The municipality of Rotterdam has awarded the proposal for (re)development of the old Sint Jansschool on Hammerstraat to an initiative of a group of young professionals from Rotterdam, united as Noorderlicht. The design was developed in collaboration with developer Steenvlinder and architectural firm Eklund ter Beek.
”A former school is given new life in this plan with family homes and a cultural center. It is special that young and enterprising Rotterdammers want to commit themselves to their neighborhood in this way. This will be a beautiful place where residents and local residents can meet and enjoy a film”, says alderman Bas Kurvers (Building and Living).
The municipality sells municipal real estate that no longer belongs to the core portfolio. This means that the municipality no longer needs the building to carry out municipal tasks. If such buildings play an important role in an area development, the municipality can opt for the best plan instead of the highest bid in the sales process.
The building on Hammerstraat is of great urban and architectural value for the area. After years of vacancy, earlier this year a call was made to submit a feasible development plan with an integrated approach to the building: a mix of, for example, housing with a social function that creates liveliness for the neighborhood and its residents.
The future residents opted for family homes for themselves on the two floors. The idea for the cultural center around film arose from discussions with local institutions. This function is seen as an addition to what already exists, a place where all target groups, young and old from the Oude Noorden can come together.
Swati Sen Gupta, development manager of Steenvlinder: “We see here a bold and well-considered initiative to transform an empty building in an inner-city area. We believe in giving people control over how they would like to live and our new residents of 15 Hammerstraat have already claimed the director’s chairs here. Very inspiring and we are working on this with full conviction. The municipality of Rotterdam thought the total concept was strong. With the proposed small careful interventions to the facade, the existing characteristics of the property are respected and secured. The future residents and operators of the film house are already inspired and enthusiastically involved in the tender.
The municipality of Rotterdam was advised by Fakton and BRiQ real estate during the award process.