Tramhuis Rotterdam Podwalks
Stichting Tramhuis brings Rotterdam's stories to life through audio walking tours, starting from their beautifully renovated 1914 monument building. As a welcoming starting point for city explorers, the Tramhuis aims to connect visitors and locals with Rotterdam's rich stories, culture and identity through curated walking routes.
The foundation commissioned Big Orange to develop seven GPS-triggered audio tours, combining expert stories with immersive sound design to create memorable walking experiences through different themes of the city.
Challenge
How do you create audio experiences that bring Rotterdam's diverse stories to life in an engaging way, while keeping the content accessible for both tourists and locals? The audio tours needed to balance expert knowledge with emotional connection, helping people discover the city's layers through carefully crafted sound.
Process
We developed a unique approach for each themed route, working closely with local experts who bring authentic perspectives. For the first route about architecture, we recorded on-location with renowned architect Winy Maas, capturing his personal insights about iconic buildings like Depot and Markthal. We enhanced the narratives with custom music compositions and sound design, creating seamless audio experiences triggered by GPS locations.
Result
The first launched audio tour offers a fresh perspective on Rotterdam's ever-evolving architecture through the eyes of Winy Maas. By combining on-location recordings, specially composed music and continuous storytelling, visitors don't just walk through the city - they experience Rotterdam through the vision of one of its most iconic architects. Available in both Dutch and English through the Tramhuis app, it's the first of seven unique audio routes that will help people discover different facets of Rotterdam's identity.
Credits
Script: Isja Mak Funding: Droom en Daad Voice talent: Nora el Koussour App development: Elements Project team: Benno Lambooy, Marjolein van den Blink, Sabine Tol
