Rotterdam Late Night #93
Rotterdam Late Night, the talk show about local culture, politics and urban development, and Wunderbaum, the theatre group, present a diverse programme about the city’s pleinen (public squares) at Theater Rotterdam. Archivist Ernst des Bouvrie of the Nieuwe Instituut will give a mini-lecture on the history and development of these public spaces in Rotterdam. Urban sociologist Linda Zuijderwijk and architect and designer Nacor Martina will share their ideas about designing – or redesigning – liveable and inclusive public spaces. Host Ernest van der Kwast pays tribute to ‘pleinmoeder’ (‘mother of the square’) Radha Jiawan. Landscape architect Adriaan Geuze talks about the design of the Schouwburgplein and Stationsplein. Hip-hop artist Ruwhel Emers tells an energetic musical story with a touch of the blues.
12 September 2023 18:30 - 20:00
‘Pleinmoeder’ Radha Jiawan has been the eyes and ears of the Berkelplein for more than a decade. Weather permitting, she’s there every day. The square is in good hands with Jiawan: she likes to keep it tidy and encourages social contact. Host Ernest van der Kwast pays tribute to the dedicated ‘mother of the square’, who tirelessly inspires children from the Kralingen-West neighbourhood to play together.
Urban sociologist Linda Zuijderwijk and architect and designer Nacor Martina will talk about liveable, inclusive public squares – not just empty words about participation in public space, but real participation in the environment we live in. Zuijderwijk and Martina explore the lived experience of a place and involve residents in proposals for its design or redesign. How can we transform public spaces according to the principles of urban culture?
A square is a multifunctional place: people pass through, spend time, meet or celebrate here. How do we bring all this together in a single design? Landscape architect Adriaan Geuze has designed the Schouwburgplein and Stationsplein in Rotterdam, and with West 8 he has created a number of other squares at home and abroad. An empty space that invites: how does this work in practice? What unexpected circumstances might lie ahead?
Nieuwe Instituut archivist Ernst des Bouvrie will give a mini-lecture on the history and development of Rotterdam’s public squares. Which are the oldest in the city, and what has changed as a result of post-war reconstruction? Have any squares disappeared or been rebuilt? How have these urban spaces been transformed?
For hip-hop artist Ruwhel Emers, music is the ultimate emotional outlet. Through his foundation Levels, he supports young talent, and as one of Rotterdam’s ‘Climate Mayors’ (‘Klimaatburgemeesters’), he is committed to sustainability. Accompanied by a singer, guitarist and saxophonist, he will perform boundlessly energetic hip-hop with a touch of blues in the main hall of the Schouwburg on 12 September.
Theater Rotterdam
Tickets via the ISSR website