Rotterdam Citizens Crowdfund Fantastic Wooden Luchtsingel Footbridge

In today’s tight economic times, architects are discovering new ways to get projects off the ground. This lovely bridge in <a title="Rotterdam’s Wooden Luchtsingel Footbridge is a Fantastic Piece of Crowdfunding Architecture" href="http://inhabitat.com/bubble-building-is-the-worlds-most-temporary-structure-in-rotterdam/" target="_blank">Rotterdam</a> was crowdfunded thanks to citizens who donated through the internet. <a title="Rotterdam’s Wooden Luchtsingel Footbridge is a Fantastic Piece of Crowdfunding Architecture" href="http://en.imakerotterdam.nl/" target="_blank">I Make Rotterdam</a>, <a href="http://www.maxwan.com/">Maxwan Architecten</a> and<a title="Rotterdam’s Wooden Luchtsingel Footbridge is a Fantastic Piece of Crowdfunding Architecture" href="http://www.zus.cc/" target="_blank"> Zones Urbaines Sensibles</a> collected donations through <a title="Rotterdam’s Wooden Luchtsingel Footbridge is a Fantastic Piece of Crowdfunding Architecture" href="http://crowdfunding.com/" target="_blank">Crowdfunding</a> to make the wooden <a href="http://www.zus.cc/work/urban_politics/155_Luchtsingel.php">Luchtsingel</a> pedestrian bridge, which will connect and rejuvenate areas of the city while allowing people to avoid the hectic traffic below.

The new <a title="Rotterdam’s Wooden Luchtsingel Footbridge is a Fantastic Piece of Crowdfunding Architecture" href="http://www.aia.org/advocacy/federal/AIAB097669" target="_blank">crowdfunded</a> bridge will connect the <a title="Rotterdam’s Wooden Luchtsingel Footbridge is a Fantastic Piece of Crowdfunding Architecture" href="http://www.hofpleinrotterdam.nl/" target="_blank">Hofplein</a> area with the Northern district of <a title="Rotterdam’s Wooden Luchtsingel Footbridge is a Fantastic Piece of Crowdfunding Architecture" href="http://inhabitat.com/stepped-rotterdam-central-library-opens-its-own-green-roof-and-beehive/" target="_blank">Rotterdam</a>.

The original schedule was to fully complete the project in 30 years time, but the founders decided to start building it as soon as they received the first round of funding.

They plan to extend the bridge's length as they receive additional donations; their slogan is: “The more you donate, the longer the bridge.”

When finished, Luchtsingel will consist of 17,000 wooden planks.

Each donor will be entitled to have a message inscribed on one plank. The inscriptions can advertise a business, convey a message to a loved one, or simply state the donor's name.

A true public piece of <a title="Rotterdam’s Wooden Luchtsingel Footbridge is a Fantastic Piece of Crowdfunding Architecture" href="http://bigthink.com/design-for-good/openideo-collaborative-design-thinking" target="_blank">collaborative</a> architecture, this project is an outstanding example of an alternative development strategy for the people by the people.