Discover Benelux | Special Feature | Rotterdam
Rotterdam's skyline has been drastically changed by De Rotterdam
R O T T E R D A M :
A glimpse into the city For decades Rotterdam has widely been regarded as the architectural capital of the Netherlands. This architectural growth can be attributed to the destruction wreaked during World War II; with the majority of the city in ruins, 1945 simultaneously posed a huge set-back and marked a new beginning. TEXT: EMMIE COLLINGE | PHOTOS: ROTTERDAM MARKETING
As with any city, the modern day skyline that we see, with its creative architecture shaping the horizon, reflects a long and sometimes destructive past. Modern day Rotterdam, with its ground-breaking architecture was born out of the devastation of World War II. After the horrendous attack on 14 May 1940 by the German Luftwaffe, the city centre was flattened and 30,000 of Rotterdam’s residents lay dead in the rubble. Plans to rebuild the city began to take shape even before the war had ended. Town planners were faced with the question of whether to simply reconstruct the original buildings or to redesign the whole city from scratch. Lichtenauer, General Sec-
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retary of the Chamber of Commerce in Rotterdam, declared the city’s intentions of “going to renew and modernise the city.” It was therefore decided to create a new urban image for the city, modern and befitting of one of the world’s most important ports. An insightful and forward thinking act, thinking about the future of Rotterdam rather than its past, the rebirth of a town typified. The city centre was once home to many working families, but these were now moved to new residential areas outside the immediate centre, leaving space to develop open spaces, ensuring trade and commerce had prime positions.
Another idea was to move the port further out of the city, opening up masses of potential space, as the city looked towards metropolises such as New York and London for inspiration. Today, referred to as ‘Manhattan on the Maas’, the Wilhelminapier area is now a hotbed of eye-opening architecture, restaurants, cultural facilities, hotels and stylish offices. Connected by the 802m long Erasmusbrug, a sweeping and visually-stunning bridge built in 1996 by Ben van Berkel. On the Wilhelminapier side of the heavilyused bridge, the largest multi-purpose building in the Netherlands has just opened
its doors. Called De Rotterdam, it took four years to building and even longer to design. Created in a less than ideal financial climate, the recession actually worked to the advantage of the architects; shrinking the contractors’ fees. The De Rotterdam building is Rotterdam’s own ‘vertical city’, welcoming 10,000 office employees and visitors daily, reaching its objectives of urban density and diversity. Additionally, the building has 1,000 visitors to its cafes and restaurants, 350 hotel guests at the very plush nhow Rotterdam designed by Rem Koolhaas and OMA, several thousand conference and cultural visitors as well as residents who reside in one of the building’s three structures. The materials used in the building are today quite common, following the trend set by Rem Koolhaas when he first used them in the early 90s. This industrial edge typifies the building as Koolhaas’ design was first recognised by the architectural world in 1992 with his Kunsthal Rotterdam. Now reopening after seven months of drastic renovation, the Kunsthal has called upon Koolhaas’ OMA firm to continue their work. Visiting Rotterdam you will be struck by the skyscraper-esque modernity which adds a very contemporary, glossy sheen to the city. In reality, these glass-fronted buildings
Photo: NBTC
Discover Benelux | Special Feature | Rotterdam
are miles from the dizzy heights of Dubai or Shanghai, but they do stand in stark contrast to the rest of the city’s glorious, wide open spaces and waterways. For centuries Rotterdam has been one of Europe’s most important ports, functioning as a vital trading area with access to the sea. Today pharmaceuticals, banking, creative, and the hi-tech and science industry provide the city with its capital. With the rapid developments of modern infrastructure has come high-speed train connections to Amsterdam, Amsterdam Schiphol airport and Brussels. The central station, designed by benthem crouwel architects, MVSA and west 8, is super smart and spacious, today accommodating 110,000 people a day and designed to cater for 323,000 travellers on a daily basis by 2025.
The post-war modernist architecture was studied by, and has acted as inspiration for many of the Netherlands’ current architects. Since the 1980s and early 1990s the world has looked to Rotterdam as a cradle of architectural talent. With the likes of such driven, young architectural firms as LOLA and OOZE, the cityscape is still evolving, ever forging this new identity. The Kunsthal, which reopened on 1 February 2014 is now showing a selection of incredible and moving exhibitions. After an official opening by the King of the Netherlands, The Second World War in 100 Objects runs until 5 May, while an exhibition dedicated to charting the progression of women’s shoes (1 Feb – 11 May) delights fashionistas and the curious alike. www.kunsthal.nl
The new entrance hall at Kunsthal Rotterdam. Photo: Ossip van Duivenbode. RIGHT: Vivienne Westwood, Court shoes, 1993 © 2013 Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto, Canada.
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