Within the city of Rotterdam the Willem de Kooning Academie [WdKA] occupies a special position. Besides knowledge institute, the WdKA functions as a catalyst for partnerships: a cultural space where students, alumni and international professionals meet each other.
The current building has a closed nature and is not representing the numerous successful connections between the art institute and the city. With the challenge of converting intangible structures into a new spatial design, TomDavid & Kraaijvanger laid down an ambitious plan that won the selective tender.
The proposal of TomDavid & Kraaijvanger for the spatial concept is a direct result of implementing the new educational vision of the WdKA. Six transparent stations [workshops new style] will be linked to each other and the rest of the building by means of a public Artery. This transparent and easy accessible main traffic route runs through both buildings and connects the new style workshops.
The two entrances are the beginning and end of this public communication route, which invites you to discover unknown stations and is a challenging exhibit space. The Artery and the Stations are a place of meeting and cohesion, a starting point for creation of interdisciplinary and crossover networks, and are in fact public accessible.
The concept of the public accessible ‘Artery’, which is in fact a POPS (privately owned public space, within a building) was an inducement for us for further research. As a result of our fascination and initial research about POPS, during the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam 2016, we will have a first presentation as a contribution to the program.
in particular the possible link of pops with potential opportunities within the Next Economy in developing cities has our attention.
