Schouwburgplein (Rotterdam)
{{Short description|Square in Rotterdam, Netherlands}}
{{Infobox street
| name = Theatre Square
| native_name ={{native name|nl|Schouwburgplein}}
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| image = Schouwburgplein.JPG
| image_size = 150px
| caption = The Theatre Square (Schouwburgplein) in Rotterdam
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| location = Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Theatre Square (or in Dutch : Schouwburgplein) is a plaza situated in the heart of the city of Rotterdam, and is flanked by the municipal theatre, concert hall, restaurants, and cafes.
An urban stage and an interactive open space, the 12.250 square meter square is designed by West 8, the landscape architecture firm founded by Adriaan Geuze. The design emphasizes the importance of a void, which opens a panorama towards the city skyline. It opened to the public in 1996.{{cite news |last=Lange|first=Alexandra |date=16 May 2016 |title=Play Ground - How a Dutch landscape architect is reinventing the park. |url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/16/adriaan-geuzes-governors-island |newspaper=New Yorker |location=New York |access-date=26 May 2016}}
History
Before World War II the area was a densely populated neighbourhood.{{cite web|title=Contact - Schouwburgplein |url=https://schouwburgpleinrotterdam.nl/contact/#geschiedenis |accessdate=30 October 2019}}
In the 1960s the square was constructed including underground parking and the De Doelen concert hall.
The square was redesigned in 1996 by Adriaan Geuze and his firm West 8.{{cite web|title=West 8 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture / projects / Schouwburgplein |url=http://www.west8.com/projects/all/schouwburgplein/ |accessdate=30 October 2019}}{{cite web|title=Paysages: Conférence Adriaan Geuze |url=https://www.pavillon-arsenal.com/data/videos_1aa6c/fiche/7575/pav_178_cp_6afcc.pdf |date=8 June 2006 |accessdate=30 October 2019}} A model of the design is in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The Project for Public Spaces included the redesigned square in its Hall of Shame, calling it "a perfect example of how a design statement cannot be a great square"{{cite web|title=15 Squares Most in Need of Improvement |url=https://www.pps.org/article/underperformingus |date=30 November 2005 |accessdate=30 October 2019}}
References
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External links and references
{{Commons category|Schouwburgplein Rotterdam}}
- Square dance - Schouwburgplein, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, by Connie Van Cleef, Jan. 1998.
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