Atelier Kempe Thill

The main landmarks of Grotekerkplein in Rotterdam, Netherlands, are the gothic Saint Laurenskerk, the statue of Erasmus, and the Delftsevaart canal. The square has had a rather unattractive and rundown look, due to the fact that most buildings surrounding the square do not face it. To stimulate activity and emphasize the spatial qualities, a podium for open air festivals was erected. The podium was designed as a window toward the city. The horizontal building functions as a counterpart to the church tower, reinforces the edge of the square, and underlines the transition between the square and the canal. The podium can be used for different cultural events but also has a spatial function when not in use.