The City of Rotterdam Under Construction by Arjen Roos

To me, Rotterdam never feels like a city that is finished. It is constantly being built, changed, demolished and reimagined. It is precisely this constant movement that I wanted to capture in *The City of Rotterdam Under Construction*: not a traditional cityscape, but a multi-layered interpretation of Rotterdam as both a modern city and an architectural design.

Rotterdam’s recognisable skyline forms the heart of the work, with the Erasmus Bridge, high-rise buildings and the water serving as key visual anchors. Running through this are architectural drawings, perspective lines and architectural sketches. Fragments of a city map emerge at the bottom. It is as if we are looking simultaneously at the existing city and at the architect’s drawing board.

Cool shades of blue and turquoise contrast with warm city lights and small red accents. In some places, picturesque structures blur the reality, whilst clean lines restore order. This creates a modern digital mixed-media composition in which photography, digital painting techniques, graphic elements and various layers of imagery merge.

For me, this layering reflects Rotterdam: a city where architecture is not merely a backdrop, but an integral part of its identity. A city that constantly redefines itself. ‘The City of Rotterdam Under Construction’ is a distinctive work of art for lovers of Rotterdam, modern architecture and urban art. A contemporary statement piece for the living room, office or modern interior.