Contextuality with a Twist

Abstract

The first Skyscraper was developed in 1885 in Chicago, the home insurance building. Soon this type of building became a symbol of power and representation which started to migrate within America and then to the other parts of the world. As technology improved new types of skyscraper facades were introduced which migrated as people were inspired. A persistent issue that can be seen throughout the migration is the unchanged urban implementation of these buildings. The street life and the way it interacts with the building have not been clearly addressed. Many architects have addressed these issues on their own way, but this connection between both the spaces varies with their location and context and has to be addressed with respect to that. Netherlands is a country which has a strong urban street life connection, outdoor social and interaction spaces such as markets, outdoor cafes, bars and restaurants can be found throughout the cities. Rotterdam is one such city where in spite of the urbanization and the modern architecture, the spirit of Rotterdam remains outdoors with a good social interaction. However, the modern High-rise buildings in certain parts of the city still stands as an isolated entity in the neighborhood severing the urban street life connection with the building. Now understanding the significance of the urban street life connection, Rotterdam’s High-rise vision 2019 states the need for spaces for social integration in the plinth of the building. This thesis researches effective ways to do this with respect to the context of the Netherlands and its inhabitants and proposes a mixed use skyscraper in Delfshaven.