— Author: Helmi Hansma (Gemeente Rotterdam)
MultiRoofs recently ran two lively focus groups in Rotterdam—one with municipal policy makers and one with stakeholders such as housing organisations, developers, and the water agency. Participants saw a demo of the draft tool and tested its first features, giving targeted feedback we can act on right away.
What Policy Makers Asked For
Policy makers want MultiRoofs to connect city‑wide goals—like climate adaptation, housing, and energy—to practical choices on each roof and in each neighbourhood. They highlighted the need for reliable baseline data (e.g., climate‑risk maps, roof structure estimates, and local rules), links with municipal data systems, and clear insights into the long‑term effects of choosing one rooftop function over another.
What Stakeholders Need
Stakeholders focused on getting decisions made faster. Housing organisations want to spot realistic “quick‑win” roofs for adding homes and understand regulatory limits. Developers asked for help balancing green, blue, solar, and structural uses on multifunctional roofs. The water agency underlined the importance of blue‑roof and water‑storage options. Across the board, they asked for transparent methods, clear maps, and helpful alerts when today’s choice could block tomorrow’s options.
Moving Forward
Both groups see MultiRoofs as a practical way to compare scenarios and work together across disciplines. They recommended starting in a small test area—such as part of Lageland—to build a solid data foundation and refine the tool step by step.
Next up: MultiRoofs will test the tool with focus groups in other partner cities as well.