Tour
Reclaiming Public Space
Grassroots green in Rotterdam South
How do we make public space truly inclusive – for people and more than people? During this excursion with Urbanistas Rotterdam you will explore green initiatives from the bottom up in Rotterdam-Zuid, where biodiversity, community and activism come together. Be inspired by pioneers who are already shaping the city of tomorrow, with space for debate, encounter and new ideas.
For this year’s Rotterdam Architecture Month, come and explore how public spaces are being reclaimed to meet the needs of diverse communities. While the value of green spaces—for community well-being, climate resilience, and urban vitality—is widely recognized, cities often struggle to adapt quickly enough through official channels.
Urbanistas Rotterdam wants to shift the focus to grassroots initiatives: direct action, a radical focus on biodiversity, community-led projects, and the pioneers already reimagining our urban landscapes. They aim to get inspired, learn, and become empowered to support other bold initiatives—and, above all, to understand the dynamics and bottlenecks of public space driven by private initiatives.
Inclusivity beyond gender
Following last year’s Architecture Month event with Studio Inscape—which broaden perception of inclusive green spaces not only for women—we will continue the conversation. We would like to embrace all living species (from insects in and above ground, specific communities with specific needs) sharing our urban environments.
You’ll visit two to three locations in Rotterdam South starting from Sharida’s garden in Energiehuis (Reyeroord) up to the Groene Golf initiative in Feyenoord. You’ll close the event with a debate on the value of these initiatives, funding possibilities, challenges, emerging conflicts, and strategies for collaboration or solidarity. Let’s not only reimagine inclusive public spaces—let’s learn how to create them and feel empowered to lead our own initiatives. Exact stops on the excursion are to be defined, please keep checking our website.
Starting point at Energiehuis, Heindijk 350.