a collective cartographic exploration
hosted by Tomasz Dudek and Theodor Reinhardt
Contaminated Ecologies is a hands-on mapping workshop that treats the Port of Rotterdam as a living network. Inspired by Latour and Haraway, we trace links between biodiversity loss, shipping economies, public health, biofouling, and infrastructure, seeing not separate issues but entangled ecologies.
The understanding of ecology as a “green” issue lies at the heart of greenwashing, as it renders it separate from other domains – social, mental, technological – producing narrow and short-sighted practice and thought. At the same time, an attempt to study all relationships in all domains within a given context will inevitably become an overwhelming and confusing endeavour. In light of this, the workshop will explore how collective, situated mapping through matters of concern can provide a grounded understanding of ecological complexities – without being reductive or overwhelming. Participants will learn how to research, spatialise and communicate these complexities by means of collective critical cartography – expanding our understanding of contamination from mere pollution to transformation of relationships, contexts and agencies.
The workshop is open to anyone interested in cartography, spatial research, and practice. No prior knowledge is required and participation from backgrounds beyond spatial practice is encouraged. Participants are asked to bring laptops or tablets that will be used for collective research. The outcome of the workshop will be a series of collective maps that will be presented during a consecutive session, organised by Vereniging Deltametropool on 27 November.
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workshop hosts
Tomasz Dudek
A transdisciplinary architect and researcher working at the intersections of spatial design, theory, and environmental inquiry. Educated across Poland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, he holds an MSc in Architecture from TU Delft, where his work focused on architectural theory, critical cartography, and posthumanism. Professionally, he has collaborated with Christ & Gantenbein, Benthem Crouwel Architects, and contributed to projects for the Venice Biennale. His work has been exhibited at MAPS. New Cartographies, New Narratives (2023), Dutch Design Week (2019), and the IASS Conference (2019) in Barcelona.
Theodor Reinhardt
A transdisciplinary researcher and designer interested in material and operational complexities of and between territories, infrastructures and systems – working with spaces, objects, maps, graphics, videos, exhibitions and texts. His work was published in DATAPOLIS (2023) and Atlantis Magazine (2022), as well as exhibited at MAPS. New Cartographies, New Narratives (2023), Indigenous Intelligence (2025), Countryside 2 (2025) and the 17th Venice Biennale of Architecture (2021) as part of Dogma. He has taught at the Willem de Kooning Academy Rotterdam and Amsterdam Academy of Architecture.
Registration is now fully booked.
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We will notify you if a spot becomes available due to cancellations.
The collective discussion & reflection at 16:30 will be open to the public. Everyone interested is welcome to join this session and participate in the dialogue. RSVP
program
9:00 |
Arrival & Coffee |
9:15 |
Welcome OMIIntroduction to the building bridges exhibition |
9:30 |
Critical Cartography & Ecological MappingIntroduction to the theoretical foundations of cartography as a tool for research & representation. Elaboration of ecological mapping as a methodology for mapping shifting relationships and translating complexity into spatial representation. |
10:00 |
Introduction to the Case Study: Port of RotterdamBrief presentation of the research context. |
10:15 |
Collective ResearchParticipants work in groups of 5 to conduct research on their domain. Collection of research material showing all relevant actors/actants in the ecologies of the Port into one collective board. |
12:00 |
Lunch Break |
12:45 |
Collective Research – EntanglementsTracing relationships between all actors/actants collected in the previous phase. From Matters of Fact to Matters of ConcernDevelopment and description of a situated perspective from which the most relevant relationships are selected and organised. |
15:00 |
TerritorialisationTranslating research findings onto the map, development of notational systems to communicate relationships and dynamics. |
17:00 |
Presentations (Public Program)Open dialogue on findings and challenges of mapping ecological entanglement. Topics: methodological approach, representational choices, and findings. |
17:30 |
DrinksInformal and open discussion of the results and methodology with drinks. |
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Attend the presentation (16:30 onwards)
OMI
Many thanks to OMI for generously hosting this workshop. Their dedication to fostering urban dialogue and supporting collaborative events like this is invaluable, helping to connect diverse perspectives and inspire new ideas.
OMI (Office for Metropolitan Information) is a public center in Rotterdam dedicated to architecture, urban development, and city culture. Established in 2015 by Pieter Kuster, OMI offers an urban experience for residents and visitors interested in architectural innovation and the evolution of city landscapes. It features an exhibition space, bookshop, and hosts lectures, films, excursions, and participatory workshops. OMI aims to foster new perspectives and critical dialogue around Rotterdam’s urban future.
Building Bridges exhibition
During our workshop, doors are open for you to explore stunning photos, films, and creative visions highlighting urban life and transformation.
The exhibition focuses on the neighborhood De Esch, exploring its past, present, and future. It uses exhibitions—photos, films, logbooks, and drawings—to showcase the area’s history and possible future transformations, centered around the planning for a new city bridge over the Maas River. The exhibition highlights De Esch’s diversity, green spaces, and architectural contrasts, inviting visitors to discover its urban landscape through excursions, workshops, and guided or independent tours led by artists and architects. The aim is to inspire new perspectives for residents, policymakers, and developers, with special contributions from artists and writers.
The “Building Bridges” exhibition deepens understanding of contaminated, entangled, and dynamic ecologies by showcasing the interplay between urban development and environmental change in Rotterdam.
Location: OMI, Schietbaanstraat 21, Rotterdam
Open: Thursday to Saturday, 1:00 PM–6:00 PM
save the date
An evening lecture will be held on the 27th of November 17:30 – 19:30. Here you will not only get a chance to see the maps but to learn about how mapping can serve as a medium for navigating complexity without reducing it. Read more here.
