COLOR AND SPATIAL PROGRESSION

ROTTERDAM

PRINCIPLES OF SPACE ORGANIZATION

The bombing during World War II was so
extensive in the center of Rotterdam that the op-
portunity was provided here to demonstrate what
a new city core could be if it were built afresh. The
splendid system of space organization designed
around the Lijnbaan, the central pedestrian mall,
is shown in the isometric drawing above. The per-
pendicular pedestrian movement, funneling down
to a focal view of the old city hall tower, which
survived the bombing, gives historical perspective.
Although entirely lined with two-story shops, the
Lijnbaan and its environment are so designed by
its great creator, Dr. C. van Traa, that the tops of

the adjacent apartment towers are usually visible
above, reminding the participants that they are, in
fact, in the heart of a great city. The ample green
spaces by the apartments afford a surprising con-
trast to the intense urbanity of the Lijnbaan itself.
The design influence of the Lijnbaan extends out-
ward into the fabric of the city, successfully over-
lies and counterpoints the web of arterial streets,
and connects with the old city, the cathedral, and
the port.

As the photograph at right shows, in the vast
planning made necessary by the extent of the dam-
age to the city, the needs of human sensibilities
were taken into account.

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