Knowledge Day: Rethink Rooftops 2026

About

Are you passionate about cities, their future and the contribution of rooftops in shaping our urban environments? Would you like to get inspired about the possibilities of rooftops while experiencing them in all their glory? We invite you to join our programme and:

• Explore the potential of amazing rooftops together with like-minded people
• Gain insights from professionals shaping innovative rooftops worldwide
• Engage in conversations where we determine the added value and potential of rooftops as a second layer in commercial and mixed-use areas.

Where

In 2026, our curated professionals programme Rethink Rooftops will take place on several rooftops in the most densified and commercial area of the city of Rotterdam: around Centraal Station. 

This environment will drastically transform in the coming years, with six large-scale mixed use building projects (including the tallest highrise in the country to date) as well as large-scale greening and mobility projects in public space. You will explore these spaces from above in a small and curated group of participants. Together with rooftop experts, groups of participants investigate the future of these roofscapes and their value for cities. We’re diving deep into the possibilities to bring (even) more life and value to increasingly vertically focused areas like this one. 

Who

To make sure you get the best experience from our programme we will create mixed groups to match areas of expertise and interest. We are looking for participants from different sectors, such as housing corporations, rooftop practitioners, architects, policy makers, activists, asset managers, constructors, project developers etc. Every group also includes an international rooftops expert. You will collaborate on what can be done to transform available rooftop spaces. What adds the most value in this context and for whom? How can the rooftop rise above the current application? All within the complex reality of a city’s rules, regulations and finance.

Speakers

We are proud to welcome the following speakers in our plenary programme this year.

Phineas Harper

Keynote speaker Phineas Harper is a British writer, founder and cultural leader. Their career spans criticism, curation, education, youth work, journalism and sculpture. Harper has held wide variety of roles across culture, media and design. They have served as Chief Exeuctive of Open City, Deputy Director of the Architecture Foundation, Deputy Editor of the Architectural Review, Chair of the Design Council Homes Taskforce, Co-Founder of New Architecture Writers, Co-Founder of Turncoats, and Co-Chief Curator of the 2019 Oslo Triennale. Harper’s career is marked, in particular, by a long-standing commitment to making design and heritage more engaging and accessible to diverse audiences. Read more about Harper’s career and bio here.

Helen Zhang

Helen Zhang, senior architect at INBO, will provide a presentation on the innovative biodivers residential project Kop Dakpark in Rotterdam West. A green icon will rise at this location. This apartment complex with 153 affordable homes will soon serve as the gateway to Rotterdam-West. Together, INBO and h3o Architects translated the Europan philosophy into a residential building that contributes to the biodiversity and flora and fauna of the Dakpark. Read more about the project here.

Gesa Webering

Neighborhood initiative Hilldegarden e.V. is one of the driving forces behind the concept, the realisation of further structural development, and use for the St. Pauli Bunker in Hamburg, Germany. This non-profit residents’ initiative on the roof of the St. Pauli Bunker creates a place of community, recreation, and a completely new style of urban nature. Gesa will give an insight into. the development of this remarkable project. Read more about the St. Pauli bunker here.

Fabian Kahr

Fabian Kahr is architect and project manager at Querkraft. He was part of the proejct team of the world’s first car-free Ikea, centrally located at Vienna’s Westbahnhof station, which offers an excellent connection to public transport. The building contributes significantly to sustainable urban development and is a symbol of a more vibrant and greener future. Ikea already expressed their aspiration in the briefing: ‘We want to be a good neighbour.’ In the three-stage architectural competition, Querkraft was able to succeed with a concept that goes beyond retail and creates genuine added value for the neighbourhood. Lush green façades and a publicly accessible roof terrace invite people to spend time here. Read more about the project here.

Adriaan Vermeulen

Adriaan Vermeulen, project manager at Volle Grond, will speak about the upscaling ideals of its rooftop farm concept. After the success of the rooftop farm of PAKT in Antwerp, Belgium, Volle Grond started a search for new usable rooftops in the city. In total, 80 rooftops were scanned. Which rooftops were suitable, and why? What were the challenges and solutions on these rooftops? These are questions that will be discussed in his presentation. For more info about Volle Grond and PAKT, click here.

Details

Programme:

• 09:00 – 09:30 Coffee and kick-off
• 09:30 – 12:30 Visit Rotterdam’s rooftops in groups with Rooftop experts
• 12:30 – 13:30 Network lunch at the Groot Handelsgebouw rooftop
• 13:30 – 15:30 Plenary program with project presentations and inspiring talks
• 15:30 – 16:30 Visit this years Rotterdamse Dakendagen intervention and finish with drinks

When: Friday June 5th 2026

Language: English spoken

Location: Start at Groot Handelsgebouw and visit several rooftops within walking distance

Tickets (including lunch and drinks):

• Regular: €85
• Student: €42,50

Accessibility: This programme is partly accessible for participants with a physical disability. The plenary programme takes place inside Groot Handelsgebouw, which can be reached by elevator. Other sessions can only be reached by using stairs. Please contact info@rotterdamsedakendagen.nl for more information about these options and ticket prices.