Recapturing creative space in architectural design unravelling the production network of a young, innovative architectural practice in Rotterdam

Abstract

In this article, we unravel the production network of a large acoustic wall in a newly built theatre in Rotterdam. This project can be seen as a deviant case in the sense that it goes against the grain of the often observed long-term trend of erosion of the role of architects. This erosion signifies not just a loss for this specific group of professionals, but–given the omnipresence of the built environment in everyday life–also entails risks for society at large. We depart from the Global Network Approach, which can be considered as a heuristic tool to analyse complex production networks, spread out over several interdependent actors and locations. By focusing on the production process, we open up the black box of design in a creative industry based on in-depth interviews with the key players of the production network of the wall. We argue that the prominent role of the architectural practice involved is based on (1) their ‘digital workflow’ strategy; and (2) the specific network structure and relations which allowed them to be important in both design and realisation of the wall.