The enfolded pavilion

Noordereiland is a small neighborhood in Rotterdam and has 3400 inhabitants. Noordereiland is located lower than the rest of Rotterdam and therefore regularly has to deal with flooding. Residents experience flooded quays, wet feet and flooded cellars almost every winter.

Public spaces are a large part of the residents living space. It creates social contacts and brings people closer together. During a flooding, public space get erased and can no longer be used by the residents. A new typology of public space needs to be rethought, one that during flooding enables social interaction. A new typology that empowers the community in the most difficult moments.

As a response on the continuous changing of the water level, it is of great importance to make the inhabitants resilient against flooding. My project consists of creating a series of unfolded pavilions along the main public space of the islands: the Burgemeester Hofmanplein.

Each pavilion provides a different specific function, ranging from storage space, a common kitchen, field beds, a recreation area and an office.

A series of mobile walkways have also been designed to connect the residential blocks with the pavilions. These walkways can be easily assembled in case of flooding and become temporary new trajectories with the island. The pavilion consists of a wooden enfolded structure system with lightweight polygonal elements. In case of flooding, the various pavilions can connect to each other by forming the enfolding structures inbetween.

The people living in the area will develop a high level of resilience against the high water levels and flooding by building the pavilion together with their own community.

In the near future, the pavilions will be essential against the changeability of water. Would it be possible to strengthen the relationships within the community and alter our mindset about it being a positive ritual, rather than a problem?