Cities don’t see the potential of this “space we have above the city and we do not use“, explains Léon van Geest, director of the association “Rooftop days“. Even in Rotterdam, which is more of a precursor compared to the rest of the Netherlands and recognized for its architectural effervescence, “barely 3% of flat roofs are used“, compared to 1.8% in the rest of the country, he underlines.
To encourage their exploitation, the walk in the air, which lasts about forty minutes, exhibits until June 24 wind turbines, solar panels, works of artexamples of biotopes or even a landing target for drones. Also on display is the model of a pilot project of a “rooftop village“awaiting the approval of the municipal authorities, where crops would grow and where tiny housesthese small nomadic houses built of durable materials.
“I am convinced that this will become a reality“, believes Mr. Van Geest. Because while the population is increasingly urban, “space is becoming a rare commodity in the city, we will have to exploit the roofs“.
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