PUBLIC SPACE is the place where the drama of urban life spread out.

Leon Krier’s opinion in his book entitled Architecture and Urban Design; 1979-1992, judging that the public space can only be formed from the street and square.

Stephen Carr guides the design of public space in his book entitled Public Space that public spaces should be; responsive, democratic and meaningful.

Responsive means public space should be used for various activities and broad interests. Democratic means of public space should be used by the general public from various social backgrounds, economic and cultural as well as accessible for the disabled body, the elderly and the human physical condition. Meaningful means of public space must have a link with the human, public space and the world at large. Public space should also have links with the social context.

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A 1929 proposal by the Larkin Company to establish a “Larkin Square” at the corner of Seneca and Swan streets was shelved by a reticent Common Council and assailed by the Socialist council president Frank C. Perkins as a corporate give-away that “smelled to the heavens.”

The public square proposal would have seen Van Rensselaer Street cut through Seneca Street to Swan Street to relieve traffic congestion (yes, there was traffic congestion!), setting aside a triangular plot of cleared land for a public space honoring the company’s late founder, John D. Larkin.

The Larkin Company at the time was running the Larkin Department Store and the Larkin Food Market at full tilt, filling the entire ground floor of its massive factory complex at 701 Seneca Street with a shopping wonderland for discount foods and household goods. The company desired to create the square to rationalize traffic flow that had been bottled up as a result of the store’s opening and to establish an attractive gateway at the front lawn of the Larkin District.

While the Socialist council president, first elected in a sweeping victory for the left wing party in the council elections of 1919, was incensed by what he viewed as a gift to capitalists, most of the Council simply did not want to pay the hefty price for private property that stood in the way of the anticipated improvements. The Council, rankled by the cost of the proposed square and refusing to pay what a judge deemed fair market value for the property, was inclined to nix the square proposal despite widespread support in the neighborhood to implement it.

According to a Buffalo Courier Express article of June 3, 1930, the plan “was vigorously attacked at yesterday’s meeting by Councilman Jacob L. Davis, who said it would not benefit the general public, but only one property owner. He left no doubt in the minds of his colleagues that he meant the Larkin Company.”

While other members of the council believed the improvement was necessary to relieve traffic congestion, the proposal appeared all but dead when a reduced price for the property was offered by the Council and rejected by the owners. The Larkin Square proposal was ultimately shelved by the Council Finance Committee in 1930, and the plans were quickly forgotten.

Ironically, the historic retail buildings that would have been cleared to make way for the square are now demolished anyway. A new fire hall built for Engine No. 9 in the 1950s was constructed on part of the footprint of the square over where Van Rensselaer Street would have come through. But a couple thousand square feet of the square site remain, leaving open the possibility that, at some point, the intersection of Swan, Seneca, and Emslie streets could yet have a Larkin Square.

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Today the publication place of the ideas competition for a new town office for Rotterdam. 5 winners from 104 entries were chosen, also the people of Rotterdam also had a voice in the appointment of an audience winner.

“The Butterfly”, Figure Sky

PHE N.Y. Lanin, Head of the city

The jury, consisting of Wiel Arets (Chairman), Stefan Behnisch, Adriaan Geuze, John Körmeling, Michelle Provoost and Harm Tilman, received 104 entries to judge. Besides its task to appoint five winners, the jury asked to select 25 plans for this exhibition.

The 5 winners are: PHENY N.Y. Nine of LA La Lidy Meijers and Helga Fast (Posterholt); Figure of Sky RV Ritoe Architecture, Urbanism and Infrastructure (Delft), The Butterfly Maarten van Tuijl, Tom Berg Foot, Naoko Hikami (Amsterdam), assisted by Peter Farmer, Head of the City of Fountain Head of Christian Müller and Forideas (Amsterdam).

The audience prize went to Plan Mediator of Elastik (Den Haag) consisting of Marc Prince, Igor Kebel and Mika Cimolini.

The 5 winners each received a check for 10,000 euros. The audience winners Marc Prince, Igor Kebel and Mika Cimolini with their plan Mediator left with a bunch of flowers and honor.

Fountain Head, Mediator

The jury selected 25 plans constitute a range of options that will further debate good colors. Yet after the publication appear to have created more questions than when the organization of the contest.

Should the building or at the site of the current stand firm? (For details see the website below) knife for a building presents a municipality in the 21st century must be a high building? Should the program of a city office or interfere with commercial functions? How to create a barrier-town office?

The public debate was between those questions back and forth jumping. Especially the question of what public space in such a situation and how that is shaping remained unanswered.

It is remarkable to see that again in a design competition that focuses on urban planners most of the entries a ‘finished’ building presents. You should to speak with an invitation to this presentation has a contractor could do. Yet the competition has a positive impact on the debate currently occurring. There is thus much opportunity given to the municipality-by-dark aspects Rotterdam reuse of existing buildings and adding a new element to “Moderator” or redefining the plinth with many other entries.

All in all, the issuing of such a competition for young architects a good move from Rotterdam to thinking about the city in many different directions to send. Hope also to be acted.

Mediator of Elastik, the audience winner

PHENY N.Y. L. A. La Nine

An upwards becoming ever more massive volume of 230 meter is high at night the beacon of the city. The form refers to the traditional New York Skyscrapers, but upside down. It gives the air rights back to the urban area on the ground. – “A skyscraper that reverse upwards always be massive – a concept that challenges to further development.”

Figure Sky

Behind the old building of the City Timmerhuis is a public service a solid square block placed incisions with a light on this square optimal permit. The ground floor of the old building contains desk functions and catering. The sculptural volume office and leisure facilities housed. Flexibility is governed by hanging additional floor areas between the double floors high. “Sometimes no tower, but a beautiful log object, and pronounced that a special outdoor poses.”

“The Butterfly”

On the square behind the old building of the City Timmerhuis is a high round tower on top, as an addition to the skyline of Rotterdam. A butterfly-shaped ring hovers above the adjacent buildings and connect it to the new Office. “An important quality of the concept is that it forces to look beyond just the actual location of the town office.

Head of the City

The site plan is reused for various facilities and office and business space. Most of the required office functions, including City Hall and Post Office, is moved to a more urban location on the Wilhelminaplein on the Kop van Zuid. “The simple but effective concept encourages debate on whether the location of the current town hall is so much must be built.”

Fountainhead

A 192 meter high support construction can be completed in phases. First to 70 meter height with the requested program. The underground parking facility accommodates ten layers of hot and cold water storage tanks for regulating the energy of the building. “A strong architectural design. Even if the building would be lower, the architecture retains its strength. “

Mediator

The current situation is extended through the inside of the Old City Timmerhuis reshape and add a tower on the Square Window. “The draft includes the existing buildings (including the part on the nomination is to be demolished) for a new background. This they won aa

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