Rotterdam in development

70 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 n the Gooilandsingel, near the Zuidplein bus and metro station, people are working flat-out on the new Zwemcentrum Rotterdam (‘Rotterdam Swim Centre’), which must be open to the public by January 2018. Rotterdam’s first ‘Olympic’ swimming pool, with its 50-metre, nine-lane pool, is being installed in the former municipal borough office. Two of the building’s side aisles have been preserved, and completely new structures have been added in the middle and at the ends. More information is provided by Wouter van de Braak, Property Project Director with Hart van Zuid, representing Heijmans, and Diederik Erkel, Area Development Project Director, on behalf of Ballast-Nedam. At the time of interviewing, many thousands of tiles are still waiting to be installed. “But it’s going swimmingly, we’re working really hard to keep to the planned opening date.” NEW CONSTRUCTION ON THE AHOYPLEIN The new swimming pool is one of the 11 sections of the plan that will be implemented between 2016 and 2021. Ahoy’s existing halls have already been renovated, and a significant expansion including an International Conference Centre (complete with sunroof) is in the pipeline. On the other side of the Ahoyplein, a hotel and a cinema are waiting to be built. Nothing will be taken away from the neighbouring Zuiderpark; the park is in fact being extended, closer to Ahoy and the new- build area. Another section that has already been completed is the expansion of Hoornbeeck College, including gardens. On this side of the planning area, where there used to be a tennis court, a gas-free residential neighbourhood will be built with 95 high-value ground-level homes for sale. BOULEVARD Back to the core area around the Zuidplein. The existing Charlois Swimming Pool, located right next to the new pool, will be demolished to make room for the Kunstenpand (‘Arts Building’). This ‘cultural heart’ will contain Theater Zuidplein as well as a library, various exhibition spaces and stages and a café- restaurant. The Zuidplein shopping centre will be significantly extended (5,000 m2 of retail space) and a new main entrance will be built on the Gooilandsingel side, distinguished by an imposing staircase. The shops on the lower floor will also be repositioned. All this will improve the appearance of the covered, raised shopping centre in connection with the two last sections of the plan: moving and refurbishing the bus terminal and repurposing the Gooilandsingel to turn it into a car-free city boulevard. The boulevard will be the highlight, as it is the street that contains the Kunstenpand and the ROTTERDAM SOUTH HAS 200,000 RESIDENTS, BUT IT LACKS A CENTRE THAT OFFERS AN INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO STAY AFTER THE SHOPS CLOSE. IN THE CLUSTER THAT INCLUDES THE ZUIDPLEIN SHOPPING CENTRE, THEATER ZUIDPLEIN AND EVENTS ACCOMMODATION IN ROTTERDAM AHOY, EACH ELEMENT ON ITS OWN HAS ENOUGH TO OFFER; IT IS ONLY MISSING COHESION. HART VAN ZUID IS THE INTEGRATED PLAN TO BRING THE WHOLE AREA AND ALL ITS REAL ESTATE UP TO A HIGH STANDARD. THE OBJECTIVE: A NEW, BUZZING CITY CENTRE; A PLACE WHERE RESIDENTS, VISITORS AND ENTREPRENEURS REALLY FEEL AT HOME. Rotterdam Swim Centre