Ron Barten’s photographs are part of his personal research for the Interiors Building Cities graduation studio at TU Delft.  They portray the streetscape of Rotterdam with a careful eye, looking at how the city indirectly converses with its citizens, either through text, signs, graffiti, labels, and symbols. Such a diversity of languages often occurs in the space of two metres, on the buildings’ plinth. Here, the formal language of the landlord intersects with the informal response of who dwells in the city. A discussion that changes over time; a confrontation, questioning to whom the street really belongs.

Perhaps you already know this part of the country, perhaps you don't; The South of Limburg. In 2016 rewarded with the best touristic destination in the world by the World Travel & Tourism Council. Also, the region which earned about 80% of the GNP in parts of the 20th century. It happens to be the place I grew up in and where I walked, cycled and enjoyed myself many times. So with today's theme "where?", I decided to take you to this unique place.

As we were invited to write for Bnieuws, at the TU Delft on the topic of Where, as a collective we found ourselves speculating on the situational qualities of questions of where. Where provides the possibility to question a specific site or geography whether physical or metaphysical, both important for architecture and its makers. Where, unlike the questions of who and what, begin to situate us on the continuum of history and the future. It allows us to self-position ourselves and ask where we stand as an individual and as an industry, and clear the fields of vision that are intentionally blocked out. Where, engages us in a critical self-positioning, asking where do we stand in current times as the world is in constant shift, with the pandemic, excessive environmental damage, and political conflicts. Below you will read some takes that depart from the questions of Where is.. and speculate the essential questions of CARE, COLLECTIVE, and BEAUTY.