Performance
What does a circular city sound like?
Start with a building that was never meant to be seen, and turn it into a home for young musicians.
Rotterdam’s last Mennonite church was designed in the 1950s to be hidden, quiet and concealed within the city. Today, Powerhouse Company has transformed it into Muziekwerf: the Netherlands’ first permanent rehearsal and concert venue for young musicians. Once defined by stillness, the building now gives a new generation the space, confidence and stage to make themselves heard.
For this special evening, Project Architect Franca Houg takes visitors behind the scenes of the transformation. What was kept? What was opened up? And how do you turn a concealed church into a place for rehearsal, performance and new cultural energy?
The tour is followed by the Rotterdam-based Jaydian Daniel Quartet live in the grand hall, bringing the building’s new purpose into action through groove, improvisation and atmosphere. After the performance, the quartet stays for a short Q&A about their music, their story and what it means for young musicians to have a dedicated place to rehearse, grow and perform.
A rare chance to step inside one of Rotterdam’s most fascinating transformation projects and experience circularity beyond material reuse: through new purpose, new energy and new audiences.
Speakers
Franca Houg is a Project Architect at Powerhouse Company in Rotterdam, working across a broad range of projects from Muziekwerf and Floating Office Rotterdam in Rijnhaven to Leiden Bio Science Park. With a background in architecture and engineering, Franca is involved from early design through to realisation, where ideas are developed down to the last detail. She sees architecture as something that directly shapes how people work, live, feel and interact, and believes architects carry a responsibility not only to clients, but also to the people in and around a building, and to the environment.
Jaydian Daniel Quartet brings groove, improvisation and soul into the grand hall of Muziekwerf. Led by pianist, composer and Rotterdam Conservatory student Jaydian Daniel, the quartet moves between jazz, gospel, hip hop, Latin, classical and African influences, creating a sound that feels rooted, fresh and alive. Expect a captivating live performance in a space that already holds your attention before the first note is played.