News
Schiemond in the spotlight
This year, Rotterdam Architecture Month 2025 takes the city to a place that was out of the picture for years: the abandoned quay behind the Schiehavenhallen in Schiemond. What was once an inaccessible, neglected strip of land is being transformed this June into a vibrant festival heart – built with reused materials, supported by local makers, and infused with the energy of the neighbourhood. Here people will be able to see how creativity and architecture can breathe life into rough-and-ready places in the city.
Why Schiemond?
Schiemond is a neighbourhood of stark contrasts, with a mixture of post-war social housing and luxury new build on the Lloydkade. Located between those extremes is Schiehaven-Noord – an area that is intended to grow into a sustainable, inclusive ‘Paris Proof’ urban district, in line with Rotterdam’s climate ambitions. Before these ambitions can be realised, Rotterdam Architecture Month wants to test this area. It is precisely the unpolished atmosphere that makes this part of Schiemond a place where experimentation, encounters and real stories can be given the space.
In collaboration with local partners such as Placebased, Gore Tengels and ArchitectuurMAKEN, the quayside behind the Schiehavenhallen will be transformed into a vibrant festival and test site during RA Month. A place where visitors, local residents and makers discover together how to make a city – with what’s already there. But where of course you can also just enjoy the view with a drink and snack in your hand.
Working with what’s there
No flashy decor, but building with what you find is the motto for this year’s festival heart. Seating elements and planters are created from wood that was already on the quayside. Gore Tengels provides the greenery. ArchitectuurMAKEN is using leftover materials to realise a stand and stage where visitors can sit, listen, watch, or just do nothing. The Nieuwe Instituut has donated a batch of Douglas fir wood to Rotterdam Architecture Month for this purpose. Together with Studio Method, ArchitectuurMAKEN is also designing an architectural starling pavilion. Everything being built is temporary, circular and designed for a second life on or near the quay.
‘This is my neighbourhood’: a photo project about people, not bricks
A neighbourhood is about people – not street maps. That is why the ‘This is my neighbourhood’ project portrays daily life in Schiemond and the Lloydkwartier. The photo book full of personal images shows the soul of the neighbourhood: children on the street, neighbours in the garden, views from the flats. It creates a warm and recognisable portrait of a neighbourhood in transition. The project emphasises the human scale in urban development. It is a call for connection – between generations, neighbours and future residents – as well as an invitation to be proud of your place in the city. This project is an initiative by AIR in collaboration with the Groene Connectie and Carolien Oomes from Bureau Buitenom.
Grand Opening Party @ Kroonkwartier – 1 June
The RA Month kick-off takes place on 1 June with a festive opening party in the Kroonkwartier. The Schiehavenhallen and the Kroon are opening their doors to the public with a programme full of surprise concerts, performances, a design market with local makers, open ateliers, creative workshops and guided tours. The Veerhuis is also participating. Operator Radio will make a special radio show live from the Schiehavenhallen and provide the musical vibes afterwards with a DJ set. For children, there is also plenty to do.
Come along and experience the raw beauty of this place – everything from mud from the River Maas to sustainable building experiments and summer vibes by the water.
Practical information
When: RA Month takes place for the whole month of June 2025.
Where: the festival heart is at Schiehavenhal 17 and on the quayside, but the entire programme consists of some 125 events spread over more than 40 locations.
Admission: RA Month is free to visit unless stated otherwise.
Rotterdam Architecture Month is organised by AIR. This year’s festival heart is organised in collaboration with Placebased. RA Month is made possible by the Creative Industries Fund NL, Rotterdam Festivals, Rotterdam Partners, the Municipality of Rotterdam, Job Dura Fonds, Klimaat Academie Rotterdam, the Cultuurfonds, Coöperatieve Rabobank and many programme partners.
