How might our city look and feel if the technology in our public spaces uses all the opportunities that exist to better support community life?
This fall, we invite you to help explore (and shape!) the answer. Join us for a two-part series* that brings together diverse perspectives on smart technologies and community needs in Rotterdam’s public spaces. We are very glad to organize this event with Louisa Teichmann (.zip) and Gemeente Rotterdam.
*You are welcome to join one or both events.
Event 1: Unconference- Sharing and reflecting on technology in public spaces
Date: Thursday, 23 October 2025, 18.15-21.15h
Location: Auditorium, het Timmerhuis, Rotterdam
At this collaborative, participant-driven unconference, you won’t find a traditional line-up of speakers. Rather than a line-up of speakers, if you have a topic or a question that you would like to explore during the event, bring it with you! Whether you area maker, journalist, artist, city planner, hackers, or an curious citizen, the only requirement is that it connects to the main evening’s theme:
What smart technologies are currently active in Rotterdam’s public spaces, and what opportunities exist to better support community life?
We will document ideas as we go. The evening will feature a mix of open conversations, thematic corners, and rotating discussion rounds. Whether you come with a concrete topic to explore, or just curiosity, we would be delighted to welcome you!
The agenda for the night looks as follows
18:15–18:30 Walk-in
18:30–18:45 Welcome & Introduction
18:45–19:00 Icebreaker 1
19:00–19:10 Theme Proposals for Round 1
19:10–19:40 Conversation Round 1
19:40–19:50 Icebreaker 2
19:50–20:05 Theme Proposals for Round 2
20:05–20:35 Conversation Round 2
20:35–20:45 Closing & Next steps
20:45–21:15 Time for drinks
What happens next? Our unconference is just the beginning. Insights and ideas gathered in October will set the stage for our next session:
Event 2: Unhackathon- Building on community ideas (meetup will follow during next months, but you can pencil it in your agenda)
Date: Thursday, 18 December 2025 (afternoon/evening)
Location: [TBC]
Building on the outcomes of the unconference, the Unhackathon is a hands-on session to explore, prototype, and reimagine the use of technology in our city. Together, we will develop new concepts, collaborations, and possible projects to foster more meaningful and inclusive digital public spaces.
Who is invited?
We welcome policy makers, technologists, researchers, community organizers, and residents: anyone who cares about how technology shapes public life in Rotterdam (whether you live there or not!). If you are interested in proposing a topic, bringing a question, or simply participating in the conversation, you are very welcome to join!
RSVP: Please register on MeetUp if you plan to join us on 23 October. Feel free to share this invitation with others who should be part of the conversation.
If you prefer not to use MeetUp, you can also send an email to hello@zipspace.nl.
If you have any questions or suggestions for others who should be involved, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Looking forward to co-creating with you!
