Rotterdam: City of Architecture

However, Rotterdam was already a progressive city in terms of architecture before the bombing. Especially in the field of housing, the city was at the forefront of innovation. Among other things, with the Bergpolderflat by Van Tijen (the first Dutch gallery flat), the Cube Houses by Piet Blom, and the Justus van Effen block by Michiel Brinkman, which for the first time included various shared facilities for residents and a revolutionary ‘upper street’. But the aforementioned New Building had already made its entrance in Rotterdam before the war, under the influence of the Bauhaus school and movement. Its principles? The search for simplicity and functionality. City architect J.J.P. Oud (of, among others, De Unie) shaped the connection between the Bauhaus and Rotterdam. His social housing projects in Spangen, the Kiefhoek, the White Village, and Hoek van Holland attracted the attention of German architects, and his lecture in 1923 marked the beginning of intensive contact between the German school and the ‘New Building’ in Rotterdam, as the movement in architecture is called.

By breaking with the past and choosing a spacious layout and modern architecture during the reconstruction, Rotterdam acquired its current, spatial look. Light, air, and space became the motto. You can see this, for example, on the Lijnbaan, the Netherlands' first car-free shopping promenade. But also in the concert hall (and national monument) De Doelen, the Groothandelsgebouw, the Euromast, and De Bijenkorf, which also emerged in this period. A counterreaction to this could not be avoided. It came in the 1970s, when more small homes were built in the city according to the "human" scale. The previously mentioned Cube Houses are the result of this. In the next phase, Rotterdam went upwards: high-rise buildings broke through and steadily formed the now characteristic skyline of the city. With the arrival of the Erasmus Bridge, more activity – and new construction – began on the Kop van Zuid, with Montevideo, the Maastoren, and New Orleans. Gradually, Rotterdam South became an integral part of the city, and the Erasmus Bridge and monumental Maastunnel became must-sees and gateways to new developments in the city. Such as in Katendrecht with Theater Walhalla, Fenix I, the Fenix Food Factory, and many cultural programs. Or with all the developments in the Afrikaanderwijk and Heart of South. Too many to mention!

The piles are still ringing here, and in the past decade, Rotterdam has gained a few 'new icons', such as Rotterdam Central Station, the Markthal, De Rotterdam, the Timmerhuis, and the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen. Rotterdam is never finished. Even the construction cranes are an integral part of the skyline. From the New Building and post-war reconstruction to high-rise buildings, the city is now also in the phase of innovative and climate-adaptive architecture. Because cities worldwide are struggling with the consequences of climate change, standing still and doing nothing is not an option. And the people of Rotterdam are certainly not good at that... Initiating, learning, anticipating, and innovating seems to be in the blood of the people here. How do you see this reflected? One place where the green development of Rotterdam is already clearly visible is the Rijnhaven: the testing ground for floating construction, with the spectacular Floating Office (by Powerhouse Company) as a major attraction for architecture enthusiasts. The building is entirely made of wood, self-sufficient, sustainable, and floating! Meanwhile, a floating city park is rising around it, with lawns, trees, plants, and an actual city beach. A hot summer day? Here, you can dive straight into the Maas River! Floating homes (Havenlofts) and a floating farm (Floating Farm) have already been realized in Rotterdam. Water is not a hindrance here but is utilized because the people of Rotterdam simply consider it another type of ground to build on.

Although this sustainable goal seems to conflict with the ambition to build no less than 50,000 homes by 2040, Rotterdam architects turn a necessity into a virtue. Firms like MVRDV, Powerhouse, Superuse Studios, LOLA landscape, and Mei architects and planners are working with great ambition. The goal is not ‘just’ sustainable building, but regenerative building: not only limiting the damage caused by construction but adding value in all areas. SAWA illustrates this design approach. SAWA is rising on the Rotterdam Lloydpier and is sustainable, as it is built from wood, which stores CO2 rather than emitting it. It is circular and even remontable; the materials can be reused. Additionally, a well-thought-out green concept has been developed with an ecologist, featuring private outdoor spaces and a communal vegetable garden. In addition to building out of necessity or following a prevailing style, Rotterdam is now determinedly working on a pleasant, green, and healthy residential city. Greening and sustainability make the living environment more pleasant, after all.

Breeding Grounds for Innovation. With the boldness and experimental spirit with which Rotterdam built its city center, the city is now tackling the climate challenge. Architects, designers, and scientists are encouraged to collaborate on innovative ideas. For example, the former tropical swimming paradise Tropicana was transformed into BlueCity, a model city for the circular (blue) economy. It provides workshops and laboratories for startups like Waterweg, which develops permeable tiles, and BlueBlocks, which produces biobased construction materials. Also, on the old harbor sites M4H and RDM, which together form Rotterdam’s new makers district, work is in full swing on innovations at the intersection of art, design, and technology.