Red Light District Pilot Projects proposes urban redevelopment models for the Red Light District Amsterdam. A non conventional architectural vision on vertical mixed models, making use of the up till now vacant upper floors of brothels. This model aims for conservation and enhancement of the vivacity of the neighborhood. By interviewing 40 stakeholders in the area, taking into account that prostitution is an industry with different agents, the project researched the consequences of the announcement of project 1012 by the city council on the “Red Light District’ area and make recommendations for new visions: One of the architectural visions on redevelopment is relocation of prostitution to the top floors of the buildings. This can disrupt the calculation method for the exorbitant rents that window prostitutes have to pay to make use of a running metre of facade. The effect is that the public space opens up to more mixed uses and a less one-sided urban environment. Another architectural vision concerns the use of the up till now vacant upper floors as a new ‘roof city’, which can flourish on top of existing activities. The idea is to foster development that benefits everyone and to prevent the municipality from being forced to buy out the windows owned by brothel keepers, on account of their exorbitant rents.
Client: Netherlands Architecture Fund
Task: Urban research / field survey / Strategy development
Cooperator: Changfang Luo (2009-2010)
Year: 2009-2011
Credit: Boundary Unlimited
Execution country: The Netherlands
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