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MVRDV has completed a pink urban staircase and rooftop theater for the Het Nieuwe Institute in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Design Features
Named after the podium, the design is 29 meters high and allows the public to experience the ceiling of Het Nieuwe Instituut,
a cultural center whose general and artistic director is Eric Chen.
The platform was officially opened to the public on 1 June, with the Mayor of Rotterdam “Ahmed Aboutaleb” at a ceremony at the Het Nieuwe Institute.
Visitors will climb to the roof of the Het Nieuwe Institute via an external staircase of 143 steps,
overlooking the city at a height of 29 meters until August 17, 2022.
The platform was designed as an initiative of the Het Nieuwe Institute,
in collaboration with Rotterdam Architecture Month.
On the pink platform, on the roof of the Het Nieuwe Institute, it will host a wide range of architectural events throughout the month of June.
Design shape
In the basement of the Het Nieuwe Institute, the main gallery (T) Huis (House/House),
designed by Namelok, can also be visited.
The podium has also been painted a striking pink for increased visibility,
and the MVRDV design creates a 600 square meter temporary meeting place that will form the heart of Rotterdam Architecture Month throughout June.
In July and August, The Podium will become the setting for a jazz concert or a yoga class with a view of the city,
and there will be various activities for Rotterdam children, including a summer camp.
The temporary installation’s design committee arose from a desire to draw more attention to MVRDVHNI:
the Studio Living Archive, an exhibition of MVRDV’s work currently on display on the top floor of HNI.
Due to the work being done in the public space outside the museum,
the main entrance to the Het Nieuwe Institute is now less visible and accessible.
So the MVRDV design team came up with the idea of creating an alternative access road via a large exterior staircase.
MVRDV is inspired by the panoramic view from the rooftop of Het Nieuwe Instituut,
and the building’s design is by Jo Coenen, with its distinctive pergola.
The studio aims to design The Podium as sustainable as possible,
using recyclable scaffolding materials and floor finishes – which were the main materials.
The platform can also be accessed via an external staircase and via the gallery on the floor below,
and for visitors who cannot use the stairs; the platform can be accessed by elevator or via the internal access to the Het Nieuwe Institute.
In June, the podium has become a major part of Rotterdam Architecture Month,
with views of many famous buildings in Rotterdam, including Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen designed by MVRDV;
The Podium showcases the qualities of Rotterdam as an architectural city.
Completing a pink staircase on the roof of the Het Nieuwe Institute
In July and August, various partners will organize activities at The Podium, including Motel Mozaïque,
NN North Sea Jazz Festival, The Operator, Roffa Mon Amour and Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.
It started in Rotterdam in 2006 along the blue roof Didden Village, followed by stairs to Kriterion in 2016.
This year they will be improving their rooftops with their orange Rooftop Walk and pink platform.
And last week, on Boarding Day, MVRDV also opened another top-tier facility,
the Rotterdam Rooftop Walk for a small fee.
Visitors can stroll on an orange carpet over various roofs, with the walk highlighted as a bridge spanning Coolsingel.
The Rooftop Walk is an initiative of Rotterdamse Dakendagen and was designed in collaboration with MVRDV.
The installation will be on display through June 24 and is already on sale this weekend.
And the extensive programming on the carpet should make visitors more aware of what’s possible on the rooftops: from a platform to drones delivering packages,
Thus reducing traffic jams, to roof gardens and various solutions for water storage, to a small village.
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