Rotterdammer

(A Rotterdammer is a resident of Rotterdam, a city in The Netherlands)

For the top module that I followed from SintLucas at Willem de Kooning Academy, we were given the assignment #Rotterdammer… What or Who?

I started a process and during that process I would find out who the real Rotterdammer is.

I had made a comparison between the 'classic Rotterdammer' that everyone quickly thinks of with the 'rough' statements and the expat/international Rotterdammer. Two different worlds but both Rotterdammers.

My first idea was to design a glass building. After several sketches I designed a glass brick. Each brick would have a different colour, which stood for a different nationality. The glass bricks on top of each other would also start to mix colours in a new colour, which creates new nationalities.

There are many different nationalities and living situations in Rotterdam, but I also think it is important that these worlds intersect. I wanted to do this with a factor that connects many people, food. As inspiration I took the Hoftrammmm from The Hague, The Netherlands, a restaurant in a tram.

To connect all Rotterdammers. I have designed a mode of transport where you go from point A to point B and get to know other Rotterdammers.

This is done in the form of a Tram. This tram comes in all areas and you can eat in it. The special thing about this tram are the colours. The colours represent nationalities. If you slide open the coloured windows, you mix new colours and therefore new nationalities. In the tram you can order international dishes to get to know new cultures (which are most represented in Rotterdam).

Illiteracy is a major problem in Rotterdam. In order not to exclude this group, the menu card can be read aloud in all languages.

Everyone is welcome in the Rottertram.

Windows in different colours that can be slid open: