ESVEHA BUILDING RAZED TO THE GROUND

The name Esveha derived from the Dutch pronunciation of the company trademark ‘S.V.H.’, short for Simons, Veerkade, Haag. Their original premises were destroyed during the wartime bombardments. Even before the war was over, Rotterdam-based architect Hendrik Breur started designs for a new building. However, a halt on construction thwarted those plans, and Breur himself was rejected by the Architectural Committee. In his place, they appointed J.J.P. Oud as ‘aesthetic advisor’. Construction started in January 1949 and the building was officially delivered on 1 August 1950.

As work got underway, an interior layout was drawn up, providing for a showroom in the basement and shipping and storage spaces, offices and a salesroom on the ground floor. The first floor housed the founder and his wife, along with an additional storeroom. The upper floors contained still more storage spaces.

The office building is part of a row of properties on Delftsestraat built in the early Reconstruction period. Plans at the time were to restore the city to its former glory brick by brick, instead of the large-scale redevelopment that was ultimately pursued.

The building lent most of its distinction from its celebrated architect, Jacobus Johannes Pieter Oud. Oud made a name for himself as a member of the De Stijl artistic movement and a champion of modern architecture. His pioneering role in this new era of building rivals that of Le Corbusier and Gropius. If not for his reputation, the Esveha building would have received scant attention. Its façade was unremarkable among the neighbouring buildings on Delftsestraat. Sadly, its original composition is lost as even Oud’s fame could not prevent the building from being repainted completely black.

DID YOU KNOW…?

• Paper wholesaler Esveha’s offices on Botersloot were levelled by bombs during the Second World War.

• The project broke ground in January 1949 and the new building was taken into use on 1 August 1950.

• The principal façade measures precisely 16 by 16 metres. With a depth of 15 metres, the building was almost a perfect cube.

FACTS & FIGURES

NAME: ESVEHA BUILDING

ADDRESS: DELFTSESTRAAT 25 ROTTERDAM NETHERLANDS

ARCHITECT: J.J.P. OUD & BREUR, H

BUILT: 1949-1 AUGUST 1950 (IN USE)

PURPOSE: BUSINESS PREMISES

DEVELOPER: N.V. ESVEHA

USERS: REWRITERS010, BLAV, ROTTERLIGHT, SZUTKOWSKI AUDIOVISUELE VORMGEVING AND OTHERS

COMPLETED:

1 AUGUST 1950

FLOORS: 6

HEIGHT: 16 METRES

FLOOR AREA: 1,209 M²

WANT MORE?

To read more about this building, visit wederopbouwrotterdam.nl/en

Christmas Cheer At The Station

This holiday season, a dazzling Christmas tree was put up again on the square in front of Rotterdam Centraal Station for all to enjoy. After the tree’s long-time principal sponsor withdrew its support, local organizations and residents joined to launch a crowdfunding campaign. Thanks to the generosity of the Rotterdam community and several large companies, enough money for a tree was raised in the nick of time. A festive tree-lighting ceremony was held to celebrate, made even more spectacular by NS and ProRail briefly switching off all the lights around the station square.

The tree was trimmed from bottom to top with circularly created ornaments, including the huge gold tree-topper made from recycled material. In the spirit of giving, the campaign also made a Christmas donation to the Sophia children’s hospital. For the 120,000-plus people who pass by the station every day, the tree was a festive treat and a testament to the strength of the Rotterdam community!

RCD ASSOCIATION GETS A BIG BOOST!

Breaking news! In early December, the Municipality of Rotterdam published the results of a formal public opinion survey and gave the green light for RCD property owners to join forces in the brand-new Stichting BIZ RCD (‘RCD Business Investment Zone Foundation’). This means that, for the coming period of at least five years, not one but two organizations will be investing their energies in RCD, with the new RCD BIZ Foundation joining the RCD Association. We’ll fill you in on all the details of this new partnership later, but it already promises to inject a huge boost from 2023 on!

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MEET-UP AT CIC

At the end of 2022, CIC had the honour of welcoming Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb and Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Minister Liesje Schreinemacher. The innovation centre facilitated the meet-up about international business, during which the community had a chance to share stories about their own innovations in Rotterdam’s urban entrepreneurial ecosystem. It was a great morning with loads of new insights!

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Royal Party

On 27 April this year, King WillemAlexander and his family are visiting Rotterdam for King’s Day! As well as the Dutch monarch’s birthday, he will also be celebrating the tenth year of his reign. As the theme of this King’s Day, the city has chosen ‘We are all kings and queens’, highlighting how we are all different, and all special in our own way. A variety of organizations, city residents and partners are teaming up to throw a party fit for the king!