Heat is one of Rotterdam’s urgent climate challenges. The ‘urban heat island effect’ is increasing, especially in the centre and the old city districts. To address this challenge, we developed a strategy for greening and cooling urban public spaces to reduce the urban heat island effect.

We inventoried and analysed the temperature of existing public spaces, the opportunities for cooling and to create new public spaces in areas with too much distance to (potential) cool spaces. In addition, we created a toolbox with measures that can cool down spaces or create places to stay, to be able to make use of the cities potentials and create cool spaces in close proximity to all residents of the city.

This project was carried out in collaboration with the Municipality of Rotterdam under the voucher scheme for spatial design financed by the Stimuleringsfonds.

You can read more about the project here.