How did the architectural realisation and use of commercial spaces, particularly retail spaces, in Rotterdam during the post-war reconstruction period (1940-1955) differ from the pre-war era. More specifically, how did innovations in spatial design, the interplay between retail and public spaces, and these changes, impact social behaviour and economic recovery, as exemplified by the two case studies, the Groothandelsgebouw and the Lijnbaan?

This thesis examines the transformation of Rotterdam’s commercial spaces during the post-war reconstruction period, with a specific focus on the years 1940-1955. The research will analyse the architectural and spatial innovations that defined the city’s retail spaces and how they reshaped urban behaviour and public interaction. The study centres on two case studies: the Lijnbaan, the first modern pedestrian shopping street in Europe, and the Groothandelsgebouw, a multifunctional wholesale trade centre. By exploring the intersection of retail, public spaces and architecture, this research highlights how these developments contributed to Rotterdam’s economic recovery and urban socio-spatial identity in the aftermath of World War II.
What this study adds to existing research is a focused analysis of the interplay between spatial form and socio-economic function. While previous literature often treats architecture and economic recovery separately, this thesis bridges them, showing how built space shaped both civic identity and commercial vitality in post-war Rotterdam.