Interdisciplinary Research Program –
TUDelft Faculty of Architecture and
the Built Environment
Menu
Nieuw Roffa 2100
The project is coordinated by Luca Iuorio (Urbanism, TU Delft) with Qian Ke (IHS, Erasmus University Rotterdam), Maria Pregnolato and Davide Wüthrich (Hydraulic engineering, TU Delft).
The team of researchers and designers of the Phase 1 is composed of Amber Coppens, Emily Lenarduzzi, Ahmed Alsalhi (BK, TU Delft); Vera Safronova, Eudald Vicens Roig (IHS, Erasmus University); David Garagorri, Evi Troulis (CiTG, TU Delft).
The team of researchers and designers of the Phase 2 is composed of Hasan Hashas, Sander Bentvelsen (BK, TU Delft); Vera Safronova, Natalin Tosun (IHS, Erasmus University); David Garagorri (CiTG, TU Delft).
As climate change progresses, Rotterdam faces mounting risks from extreme flooding due to rising sea levels and intense rainfall. Over recent decades, a series of climate mitigation initiatives have introduced policies, strategies, and spatial measures aimed at strengthening the city’s resilience. However, recent interventions have primarily focused on new developments. Many Rotterdam neighborhoods, characterized by early 20th-century housing and urban fabric, along with iconic commercial and residential complexes built post-World War II, now face a critical question: should they be rebuilt or retrofitted to endure the impacts of climate change over time?
The project Nieuw Roffa 2100 pioneers alternatives to demolition prioritizing climate adaptation measures. It promotes an integrated design effort among architects, urbanists, social scientists, and engineers to develop concrete strategies that enable existing buildings and neighborhoods to withstand future flood risks caused by rising sea levels and heavy rainfall.
The paradigm of ‘living with water’ provides the foundation for this project, treating water as an unavoidable future condition. Within this frame, we analyze, envision, and design adaptation measures for existing structures, assessing how effectively they can perform under future climate conditions. Selected buildings at the neighborhood scale serve as case studies to explore water management approaches that avoid extensive new engineering defenses.
Beginning with an analysis of current conditions in the Oud Mathenesse neighborhood, we develop adaptive spatial designs in collaboration with residents, local stakeholders, and experts. These interventions are phased to progressively adapt the buildings and public spaces to fluctuating water levels. Starting from projected scenarios for the year 2100, the project works backward to identify and implement spatial and technical measures gradually, equipping the neighborhood to cope with the challenges posed by climate change.
The project is developed in close cooperation among researchers and supervisors from the faculties of Architecture and the built environment, Civil engineering and geoscience of TU Delft and the Institute for housing development of the Erasmus University, Rotterdam.
Nieuw Roffa 2100 is funded by Convergence, Resilient Delta initiative.
Related:
