of southwest downtown Austin into a vibrant urban neighborhood. Austin's fabulous Central Library and Google's new Austin office (now under construction) are located in the Seaholm District. Photographs of both buildings, along with the 2nd Street (Butterfly Bridge) can be found in my Austin, Texas album.
Shoal Creek, seen in this photo, is a stream and urban watershed that runs south from The Domain, a high-density office, retail, and residential center located in the high-tech corridor of northwest Austin, through the western part of downtown and Lady Bird Lake. Shoal Creek is the largest of Austin’s north urban watersheds. The creek is notable for its links to the history of Texas and Austin, its floods, and its scenery and parks just a few minutes from the Texas State Capitol building.
One block ahead is the West 3rd St. Railroad Trestle over Shoal Creek. I posted a photograph of the deck of the trestle five days ago. Constructed in 1925 by the International-Great Northern Railroad as a replacement to an earlier 1876 bridge, the wooden structure is one of the last physical reminders of the rail lines that fueled Austin's rapid development as a regional hub starting in the 1870s. The trestle was last used in the 1990s, and is currently nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
The skyscraper on the left, shown here near completion, is The Independent, the tallest residential skyscraper in the United States west of the Mississippi River. At a height of 690 ft (210 m), it is the tallest building in Austin, surpassing the 683 ft (208 m) tall Austonian, another residential skyscraper. The 58-story Independent has been nicknamed the Jenga Tower, and the Tetris Tower.
Austin is the capital of the State of Texas, as well as the seat of Travis County. With a population of just over one million residents, Austin is the 10th largest city in the United States. The Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos Metropolitan Area, now with a population of 2.3M, is the fastest growing large metropolitan area in the country having added more than 579,000 residents since 2010.
Netherlands, Rotterdam, Rijnhaven, Spido - Abel Tasman, SS Rotterdam.
Shot during a safari with A r l e t t e .
Best viewed: LARGE.
Explore #8 on August 9, 2021.
A blue hour view looking east from the deck of the 2nd Street (Butterfly) Bridge over Shoal Creek. The butterfly bridge is at the center of the larger Seaholm District Project which has transformed a formerly industrial section of southwest downtown Austin into a vibrant urban neighborhood. Austin's fabulous Central Library and Google's new Austin office (now under construction) are located in the Seaholm District. Photographs of both buildings can be found in my Austin, Texas album.
The arches of the 2nd Street Bridge are canted like a butterfly, hence the name by which the bridge is now commonly known. It was designed by Touchstone Architecture in Miramar Beach, Florida. The bridge can be looked at in two separate but cohesive parts, the first being a standalone vehicular bridge and the second a pedestrian bridge. The cable array creates a clear delineation between pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
With a population of just over one million residents, Austin is the 10th largest city in the United States. The Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos Metropolitan Area, now with a population of 2.3M, also is the fastest growing large metropolitan area in the country having added more than 579,000 residents since 2010.
Europe, Germany, Freie Hansestadt Bremen, Weser, Bremen, Überseeinsel, Hochhaus, Weser Tower (Helmut Jahn) (slightly cut from all sides).
The town of Bremen shares many characteristics with Rotterdam. The massive damage of the WW2, the transformation of old city harbour/industry zone. and it's lively alternative art and theatre culture.
Shown here is the 22 story 'Weser Tower' office highrise (hochhaus) (Helmut Jahn, 2009) on the Übreseeinsel, Úberinsel is an extensive urban redevelopment project that's converting the old harbour and industry zone of Bremen into a lliving, recreational and commercial quarter. There are many similarities with the Rotterdam 'Kop van Zui'd' urban renwal project.
This is number 105 of the Urban restructuring (World) album.
Europe, the Netherlands, Zuid Holland, Rotterdam West, Vierhavenstraat, HAKA building (cut from B&T)
In my previous post, I’ve shown you a significant part of the Kop van Zuid urban revitalization project. Today's post showcases HAKA, an element of its pendant on the other side of the river Maas: the M4H urban redevelopment project.
The HAKA building at the Lekhaven in Rotterdam was created in 1932 as a coffee roasting and tea mixing plant with and a packaging facility, offices, a warehouse and a grain silo and garage commissioned by the Cooperative Wholesale Association De Handelskamer (HAKA) after a functionalist design by H.F. Mertens and J. Koeman.
The aim of the cooperation was providing workers with ‘good quality food at reasonable prices’. It worked with several dozen customer cooperations scattered all over the country. It supplied bread, coffee, tea and other groceries. In addition to the company building in Rotterdam, there was also a HAKA factory in Jutphaas. in 1947, it was integrated Co-op cooperation.
The offices of the HAKA building were situated on either side of a middle corridor in the left part of the building. On the second floor were large open office spaces; on the fourth floor a lunchroom covering the entire width. In the middle of the building, the silo has been constructed as a separate building with reinforced construction with storage areas situated on the ground floor.
The right part of the building was the coffee and tea factory facilities combined with storage and packaging areas and an expedition area. Factory, workshops, storage and expedition were interconnected by a complex system of conveyor belts, elevators, slides and tubes.
Haka was classified as a National Monument ‘(Rijksmonument’) in 2002. In 2009, the HAKA building was designated to become a campus for cleantech activities. A 'Living Lab' for companies, institutions and governments that pool their knowledge and research in the field of water and energy. A plan was developed (check it out: rijnboutt.nl/projects/230 ) and the building was made ready for temporal office use in 2009 . The Living lab project fell thru and Dudok Project Development bought the building and will transform it.
In 2022 onwards it is supposed to start a new life as an office / recreational building with approximately 10,500 m2 of office and catering space. The industrial and monumental values of the building (and the unique ‘paternoster’ lifts) will be respected.
This is number 2120 of Urban frontiers, 966 of Minimalism / explicit Graphism and 277 of This is number 219 of Urban frontiers and 2777 of Zwart/Wit.
The Puerto Santa Ana District is an urban revitalization area along the river just beyond the Arts District in Guayaquil, Ecuador. This area has modern mid-rise residential buildings done mostly in Art Deco style that replaced an area of old warehouses and obsolete shipyards. The modern shipyard for container ships is a little farther down river toward the sea. It has become a popular area for night life with a lovely riverside promenade, plazas, and many excellent restaurants. Here you can see a lovely plaza with gardens and fountains.
Europe, The Netherlands, Overijssel, Hengelo, Tuindorp, ROC van Twente (uncut)
The city of Hengelo is often called the 'metal city' because of its industrial facilities. The former foundry (ijzergieterij) of the Stork factory is shown here. It was constructed in 1902 and later was used for the maintenance of industrial appliances.
It served this purpose until the end of the 90s and was redeveloped into a school for professional education (ROC Twente) in 2009 by Harry Abels (IAA Architecten) and restoration architect Maarten Fritz (Architectenbureau Fritz).
Like we mostly do, we asked permission to enter. After gaining it (‘OK, but please leave after 5 minutes’), we walked into the astounding redeveloped industrial space. And met a security crew that looked at us somewhat dubiously. Time for a chat: ‘You’re out in force in today’ (there were 4 of them). ‘We’re here because of Corona’, and they told that they were astonished by the number of tourists that have started to visit the facility. ‘This is no tourist attraction’. ‘But you are !” and smiling I showed them a new leaflet ('Tuindorp-route') of the municipal tourist office (VVV) in which the building, its history, and architecture are featured.
We talked some more, and one of the guards told us that she knows the building well - her father had worked there, and during a holiday she had worked there too, as a temp.
This is number 216 of Urban frontiers and 385 of Interiors.
Localizado na Amora, concelho do Seixal, o Parque Urbano das Paivas destaca-se como um espaço verde central de lazer e convívio, atuando como um dos pulmões da cidade. Inaugurado no início do século XXI, o parque integra percursos pedonais, zonas de descanso e equipamentos como parque infantil, campo de jogos e polidesportivo. O principal atrativo é o conjunto de dois lagos artificiais interligados, recentemente requalificados com impermeabilização e modernização dos equipamentos eletromecânicos para jogos de água e luz. Um chafariz central, de jato contínuo, introduz movimento e contribui para a regulação microclimática. Junto ao lago, o "Lost Seixal" oferece uma esplanada com vista para o parque, funcionando como ponto de encontro. A vegetação mediterrânica, incluindo palmeiras, e a integração na rede de parques urbanos da Margem Sul do Tejo, reforçam o papel do parque na requalificação urbana e na promoção do bem-estar numa região marcada pela expansão urbana.
Located in Amora, in the municipality of Seixal, the Paivas Urban Park stands out as a central green space for leisure and socializing, acting as one of the city's lungs. Inaugurated at the beginning of the 21st century, the park includes pedestrian paths, rest areas and facilities such as a playground and a multi-sport area. The main attraction is the set of two interconnected artificial lakes, recently upgraded with waterproofing and modernization of electromechanical equipment for water and light games. A central fountain, with a continuous jet, introduces movement and contributes to microclimatic regulation. Next to the lake, the "Lost Seixal" offers a terrace overlooking the park, functioning as a meeting point. The Mediterranean vegetation, including palm trees, and the integration into the network of urban parks on the South Bank of the Tagus, reinforce the park's role in urban regeneration and the promotion of well-being in a region marked by urban sprawl.
Historic Theater, Main Street, Mansfield, TX.
Happy ending!
The Farr Best Theater, an intimate, 158-seat venue in downtown Mansfield, is a gem of Mansfield history.
It was first opened on October 10, 1917 by Milton May Farr who became one of the citys' most prominent citizens and oversaw the installation of the first electric lights in the city and a modernized water system. He named the theatre the Best Farr Theatre and then in 1950 it became known as the Farr Best Theater. For 58 continuous years, it was operated by Milton and Annie Farr and their 9 children.
The Farr Best Theater has seen several owners and uses since then, but was most recently purchased in 2017 by the City of Mansfield to preserve the building and return it to its intended use as a theater. It is currently undergoing a revitalization to retain and enhance much of the original historic charm. It operates as community arts venue hosting concerts, movies, theatrical productions, lectures, dance, magic, and a variety of community events.
The theater was placed on the National Register of Historic places on September 12, 1996.
Located:
109 N. Main St., Mansfield, TX 76063
Germany, Nordhein-Westfalen, Essen-Gelsenkirchen, Zeche Zollverein, Ruhr Museum, Staircase.
The staircase of the Ruhr Museum ( a former coal washery) in the Zollverein.
The drastic renovation of the cole washery was designed by OMA with Heinrich Böll (from Böll und Krabel). The staircase is situated in the giant void of the former 40 meter high raw coal bunker.
Best viewed: LARGE
Europe, Netherlands, Zuid Holand, Rotterdam Noord, Agniesebuurt, Zomerhofkwartier, Startup Noord, Spraycanned Piano (slightly cut from all sides)
This is the start of a miniseries about the redevelopment of ZOHO , the Zomerhofkwartier. It’s a part of the the Agniese buurt in Rotterdam Noord. The quarter started its life as a downtrodden industrial / business zone targeted for demolition and total redevelopment. The local social housing corporation ‘Havensteder’ bought most of the buildings for it. But in the end had to give up on the plan. The major reason was that after the financial mishaps / mismanagement of some housings corporations (spectacular example: Vestia (went bankrupt because of derivates) and the neo-conservative wave that swept over the land, legislation changed and social housing corporations were forced to stick to their core business – social housing - and drop other activities. And 'Havensteder' was stuck with the commercial buildings.
A new plan was needed. Together with the municipality of Rotterdam, the local ‘bewonersorganisatie’ using Asset based community development here and some creative young entrepreneurs the buildings were turned into creative incubators and are the home of artists, artisans, urbanists, architects and a number of social projects(for instance Start up Noord here, an artifact of an activity of a youth work project is shown here. It's adjacent to the 'Blauwwitte gebouw' .
Another buildings is the ‘Gele gebouw (the place where the young professional ‘citymakers’ (stadsmakers) reside). Together with the adjacent Hofbogen (the inner city part of the former Hofpleinlijn (the former rail link between Rotterdam Hofplein and The Hague) a very lively quarter has been created with its own vibe.
But there are dark clouds on the horizon. Recently Hevensteder seems to have changed its plans again and intends to sell the ZOHO buildings without giving the current tennants neither the chance to buy them nor offering them a long term lease, threating to end the 'slow urbanism' coalition.
ZOHO - What was planned to be a ‘classic’ top-down redevelopment project became a bottom-up ongoing revitalization program. An interesting new entry in my 'Urban Fronrtiers’ album here.
Europe, Netherlands, Rotterdam, RDM, Grofsmederij/Ketelmakerij, demolition/renovation of the quays, Hitachi excavator (uncut)
The RDM wharf on Heijplaat…... After bankruptcy of the wharf and many years of dereliction and mixed use it's redeveloped.
For in depth critical information about the history and redevelopment of the RDM, check out RDM, architectuurhistorische verkenningen (2005) by Crimson architectural historians, to me one of the most authoritative sources in the field of Dutch urban development.
One the first parts to be redeveloped was the Machine hall. It became the RDM-campus. The Port of Rotterdam (Havenbedrijf), Hogeschool Rotterdam and ROC Albedacollege were the instigators.The two latter became the prime users. The giant hall is split in two halves. Check out this post, it was shot in the one for educational purposes - in the ROC Albeda college sub-part. This organization provides low and mid level professional education
After that the Onderzeebootloods was renovated. Until 1994 submarines were built there and it was a facility for large scale exhibitions now. Check out this post..
For an overview of the other buildings that are redeveloped , check out this this.
The most recent part that´s being redeveloped is the ´Grofsmederij´ (Foundry) /´Ketelmakerij´ (Boiler production facility). It will be made available as modular productions facilities. Dimensions: 15.000 sq m, height under the overhead cranes 16 m, length of the quay : 150 m. What´s shown here is the stripped outer shell of the giant buiding and the renovation works of the quays which involves the demolition and renewal of the top layer and partly also that of the foundation. More Information about this project is here.
Portugal, Lisboa, Belem, Avenida de Brasilia, Electricity museum, Condensors hall, school children, teachers (slightly cut from all sides).
The Meseu da Electricidade is one of the most striking technology museums we ever visited. It´s the giant Tejo power station, built in 1908 by the CRGE (Companhias Ruinidas de Gas e Electricidade) as the 'Estacão Eléctrica Central Tejo' and also kown as ‘Central da Junqueira’ power station. The facility was expanded and modernized in different steps. The last step was taken in 1951. It´s kinda ironic that due to the new national power grid policy and the prime role hydro-electric power generation in it, the Tejo station then already had the status of reserve station, mainly kept on stand-by.
The power station was coal fired and employed towering Babcock & Wilcox high pressure boilers. It could provide the whole of Lisbon with electricity and was decommissioned and mothballed in 1972. It´s max output was 65 MW. In comparison a modern metropolitan coal/biomass fired power station outputs up to 1500 MW.
There's by the way a lively debate about these kind of modern coal fired plants because the relatively high amount of NOx, SOx and CO2 in their combustion fumes. There's a drive to phase them out and rely on gas fuelled ones or, preferably, ones that use wind and other sustainable energy sources instead. So in a way Portugal, like for instance Norway (although Norway skipped the coal phase), was ahead of the game..
Anyway, after a while it was decided that the old mothballed Tejo power station should be turned into a museum. And the result was spectacular. The vintage technology is very well preserved and made readable via didactic cut-opens and access areas. And some dioramic scenes to enhance storytelling /realism and a permanent exposition about the world of energy and the generation of it were added The museum opened in 1990 and was renovated and modernized from 2001-2006. It´s now the most popular Portuguese museum..
This post depicts the bottom level of the condenser hall and the stairs to the area where the actual electric current generation takes place: the hall of the turbo alternators.
On the stairs is a group of schoolchildren that we encountered at various places in the museum. Their disciplined behaviour and being spellbound by the presentations of the educational staff of the museum was remarkable.
Europe, Netherlands, Zuid Holland, Rotterdam, Central district, Delftsehof, Graffiti, Speto (slightly cut from all sides)
Shot from the roof of the Schieblock (the Dakakker, featured in the previous post ) into the Delftsehof.
It was created in 1958 (a modernist ‘wederopbouw’ project - a cluster of office buildings). Start of the abandonment of the offices in ‘90s. From 2005 onwards informally redeveloped by temporal structures (the Biergarten) and cultural and recreative use, such as the Hip Hop Huis . The giant graffiti art work near it was made by the Brazilian Speto realized during the R.U.A
( Reflexo on Urban Art ) - Lines, Colours and Forms of Brazilian Urban Art festival (July-August 2009). Brazilian graffiti artists were invited to paint huge walls in the streets of Rotterdam to show urban and contemporary Brazilian art next to institutionalized art of museums and galleries.
The backdrop (from L to R): the Nationale Nederlanden office building, Central Station (above it: the Groothandelsgebouw), and the former PTT post distribution centre.
Gentrification, often the next step of informal revitalization processes, doesn't seem to be in the books here. But in due course the chronic housing shortage in Rotterdam might well lead to the creation of upmarket apartments in the office buildings on dispaly here .
About Speto (Rodrigo Level) in his own words: “I came from a neighborhood (Santana in Sao Paulo) where the children would play freely on the streets- Riding their bicycles and skateboards , playing with kites ,lantern balloons … My grandfather was a Sambista (samba musician) , My uncle was a soccer player, my father used to sing and my mother was extremely catholic . All those elements were very important through my childhood and youth. I am a self-taught artist , I did not go to school nor to the University. Graffiti was something completely new back then and there was no school other than the Streets.”
The soundtrack: Mais que nada - Sergio Mendes & Black eyed peas.
Europe, Netherlands, Zuid Holland, Rotterdam, Katendrecht, Paul Nijghkade, Fenix 2, Urban restructering, Urban revitalization, Model (uncut)
In front of the old and to be redeveloped Fenix 2 veem, 4 'sentries' are placed, each with its own attire. This one has a big beak that made me remember the big, herbes filled black beaks the doctors of the middleages, still close to the shamanistic roots of the profession, used who treated the victims of the black Plague to ward the fatal disease off.
The sentry possibly helped to ward of some aspects of gentrification - the users ( Posse, Fenix Food Factory and Codarts and the Rotterdam Kindercircus) will be enabled to return when the transformation of Finex 2 is completed. Let's hope that the rent isn't prohibitive high, like that of the redeveloped Mercado do Bom Sucesso in Porto. Check out its story: here..
This is number 15 of the Schaufensterpuppen album here.
Europe, Netherlands, Rotterdam, Centre, Luchtsingel-Roundabout (ZUS), Pedestrians (cut from T)
The Luchtsingel is an interesting project that counteracts the detrimental effects that the combination of modernist urban planning (with its rigorous segregation of work, living and commercial functions) and chronic high levels of vacancy of office buildings and anonymous space (the location of the demolished Hofplein station) have on the liveability and vitality of the northern part of the centre of Rotterdam.
It offers a circuit of elevated walkways that passes through the Schieblock, crosses a major road and a railroad to offer the pedestrian new ways to discover the city, help them to avoid the anonymous and sometime unsafe existing urban ground level. And it forms a connection between emerging cultural hotspots in the Rotterdam Central and Noord areas.
The Luchtsingel is conceived and designed by: ZUS. Funding: the municipality of Rotterdam and crowd sourcing / crowd funding. For 25 € people could and can buy planks on which the name of the buyer is printed (as can be seen in this capture).
The first part of the Luchtsingel passes thru the Schieblock and crosses the Schiekade and is shown here here and here .
Shown here is second part. It consists of a roundabout, two access stairs and a bridge that crosses the 4 tracks of the Rotterdam-Dordecht main railway line. Kids already discovered it. It's on the site of the demolished part of the Hofplein railway station. In BG on the right is the housing of the Heliport quarter, because of the roofs also known as ‘Klein Volendam’. It was the location of the terminal of the Rotterdam-Antwerp-Brussels helicopter service (1953-1965, operated by Sabena), hence its name.
The Luchtsingel is an urban renewal ‘light’ project, intervening before demolition and total redevelopment are the only options left. It's pic # 122 of my Urban Frontiers album.
Europe, Netherlands, Zuid Holland, Rotterdam Zuid, Erasmus bridge cables, De Rotterdam (uncut).
Last Friday Rotterdam temporally lost its 'Manhattan aan de Maas' high rise profile due to mist. Walking home after a meeting felt strange and retro due to that. And is was a delightful visual experience too.
Displayed here are the cables (tuien) of Ben van Berkel's Erasmus bridge and Rem Koolhaas' 'De Rotterdam' behind them. I dig the rhythm of the building masses and their textures - they prevent this largest (not the tallest, mind you) building in Holland from looking like a threatening monolith.
Shot from the Leuvehaven.
De Rotterdam isn't ready yet so I can still add it to the set about the construction of it: Building the perfect beast. And because it's one of the defining elements of the Kop van Zuid it's part of the Urban Frontiers set too.
Portugal, Lisboa, Belem, Avenida de Brasilia, Electricity museum, Praça do Carvão (Coal Square), High pressure boiler building, Exposition building, Coal elevator, coal carts (uncut).
The Meseu da Electricidade is one of the most striking technology museums we ever visited. It´s the giant Tejo power station, built in 1908 by the CRGE (Companhias Ruinidas de Gas e Electricidade) as the 'Estacão Eléctrica Central Tejo' and also kown as ‘Central da Junqueira’ power station. The facility was expanded and modernized in different steps. The last step was taken in 1951. It´s kinda ironic that due to the new national power grid policy and the prime role hydro-electric power generation in it, the Tejo station then already had the status of reserve station, mainly kept on stand-by.
The power station was coal fired and employed towering Babcock & Wilcox high pressure boilers. It could provide the whole of Lisbon with electricity and was decommissioned and mothballed in 1972. It´s max output was 65 MW. In comparison a modern metropolitan coal/biomass fired power station outputs up to 1500 MW. There's by the way a lively debate about these kind of modern coal fired plants because the relatively high amount of NOx, SOx and CO2 in their combustion fumes. There's a drive to phase them out and rely on gas fuelled ones or, preferably, ones that use wind and other sustainable energy sources instead. So in a way Portugal, like Norway (although Norway skipped the coal phase), was ahead of the game.
Anyway, after a while it was decided that the old mothballed Tejo power station should be turned into a museum. And the result was spectacular. The vintage technology is very well preserved and made readable via didactic cut-opens and access areas - one can even enter one of the boilers (#15) with a bed of ´red hot coal´ under foot. And some dioramic scenes to enhance storytelling /realism and a permanent exposition about the world of energy and the generation of it were added The museum opened in 1990 and was renovated and modernized from 2001-2006. It´s now the most popular Portuguese museum.
This post depicts the coal square. After being unloaded at the Tejo dock of the power station, the coal arrived here by railroad cart and was dumped into the automatic coal elevator(designed and constructed by the Societé des Pieux Franki) , adjacent to the high pressure boiler room (1938, on the left, metal skeleton designed and construction by Vulcano & Colares), its interior was featured in the previous post). At the coal square is also the entrance stairway leading into the exposition building (formerly the low pressure boiler building). Although there are some decades between the contruction of both buildings and stylistic differences, through the detailing and the shape of the windows visual unity was created .
Main source: here
Netherlands, Rotterdam, Kop van Zuid, Wilhelminapier, Construction site of De Rotterdam (uncut) ( #79 of the Urban Frontiers set )
Shot at the Wilhelminapier, the economic center of the Kop van Zuid.
The Kop van Zuid is an urban restructuring project in progress which has converted major parts of the old harbour area on the South bank of the Maas (with its defunct ports, warehouses and railway heads) into a integrated living , recreative and commercial service quarter. It’s comparable with the Docklands in London and the waterfront re-developments in Barcelona and New York.
Prominently on display here is the construction site of De Rotterdam, a very large Rem Koolhaas (OMA) desgned array of three linked highrises. Construction was started in 2010. The edifice will have 41 floors and a floorsapce of approximately 160,000 square meters. The height: will be 149 meters.
Its massive presence will dominate the sky line of Kop van Zuid - perhaps too much so (check out the link further down this text).
The start of the construction was a 1 year late beacause of the economic crisis - the floorspace demand plummeted dramatically on the already oversaturated office space market. The municipality stepped in to rescue the project 'cause it was deemed of strategical importance to the Kop van Zuid (and it probably is). The rescue was the decision to rent a considerable amount of the office space - after completion of the building a substantial part of Rotterdam's civil servants work force will move to 'De Rotterdam'.
'De Rotterdam' won't be only about offices, apartments, a hotel, conference facilities, a gym, shops, restaurants and cafe will be created too. The resulting vertical density has inspired the project developers to coin and market it as a 'Vertical city'. A not higly inspired name - the Montevideo highrise (Mecanoo/Francien Houben) - the highrise with the M on top in the pic ) was introduced the same way ;-)
Web info about De Rotterdam is: here
The web info the builder (Züblin Nederland) provides is here.
The web info of the tower crane supplier Wolffkran is here.
Before construction started there was a parking lot on this site.
Building the perfect beats was the first solo album of Don Henley. The most well known track of this album is: here
Shot during a low light walk with Leun
Europe, Netherlands, Rotterdam, Katendrecht, Fenix-loods 1 (cut from B)
When I made a fairly late lunch walk some weeks ago, I saw this remarkable, though not exactly unexpected site along the Veemstraat in Rotterdam Katendrecht, near the old’ Rijnhaven’ harbour basin: the stripped and partly demolished reinforced concrete frame of the Fenix (Phoenix ) 1 building (a veem= a warehouse, a harbor storage facility), the structure that’s on display here. The building dates back to 1898, it’s an early and fascinating example of a modernist industrial structure without load bearing walls.
It’s undergoing redevelopment now, it will be Fenixlofts. In the process a 12 floor apartment building will be stacked on top of it.
Here’s the story of the building:
1898-1950
The Fenix 1 , together with Fenix 2, once formed the giant ‘San Francisco’ veem. With a a length of 300 m the then longest / largest veem in the world. The building has a complex and somewhat dramatic history which reflects the history of Rotterdam. At first it was used as the storage facility of the HAL (Holland America Line). At the start of the second world war the quay facilities were severly damaged during a German bombing raid The attack and at the end of the war again.
1950- end 80s
After the war San Francisco was repaired, the HAL moved its facilities to the adjacent Wilhelminapier and the ‘Van Gend en Loos’ transport company moved to the building. In 1947 a fire destroyed the middle part of it. In 1950 the two remaining parts were redeveloped on instigation of the municipality of Rotterdam as Fenix-loods 1 and Fenix-loods 2 and the open space was partly filled by a facility building for habour workers with washrooms, toilets and a large canteen. C.Steinweg Handelsveem became the prime user of the buildings.
End 80s till now
At the end of the 80s during the big transformation of the Rotterdam harbor, the Rijnhaven together with the adjacent Maashaven largely lost their harbor function. After a number of plans and studies in 2012 the municipality decided to redevelop both buildings as an element of the redevelopment / gentrification of the dilapidated Katendrecht quarter, which is an element of the Kop van Zuid urban restructuring masterplan plan which involves all the old harbours on the south bank of the river) .
The first stage of the redevelopment was to allow temporary commercial and artistic use of the Fenix buildings. Fenix 1 was primarly used for exhibitions. In the first comment are two images made during the RAW art exhibition there.
In the former harbour workers canteen Theater Walhalla was created. In a move to speed up / facilitate the social-cultural part of the redevelopment / gentrification process of the quarter, this organization was funded by the property developer to intensify their cultural program.
Fenix 2 is used by Circuscentrum op De Kaap created by the Codarts Circus Arts school and Circus Rotjeknor and the hipster FenixFoodFactory.
The architectural plan for the redevelopment of Fenix 1 is handled by Mei Architects from Rotterdam. The property developer is Proper Stok, the building contractor is Heijmans.
Oh, behind Fenix 1 on the Wilhelminapier are the ‘Montevideo’ (Mecanoo, 2005) left and ‘New Orleans’ highrises (Alvaro Siza, 2010) right.
Cincinnati, OH. July 7, 2022. Shot on a Nikon F6 and Kodak Ektar 100. Developed and scanned by The Darkroom. Metadata added using Meta35.
Netherlands, Zuid Limburg, Maastricht,Wijck, Maas, foot bridge ‘de Hoge Brug’ or 'Hoegbrögk. (slightly cut from L & T)
The Hoegbrögk was created for the new Céramique quarter in Maastricht. Design: Rene Greisch. Realisation 2003. It's a single-span cable-stayed bridge. The total length is 261 m and it's 10 m above the water of the river Maas. The top of the steel arch is 16 m above the bridge deck. The staircase at this end of the bridge forms a fabulous grand entrance to the central square of this new quarter, the ‘Plein 1992’. The edge of this square that meets the old part of Wijck at the Stenenwal is on display here, too, within the BG the bascule part of the Romanesque St Servaas bridge.
Céramique is part of the Wijck quarter and is an example of large-scale urban redevelopment. It’s a former industrial site used by the Societé Céramique / Koninklijke Sphinx factories. Jo Coenen made the master plan. Some of the old industrial buildings have been retained, given a new function, and linked to the new quarter's history.
Shot from the aft top deck of the ‘Maasvallei’ of Rederij Stiphout .
Hoegbrögk (1) (UF 59) is here.
Hoegbrögk (2) (UF 121) is here.
This is #121 of Urban Frontiers my set about the process of (sub-)urbanization, urban revitalization and urban redevelopment in Holland and my fascination with it.
Europe, Netherlands, Rotterdam Zuid, Kop van Zuid, Rijnhaven, New Orleans, De Hef, Nieuwe Luxor, Wilheminatoren & Wilhelminahof, Maastoren (cut)
Shot at the Wilhelminapier, the economic center of the Kop van Zuid.
The Kop van Zuid is an urban restructuring project in progress which has converted major parts of the old harbour area on the South bank of the Maas (with its defunct ports, warehouses and railway heads) into a integrated living, recreative and commercial service quarter. It’s comparable with the Docklands in London and the waterfront re-developments in Barcelona and New York.
Buildings from L to R: New Orleans (Alvaro Siza Vieira, 2010), De Hef (P.Joosting, 1927), Nieuwe Luxor (Bolles & Wilson, 2001), Maastoren (Cees Dam, 2011), Wilhelminatoren (Dam & Partners, 1997), Wilhelminahof (Kraayvanger & Urbis, 1997). At the feet of the Nieuwe Luxor theatre are the 'bouw- en directeketen' of De Rotterdam.
Shot from the Rijnhavenbrug during a very enjoyable architecture/urban planning walk with Photographer Simon, hndrk and Akbar.
One of the red foot bridges between the Spoorenburg and the Borneo quarter of the ‘Oostelijk Havengebied’ in Amsterdam is displayed here. It was shot in the direction of Borneo in the late afternoon.
Like the ‘Kop van Zuid’ in Rotterdam it’s a former industrial / harbor area which is converted into a high density residential and commercial area. Other quarters are the ‘Java-eiland’, the ’KNSM-eiland’, the ’Rietlanden’.
This undulating bridge is famous in its category. The international Footbridge Award was given to it in 2002. It was designed by West 8 and constructed by IBA, the ‘IngenieursBureau Amsterdam’ , the civil engineering & public works department of the municipality of Amsterdam . It’s special in two respects: it wave-like appearance and it’s construction. It was entirely factory constructed (including the deck and the lighting) and just had to be transported to the site and attached to the land heads.
Click here for a large version with a black background.
Netherlands,Rotterdam, Kop van Zuid, Wilhelminapier, Tower crane, Belvédère (Urban Frontiers 82) (uncut)
Details of a Wolff tower crane of De Rotterdam building site and the KPN office building "Belvédère" (Renzo Piano).
Europe, Netherlands, Rotterdam Zuid, Kop van Zuid, Wilhelminapier, shot from De Rotterdam (OMA), Rotterdam Cruise Terminal, Las Palmas, Nederlands Fotomudeum, Montevideo (uncut)
The creation of a new high-rise means that a multitude of new ways to look at the city is created. A mediating factor that enables one to take a fresh perspective on urban space and see exciting new rhythms and juxtapositions.
Very inspiring - especially in this case: the eye can wander from the starkly elegant reinforced concrete roof of the modernist Rotterdam Cruise Terminal, the real modernist deal so to speak, go to the now slightly neo-modernist neighbour Las Palmas and end the short modernist excursion at the also neo-modernist Montevideo. A delightful ensemble.
With the reflection of Norman Foster's WPC as a nice bonus..
Architects: Cruise Terminal - Bakema & vd Broek), Las Palmas - Bakema & vd Broek, renovation and UFO : Bethem Crouwel, Montevideo -Mecanoo.
Shot from the 6th floor of De Rotterdam.
Netherlands,Rotterdam, Kop van Zuid, Wilhelminapier, Holland-Amerikakade, Cruise terminal, Wolff tower cranes (Urban Frontiers 83) (uncut)
( #9 of the new Building the perfect beast set).
( From left to right:) The new covered walkway of the Rotterdam Cruise terminal, Wolff tower cranes of De Rotterdam building site, KPN office building "Belvédère" (Renzo Piano), Rotterdam Cruise terminal and a small piece of the the MSR naval simulator buidling.
Europe, Lisboa, Parque das Naçoes, Walkway, Teleferica, Torre Vasco da Gama/Myriad hotel, People (uncut)
The lead-in of this pic is the long metal and wood walkway which skirts the water basin that once was part of the old Olivais harbour,
The dominating structure in the background is the Vasco da Gama tower, it’s one of the tallest building in Lisbon and was designed by Skidmore Owings and Merrill architects for the 1998 Expo.
The structure is a 145 -meter concrete mast (about 40 stories) and a curved metal trussed support structure. The profile of the whole structure resembles the sail of a ship. This maritime morphology is also to be seen in other Lisbon building and monuments, like the Torre São Gabriel
The tower hosts a panoramic restaurant and a terrace. Access to the tower is via two glass-sided elevators that face the Tagus River with room for twenty-five passengers each.
At the base of the tower was the three storey former EU pavilion with extensive exhibition space, jutting 20 metres into the Tejo. The structure has alas been demolished and replaced by a 22 story hotel, which will opens it's door within a few months.
Behind the VdG tower you can see the cables of the VdG bridge
Shot with the 'nifty twohunderdfifty' fully zoomed in.
Netherlands, Rotterdam, Kop van Zuid, Wilhelminapier, Wilhelminakade. (Urban Frontiers 81) (very slightly cut from the bottom)
( From left to right) The Rotterdam Cruise terminal (Brinkman, v.d. Broek & Bakema), Wolff tower cranes of De Rotterdam building site, KPN office building "Belvédère" (2000, Renzo Piano), Las Palmas (v.d. Broek & Bakema) with the Nederlands Fotomuseum.
Europe, Lisboa, Parque das Naçoes, Torre São Gabriel (José Quintela da Fonseca), Estacão do Oriente (Santiago Calatrava), Vasco da Gama Mall (José Quintela da Fonseca) (uncut).
The connection between Oriente station and the Vasco da Gama Mall is very well crafted. The latter used to be the main entrance (the 'Sun Door') of the World Expo '98 and was converted and opened again in 1999. The Torre São Gabriel was realized in 2004 and its twin the Torre São Rafael in 2008. This pic was taken from the 16th floor of the latter edifice. The towers are identical wirh one difference: in the Rafael are only duplex apartments and in the Gabriel half of them are duplex.
Looking at the station from this height for the first time I found the contrast between its direct context - the sleek modernist urban plan of the Parque das Naçoes (Santiago Calatrava) and the loose arrangement of the surrounding high density suburbs striking.
Europe, Netherlands, Noord Holland, Amsterdam, IJ oevers, West, Kop Van Diemenstraat, Islanded (uncut)
Located at the head of the Van Diemenstraat' is the Islanded bronze sculpture (2010, Anneke de Witte). Behind is the Kop van Diemenstraat housing complex (2008, Tekton architecten).
The head of van Diemenstraat connects with the redevoped harbour area of the Silodam and the Westerdok in a fascinating way.
Shot during another great Amsterdam afternoon with Leun.
Netherlands, Rotterdam, Heijplaat, RDM Campus, Dokkaffee (uncut)
Shot during a photo walk with Arlette. We swopped cams for a while - the interior of the Dokkaffee (the former lunch hall (schaftlokaal) of the RDM ship yard) was shot with the Samyang 8mm (fish eye), a fab piece of kit - everything is manual (exposure and focus) so photographing is working - very refreshing, I might add :-)
The building was carefully renovated. The interior design was done by students of the Rotterdamse Academie van Bouwkunst (School of architecture) of the Hogeschool Rotterdam in cooperation with Froukje van de Klundert and Dik Houben.
A pdf document with a picture of the 'shaftlokaal' in 1915 is here.
This is #100 of the Urban Frontiers set.
Cincinnati, OH. September 24, 2021. Shot on a Hasselblad Xpan II and Kodak Portra 160. Developed and scanned by The Darkroom.
Empty art deco jewelry store in downtown New Kensington. NewKen, like most of the river towns in Western Pa. thrived for decades, but were too dependent on one or two industries. In New Ken's case, it was Alcoa with his huge plants that manufactured everything from sheet foil, to airplane parts, to Wearever cookware. Much of the original business district has been torn down, as one building after the other falls to decay. But this gem (pun intended) still remains as a lovely reminder.
Netherlands, Rotterdam, Katendrecht, SS Rotterdam, Entrance #1, Stairs (Urban Frontiers 73)
During a great lunch with Leun and trying out my new and stealthy ‘carry it always with you cam’: the Canon S90. A very handy thingie and a great low light performer too. My trusted Fuji F30 will finally go into semi-retirement.
There will be a pause in my stream now. See y’all later!
Best viewed: LARGE.
Europe, Lisboa, Parque das Naçoes, Vasco da Gama Mall (José Quintela da Fonseca) (uncut). Estacão do Oriente (Santiago Calatrava), Vasco da Gama Mall (José Quintela da Fonseca) (uncut).
Shot in the mall with the illuminated station in the background.
For more info about the edifices on display here and their context, check out this post: Torre São Gabriel / Estacão do Oriente / Vasco da Gama Mall
France, Paris, 12ème arrondissement, Bercy, Bercy Village, Cartoon dog, Woman, Cell phone
Shot at the Bercy Village mall in Paris, at the front of a store specializing in comic strips and assorted stuff.
Both Parque de Bercy and the Bercy Villages strip mall are situated on the terrain of an old and huge wine depot. This facility was created in 1845 and was just beyond the city toll, the ideal position for thriving trade. Railroad tracks connected the warehouses with the river Seine where the wine casks arrived, primarly from Burgundy. The facility was closed down in the 70s.
Thru an urban revitalization program parts of the infrastructure (the cobblestones paths with its embedded rail road tracks and the wine warehouses) were renovated. The warehouses area is converted to a mall, concentrating on all things cultural and culinary, designed to "Reconcile Man with the City” .
In the typically somewhat insalubrious turbospeak of the project developer, the web site of the mall states the following:
“Car en fin de compte, avec son environnement piétonnier, ses commerces, ses restaurants, son architecture et sa facilité d’accès, Bercy Village réconcilie l’homme avec sa ville. Parisiens et visiteurs accèdent à une nouvelle liberté : celle de s’accorder une pause ! De concilier vie quotidienne avec désirs, besoins, rêves. Une quête du plaisir et de l’harmonie à partager en famille ou entre amis”.
In English:
“Because ultimately, with its pedestrian environment, shops, restaurants, architecture and ease of access, Bercy Village reconciles man with his city. Parisians and visitors have access to a new freedom: to take a break! To reconcile daily life with wishes, needs and dreams. A quest of pleasure and harmony to be shared with family or friends”.
Europe, Netherlands, Rotterdam, Kralingen, DWL terrain / De Esch (slightly cut from all sides)
Displayed here is the centre of the Rotterdam 'De Esch' borough - a former water purification facility that's been turned into a housing quarter and a centre for the creative industry. Here's the story.
Until the 19th century the people of Rotterdam got their drinking water from wells, ditches and the river Maas. The quality left much to be desired -in 1866, 1211 residents died of cholera. In 1869 the city council decided to construct a large drinking water purification plant outside the city limits. It was designed by the director of the Municipal Public Works C.B. van der Tak and was put into operation in 1874 as the DWL facilities.
The water was let in from the river Maas to two large settling ponds and then biologically purified in a series of masonry ponds with layers of sand and gravel. After the slow filter process, the water was led through an extensive system of underground pipes, to the water tower (to pressurize the system) and to the water cellars (the storage facility called the ‘reinwater kelders’). Steam-driven pumps were used for this.
Because of the huge growth of water consumption and the Maas river getting more polluted, the town council decided in 1928 to add a modern water filtering facility that worked much faster then the 1869 biologic facility. Iron-sulphate and chlorine were used for the industrial filtering. A set of modernist buildings were designed for this by city architect Van der Steur.
The industrial treatment of the water influenced the taste. The Rotterdam drinking water was infamous for its bad, chlorine taste. And although I didn’t grow up in Rotterdam I know this.
Partly due to this taste and other quality issues in 1965 it was decided to stop using the water from the Maas and use water from the Biesbosch. A new treatment plant was created there (Beerenplaat) and the DWL waterworks were decommissioned in 1977.
Not very long after that the expanding city again needed more space for houses– because of its growth rate and also because of its large scale inner city renovation (‘stadsvernieuwing’) program. And the DWL was chosen to accommodate this and it was redeveloped while respecting / re-using its main structure, buildings and facilities. The urbanistic plan was designed by Elizabeth Poot in cooperation with the Municipal Public Works (Gemeentewerken).
The planning stage: 1979-1985. Buildings stage: 1982-1997. Differentiation:
50% social (affordable) housing, 15% housing for young people 35% private sector (up market housing) . In this day and age – after the government stopped funding social housing and the municipality relinquished much of its planning to the market – a differentiation like this would be unthinkable. Nowadays there’s a great shortage of social / affordable housing in the Netherlands.
Depicted here are from left to right – urban villa’s (1992) at the edge of one of the former settling ponds, the ‘snel filter gebouw’ (1928), a high rise (1994) the water tower (1874), the roofs of social housing which is constructed on top of the ‘reinwater kelders’ (1984) and the pumping sheds of other settling ponds (1874)
For an xcellent description of DWL – De Esch: here
It’s the source of major parts of this text.
Against the backdrop of the Bay Bridge, One Market stands proudly as a testament to San Francisco’s architectural evolution. Capturing the early morning light, the Bliss & Faville masterpiece, built in 1916, dominates the scene with its Neoclassical grandeur. The red-brick façade contrasts with the shimmering steel of the bridge, a juxtaposition of historical architecture and modern engineering. One Market’s detailed cornices and monumental columns, a hallmark of the Neoclassical style, reflect the craftsmanship of the early 20th century.
This building not only offers stunning views of the Bay Bridge and the waterfront but also marks a significant chapter in the city's development. Located at the edge of the Financial District, One Market was a hub of commerce and business as San Francisco rose from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake. The building’s symmetry and ornate classical details, including its arched windows and decorative cornice, embody the city’s commitment to rebuilding with elegance and strength.
The view of the Bay Bridge in the distance adds an extra layer of allure to One Market. With the palm trees below swaying in the breeze, it paints a picture of serenity amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. Visitors to the building or the surrounding area can enjoy a panoramic look at one of the most iconic bridges in the world while appreciating San Francisco’s storied architectural past.
For both history lovers and architecture aficionados, One Market offers a unique perspective on the intersection of past and present in one of the city’s most scenic locations.
Welcome to Mission Bay, San Francisco’s vibrant and rapidly evolving neighborhood. Once an industrial hub, Mission Bay has transformed into a modern urban oasis, blending cutting-edge architecture with lush green spaces. This photo captures the essence of Mission Bay’s contemporary charm, showcasing a pedestrian-friendly pathway lined with sleek, modern buildings.
Mission Bay’s architectural landscape is a testament to innovative urban planning. The area is dotted with state-of-the-art residential complexes, office buildings, and research facilities, reflecting San Francisco’s tech-driven growth. The buildings’ clean lines and glass facades create a striking contrast against the natural beauty of the young trees and potted plants that adorn the walkways.
Historically, Mission Bay was a bustling maritime and industrial district. The neighborhood’s transformation began in the late 1990s, driven by the city’s vision to create a dynamic, mixed-use community. Today, Mission Bay is home to the UCSF Medical Center, biotech companies, and a variety of retail and dining options, making it a hub of activity and innovation.
The pedestrian pathways, like the one in this photo, are designed to encourage walking and cycling, promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. The presence of green spaces and public art installations further enhances the area’s appeal, making it a favorite spot for both residents and visitors.
For those interested in urban development and modern architecture, Mission Bay offers a unique glimpse into San Francisco’s future.
Netherlands, Den Bosch , Paleiskwartier, Armada, Building Design Partnership Anthony McGuirk. (uncut)
The Armada project as part of the ‘Paleiskwartier’. This has converted a former industry quarter near the railway station of Den Bosch into a living quarter. 10 remarkable apartment buildings were realized, designed by Architect: Building Design Partnership Anthony McGuirk.
The south façade is clad with stainless steel plating, mimicking the sails of an old wildjammer. The pond covers the underground parking space. So like in Urban Frontiers 9 – Java water was used to partition the space. And in both projects are echoes of the Dutch colonial past.
Best viewed: LARGE.
Rincon Hill, one of San Francisco's most historic neighborhoods, offers a rich tapestry of architectural styles that narrate the city's evolution. This area juxtaposes early 20th-century brick warehouses with sleek, contemporary high-rises. The iconic Salesforce Tower looms in the background, representing the modern tech-driven cityscape, while the classic brick facades of older buildings hint at a bygone industrial era. This blend of old and new creates a visually captivating skyline that captures San Francisco's dynamic spirit. Notably, the area's redevelopment has been guided by principles that preserve historical elements while accommodating cutting-edge designs. The neighborhood's architectural diversity and proximity to the Bay make it a fascinating study in urban adaptation, embodying the juxtaposition of heritage and innovation that defines San Francisco's unique architectural identity.
Netherlands, Rotterdam, Heijplaat, RDM, RDM Campus, Onderzeebootloods, The one and the many exposition (uncut)
Shot during a visit to the Elmgreem & Dragset exposition The one and the many with Leun.
"Elmgreen (Denmark, 1961) and Dragset (Norway, 1969) have created a vast exhibition featuring a specially designed block of flats, an abandoned funfair ride and numerous other elements. The exhibition ‘The One & The Many’ transforms the 5000m2 former Submarine Wharf into a deprived neighbourhood with a sinister atmosphere. These are the fringes of society: a tough underworld with dubious characters and shocking activities."
The Onderzeebootloods once was part of the RDM wharf on Heijplaat. Until 1994 submarines were built here. After years of dereliction and mixed use it's (temporarily) used as museum space by the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen. Part of the wharf is still used industrially and the major part (the administration building, and two large former production halls are redeveloped as the RDM Campus with the Port of Rotterdam (Havenbedrijf) Hogeschool Rotterdam and the Albedacollege as prime movers.
It's funny that with their "The one and the many", Elmgreem & Dragset temporarly created the worst nightmare urbanists and city managers can have about the public space in former industry locations.
This is #87 of the Urban Frontiers set.
Displayed is the curved stainless steel sheeting of the new theatre (2004) of the Maison de Folie on the rue des Sarrazins in the Wazemmes quarrtier of Lille (France). It’s used for music and theatre with a capacity of 750. It also houses an audio recording studio.
The main building of the Maison de Folie is an old knitting factory which has also a cultural function –it houses exposition spaces, a restaurant, a hammam (North African type bath house) and office space.
The theatre and the modernization of Maison de Folie were designed by Dutch architect Lars Spuybroek (Nox). The Maison de Folie is a part of the program to revitalize Wazemmes – a multicultural old workers quarter. In this high contrast b&w shot the façade perhaps lost a part of the transparency and airiness the architect gave this building, but it did retain it’s coolly voluptuous quality.
A site with more info about this building is here.
Best viewed Large with a black background