While the roads clog with traffic jams, the municipality of Rotterdam has decided to use the Maas with its side branches for passenger transport over water. The Waternet project includes a large number of stops for water taxis, water buses and party ships. Drost + van Veen Architecten designed the 18 pontoons for party shipping. They can be found from the coast at Hoek van Holland to beyond Rotterdam on the Brienenoordeiland.
On the vast water plains, the pontoons are strikingly colorful appearances with a clearly recognizable, idiosyncratic formal language. The program for the Waternet stops includes a landing place for boats of various dimensions, a stop designation and an information board. Furthermore, a place has been created that provides shelter against the often fierce wind with a seating area. The size of the pontoon depends on the location and the dimensions of the boats to be moored.
Although the pontoons are in fact static objects, they are m2001ade of steel and designed with a nautical silhouette that clearly appeals to the dynamics of shipping. This design language and materialization is characteristic of all pontoons. This makes them clearly recognizable for the user. In order to function as beacons, amidst land and water movements, the pontoons – according to the colors of the boats – have been fierce tones. For example, the pontoon in the Leuvehaven is deep blue and the pontoon at the Watertorenhaven is an intense orange.
