Renderdam

A bittersweet afternoon walk, feeling like I was part of Renderdam.

The City of Rotterdam casted into the virtual mould of hollow representation. Setting a scene based on future promise. The design of this promise is then turned into realization as the inhabitants of the city turn into their 2D predecessors in the announcement of the real estate company.

As this idea / interpretation of Rotterdam is realizing and takes shape from its virtual concepts. The streets turn into a design rather than the opposite. As I mentioned before in PolderPunk 2077.  I see a lot of resemblance in certain games.

To me it's starting to feel that the commodification of the impression is more important because that brings revenue. Rather than realizing the value of the actual citizens. This idea of the new cool Rotterdam is of course not entirely negative. Considering the fact that its popularity rose in the last ~15 years.

The problem (I have) with this new angle is that it provides an image that lacks context. The lack of poverty (in Dutch context), proper (social) housing and *many other problems*. The idea of this metropolitan megacity is of course very attractive for outsiders.  (Sub)cultures are well celebrated even though the spaces where they manifest are in constant argument about their existential rights. I'd like to crosslink/refer this argument with mine, because both have to do with municipal zoning plans.

Does it fit within our wishes

  for what we want Rotterdam

  to appear to be?

What value is there morally to be found

   if the revenue exceeds the needs of the demanding people

When I see the announcements of new promising areas, the showcases of both private and public investors and instances. The hollow imagery of the promise misses the filling: The cities contexts and needs. Instead of that, Rotterdam™ or ***R***™ creates a representation based on these contextless imagery. Rotterdam is being and worn as costume and the city undergoes a virtual *seeming* metamorphosis or rather **stagnation** and casts into Renderdam.

ANTITECTURE

I am in a constant battle with new and old buildings. The old Rotterdam buildings are built with the idea that everything of the inhabitants body is working (both the human is functioning = working and its body can function without any disabilities) _properly.

SURREAL POSTCARDS