Master in Architecture At TU Delft: Complex Projects Studio – Kees Kaan

BAY-PORT

Harboring Unexpected Connections.

Could a hostile harbor enviroment be
leveraged as new urban catalyst?

The Maas River in Rotterdam serves as a visual and symbolic boundary, dividing the cityscape into distinctive North and South margins. On one side, the North flourishes with residential and knowledge-centric zones, thriving on a culture of connectivity. On the other, the South grapples with isolation amidst industrial complexes, impeding social interaction. Embracing this dichotomy as an opportunity for positive change, the project, “BAY-PORT: Harboring Unexpected Connections,” envisions the creation of a transformative Med-Tech School, acting as a catalyst to integrate these divergent landscapes.

Strategically selecting a site, our design extends the knowledge axis from the North to the South, facilitated by easy access through an existing bus line and the reuse of an abandoned water taxi route. The industrial ambiance of the location informs our material palette, aligning with the functional aesthetics of the harbor. Our design addresses multifaceted challenges, including community integration, harbor revitalization, and the promotion of social dynamics within a high-tech facility.

The Design language of the project was develop through an extensive analysis of the harbor in which the project was located. In this observation process a catalogue of materials, machinery and other architectural elements were identified and began to develop and overarching vocabulary that informed our architectural decisions.

In an effort to merge our architectural intentions with the growing demands for circular construction practices, we opted to experiment with the realm of re-purposed structures. The harbor has an abundance of heavy machinery designed to execute the various operations within it. These machines, although not explicitly designed for architectural purposes, possess incredible structural qualities that can be leveraged in the realm of architectural design. One of these large pieces of equipment is particularly noticeable in the surroundings of our site, and are very visible from essentially every point in the Rotterdam harbor: Tower cranes.

Upon investigation, we uncovered that these machines reach early obsolescence once their factory insurance is lifted, and many end up going to waste. With this in mind, we made it our challenge to explore the mechanics of this machine and uncover its architectural capabilities. Eventually, they would go on to become not only the main structural components of our building but also landscaping elements and iconic landmarks of our project.

Opting to use a system which is not conventionally available or designed specifically for one’s project can be challenging, but the process of detailing such assemblies can yield many interesting and unexpectedly attractive solutions.

In total, all of the cranes components utilized in our project account for material originating from 18 original tower cranes. These are applied in a myriad of ways throughout the architecture, acting as trusses, walls, columns, flower pots, benches and tables, showing that these previously “obsolete” mechanical components can still be put to use in various ways.