The urgent demand for dwellings suited for young professionals is crippling the Rotterdam housing market. Most of them already live in family homes with roommates, while a lot of them are seeking a place for their own. Because they are environmentally aware they prefer a smaller and more sustainable housing situation. To respond to changes in the inner city, with bans on cars in the city center, I propose a solution within the rigid structure of an existing parking garage. Specifically designed for these highly connected young professionals, using the parking garage as a basis and keeping its original characteristics that are so fitting for Rotterdam as a brand. Innovative but sober.

To define this projects parameters, I’ve found that young professionals, those who started working right after graduation until 30 years old, are mostly defined by people living alone or looking for a place living alone. They want to live in the city center to stay physically connected and are unable to disconnect due to their digital connections. This generation suffers a lot from lack of concentration and high stress levels.

By reusing an existing structure, on the crossing of Lijnbaan and Weena-zuid, based on this rigorously designed grid of 7,2 meters wide and 28 meters long, a lot of potential is kept, and an enormous amount of CO2 emitted from construction is simply avoided.

The gradient ambient is my proposal for a unique way of living, designed specifically for this target audience.

It is based upon three principles of living, relaxation within a red ambient light, concentration in a world of blue light and within a fade of red and blue, a magenta gradient is visible. This gradient is the place where these young dwellers can grow their own food. Many urban vertical farms are using innovative magenta LED systems to boost production. Because of this magenta light, the green leaves won’t absorb light from the green spectrum, which means they can spend more energy on growing instead of cooling.

The gradient will be placed as a stylistically morphed landscape in between the two zones that will both bridge and isolate them. A place you physically and mentally have to cross in order to achieve your total relaxation or to achieve complete concentration when going the other way around. To make sure you really achieve these states of mind, a complete lack of daylight is a necessity.

However you want to live, these dwellings ensure Rotterdam innovates in its agricultural ambitions and offers a place where young professionals can thrive. Through completely focussing or relaxing its users, the gradient ambient offers a new housing typology which affects its users with its effectiveness.  

By bending rules and limitations you will see things in a different light and you will live in a different light.