During RA Month ’23, UrbanGuides reflects on the illustrious history of public housing in South Rotterdam. This housing policy was ardently pursued by passionate aldermen, dedicated citizens, and committed architects. The series comprises three episodes, each delving into a distinctive period of social housing in the 20th century.

In this particular episode, esteemed historian Frank Schipper provides a concise presentation on the Urban Renewal of the 1970s and 1980s, held at the Maassilo. Following this, participants are invited to join a guided bike tour to Feijenoord.

Urban renewal in Feijenoord

“The houses must be built, damn it!” This sentiment reverberated during the late 1960s and early 1970s as residents of the old city districts had reached their limit. The urban renewal efforts between 1970 and 1995 brought forth numerous new homes in Rotterdam. Embark on a cycling journey to Feijenoord and witness the resulting architectural diversity: from the small-scale projects of the 1970s, often dubbed as “new frumpiness,” to the controversial monument known as the Peperklip. Moreover, amidst these developments, the Dillenburg blocks managed to retain their charming streetscape dating back to 1904, while simultaneously making space for contemporary, more spacious homes that exceeded the meager 50 m2 living spaces previously occupied by working-class families.

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