NonA Weekly: ELEVATING URBAN SPACES 🏙️
Image by @visuals_smugglers
Hey there, design enthusiasts! 🤩
In the pulsating heart ❤️ of urban landscapes 🌆, where every square foot 🦶 is a prized possession 🏅, lies an often overlooked expanse: the rooftops 🏢. Traditionally seen as the crown 👑 of a building, these spaces hold the promise of much more than just shelter 🏠. With the pressing need for more sustainable ♻️ and innovative 💡 urban solutions, architects 📐 and city planners 🌇 are turning their gaze upwards, reimagining rooftops as vibrant, functional spaces 🌻.
As urban areas grapple with space crunch and skyrocketing real estate prices 📈, repurposing rooftops is not just a creative endeavor 🎨 but a necessary urban strategy 🏗️. Through a blend of adaptive reuse and innovative design, rooftops are morphing into lively hubs 🎉 that cater to diverse urban needs 🌍.
In this newsletter 📰, we delve into the myriad ways rooftops are being reimagined, offering a glimpse into projects that are not only architecturally intriguing 🏛️ but are paving the way for a more sustainable and inclusive urban living 🌿.
1. ROOFTOP CATALOGUE
In collaboration with Rotterdam Rooftop Days, MVRDV developed a catalogue to highlight the untapped spatial resource of rooftops
2. WHY WE TURN CITY ROOFTOPS INTO PUBLIC SPACES
Discusses the challenges and creative solutions involved in repurposing ROOFTOPS, with a focus on weather conditions and health and safety issues. Also touches on using rooftops for art installations and viewing platforms.
3. THE RISE OF THE URBAN ROOFTOP
An extensive look at the different uses of urban ROOFTOPS ranging from recreational areas, agriculture, solar power generation, and even housing. The piece also discusses a study on the cost-benefit analysis of different rooftop uses.
4. ROOFTOPS AS PRODUCTIVE SPACES
While the use of rooftops has long been common in some countries for various purposes, in many others, the ROOF has been one of the most underused spaces in cities. In recent years there has been increasing interest in rooftops as a valuable neglected resource.
5. 8 WAYS CITIES ARE TRANSFORMING URBAN ROOFTOPS
Sure, every city lover can name a handful of ROOFTOP patios with great views or a favorite rooftop hotel pool. But for the most part, roofs remain in the domain of the squarely utilitarian, home to chimneys, air ducts, and satellite dishes. That can change.
6. RETHINKING ROOFTOPS
This thesis delves into reimagining Rotterdam’s flat ROOFS as a connected network to foster a sustainable, resilient city, employing a research-by-design methodology to formulate a rooftop toolkit and strategy, aiming to significantly enhance the city’s sustainability, resilience, and livability in the forthcoming years.
Stay creative and see you all next week 👋
Daniela
