Rotterdam 2015 - exciting architectural designs

Renesse Beach New Year's Day

Cube houses were the design by architect Piet Blom in 1977 and based on the concept of "living as an urban roof".  Thirty-nine of the fifty-five houses were built. The cube house was angled at 45 degrees and rested on a hexagonal pylon, a design that was to represent a village within a city where each house represents a tree and all the houses a forest. I am not sure I see it like this, but it is certainly interesting, and I am curious to what the interior design provides as a living space. However, a newer design for living has been developed opposite this construction, the Market Hall.

Cube House Rotterdam above the Blaak Subway Station

Cube houses in front of a sky rise apartment block with low windows

The Market built 2009 - 2014

The Market Hall construction commenced in 2009 and was completed in 2014.  It is an amazing development and covers 100.000m2,  has 228 Apartments, 100 fresh market produce stalls, food related retail units, preparation and cooling space, supermarket, and 1.200 parking spaces. The hall is formed from an arch of privately developed apartments, strategically allowing private investment and initiative to provide a public space. It reminded me of an aircraft hanger when I first saw the building.  The result is a covered square which acts as a central market hall during the day and, after closing hours remains lively due to restaurants on its first floor. New laws in the Netherlands require covered areas for traditional open air meat and fish markets due to new hygienic constraints. I wonder how long it will be before the UK raises this issue? The apartments follow strict Dutch laws regarding natural day-light: all rooms that require natural light are situated on the outside. Kitchens, dining rooms and storage are positioned at the market side, establishing a connection to the market. The front and back of the apartments are covered with a flexible suspended glass façade, allowing for maximum transparency and a minimum of structure, which will be the largest of its kind in Europe.  This development is in the Laurens Quarter, the pre-war centre of Rotterdam.  This area was completely flattened in WWII, apart from St. Lawrence's church.  The nearest subway station is Blaak.

Interior of the Market arena from a balcony restaurant

North view of the market interior showing the apartment windows

MVRDV was founded in 1993 by Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs and Nathalie de Vries in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The practice engages globally in providing solutions to contemporary architectural and urban issues. The company use a  collaborative, research-based design method which involves clients, stakeholders and experts from a wide range of fields from early on in the creative process. We are living in an urban age as cities are the heart of our societies, culture and our economies. Space efficiency design has a new focus, producing space with sustainability and addressing urban issues.  The Why Factory is part of MVRDV's research programme.  Looking at MVRDV's work ethic is so reminded me of my later days at  DNV.

The Erasmus Bridge over the Nieuwe Maas River and Sky Scrapers in the Kop van Zuid district

Hotel New York

Blaak Subway Station

Kop Van Zuid Distrct

The Library

After a great lunch at Robert's Z and M and a walk round the market,  it was time to get a train to Eindhoven. Transportation is so efficient in Europe!