Antwerp and Rotterdam Field Study – Urban City Center Revitalization – The Case of Central Station Renewal

Dear Readers,

Antwerp Central Station

We are more than glad to announce our research proposal to you, so without taking any more of your time, we hear by present you our research proposal! 

Btw, stay tuned, soon we'll be investigating Antwerp, and we'll give you an update on that as well! 

Luuk, Fieke, Geert and Wouter

Our goal for this field study is to look at how the Central Station has an effect on the city. Often a central station when it is renewed can handle more capacity, however there much be a lot more to it if a city decides to invest millions or euros into a train station. 

Rotterdam Central Station

We will (if possible) meet up with someone of the Antwerp municipality to ask him several questions about the renewal and how it is has changed the city, with an economic, social and environmental perspective. Our goal for Rotterdam is to meet up someone from the train station who has designed the train station, and this person is also willing to tour us through the new building, so that we can hear his story about the design. (This arrangement is still in process)

Antwerp/Rotterdam Field Study – Urban City Centre Revitalization – The Case of Central Station/area Renewal.

Central research question: To what extent have the objectives and purposes been achieved of the renewal of the Central Station redevelopment of Antwerp and Rotterdam?

Subquestions:

·         What were the original objectives, ideals, purposes behind the zone planning of the Central Stations Area (CSA)?

o   Were there alternative plans as well? (such as in the South Axis)

·         What was the Cost and Benefit Analysis for both the CSA’s?

·         Has Antwerp achieved its goals, money-wise, social-wise, time-wise

o   What kind of effects did the CSA of Antwerp experience?

§  What kind of change has Antwerp seen in district with the east side

o   What kind of problems did the CSA of Antwerp experience?

§  How have these problems been encountered and dealt with?

·         Has Rotterdam achieved its goals or mid-period goals?

o   What kind of problems/effects did Rotterdam already experience?

o   Can Antwerp be used to predict problems that occur or might occur?

o   How will the city on the south side change? (Urban, commercial or reputation wise)

·         The end?

Important topics/themes for the analysis, both theoretical and practical:

 Cost-Benefit-Analysis, Social Interaction, Pedestrian flows, Multifunctional/synergist buildings, zone planning, TOD: Transit Orientated Development, Main-city-hub, Main-city-district, multifunctional district planning

Future of Utrecht Central Station 

Trains stations which are currently under construction and which we have looked at to look for similarities:

Utrecht:
http://www.cu2030.nl/index.php?uid=1170

Breda:
http://www.breda.nl/gemeente/nieuws/breda-berichten/informatiedag-bouw-nieuwe-station-breda-0

Future of Breda Central Station

Rotterdam:
http://www.rotterdam.nl/rotterdamcentraal