Redevelopment into De Wasserij / Fashion Incubator Rotterdam
Transformation of hospital laundry into vibrant fashion incubator.
De Wasserij offers WORKING SPACES related to the FASHION chain, with a primary focus on designers and agencies. For designers it's a way to lower purchase prices, hold sample sales together, have a combined shop, find inspiration together and share expertise. For agencies, a concentration of agencies makes it easier to attract shopkeepers; especially when having the same quality.
The primary functions of De Wasserij will be supplemented with supporting functions such as tailors, stylists, photographers, business coaches and graphic designers. There is a fashion LAB where you can hire machines, take courses and meet other designers to update or upgrade your skills and to innovate. In time of developing De Wasserij, it wasn’t easy to find a job as a fashion maker. A gap between 2D use of designers and 3D work of makers is closed by explicit integrated programs of fashion making students and designers.
The working spaces have a variety in rental price and a difference in completion level. Because of this there is both room for artists and starters as well as established companies. Within the building there is plenty of space that invites to meet, for both tenants and visitors: a coffee place, a meeting room and fashion lab.
Special branding / placemaking
Before starting the redevelopment of the old hospital laundry into the new to be fashion incubator, Rotterdam citizens and the fashion world knew there is a new spot in town to keep an eye on.
The open space has been used for fashion events like the ‘mode marche’, a filmscreening of the preview of Alexander McQueen in collaboration with movietheater KINO, by fashion agencies for their sales season and for tours and a look in the prototype office that was already in use.
During the same time I have built a fashion community with a couple of fashion experts, which formed the base for selecting a balanced mix of tenants which would truly be supportive and inspiring. A time of placemaking and forming a strong fashion community; finding potential tenants, creating partnerships and showing the potential of programming.
My roles: concept development, project management, management project control (also building supervision), engagement managent, contract management.
