Hip Hop in Architecture

Recently, I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Interior Architecture, focusing my research on Hip Hop in Architecture. I analyzed how I can use my physicality as a Hip Hop dancer to explore and enhance spatial relationships. This led to my design for the Beurs metro station in Rotterdam, consisting of a sequence of elements that aim to soften the contrast between the dynamic environment of the metro and the static waiting time on the platform. The design encourages curiosity, developing into a "choreography" across the platform. Additionally, it provides a physical representation of Hip Hop culture in our society. Hip Hop serves as a rich and versatile foundation, essential for the evolution of architecture. "Like breakdancing, graffiti, DJing, and MCing, Hip Hop architecture is based on flow, layering, and the breaking of lines. These three pillars are consistently used to create inconsistent outcomes and designs, allowing architecture to freestyle as well. As a dancer, I work from a freestyle approach where the body is the instrument. I translate the fundamental principles of Hip Hop—Peace, Love, Unity & Having Fun—into a design method in architecture."