Rotterdam in development

43 R O T T E R D A M I N O N T W I K K E L I N G | 2 0 1 8 good transport links by car and public transport and its proximity to urban facilities, good schools and sports clubs. The new Wielewaal will be a place that brings people together; a mixed neighbourhood where people can live together in harmony, whatever their background, income, age or family situation.” The Hudsons in Bospolder is made up of five blocks with a total of around 140 homes, primarily intended for families. The Hudsons’ indoor gardens and roof park provide a safe play area for children, away from traffic. Underneath the indoor gardens, there is space to park cars, motorbikes, pushchairs or bicycles. Paul Becht: “In this urban part of Rotterdam, the landscape shifts seamlessly between green and built-up areas. We hope to stimulate interaction in the public spaces and strengthen social cohesion.” NEW URBAN CHARACTER The area developer sees further opportunities to create new urban areas around the Rijnhaven, and BPD would like to complete the circle of developments the firm began more than ten years ago with the two tower blocks by the Second Katendrecht Harbour. Wim de Haas and Paul Becht are already talking about the ‘Rijnhavendistrict’: “In terms of facilities, the Rijnhavendistrict is not quite there yet, but there are a lot of possibilities. Only when those possibilities are used to the full will the city centre of Rotterdam really extend from North, across the Erasmus bridge, to South.”