Rotterdam City of Architecture: the past, the present, the future | Rotterdam Info (2024)

An inner-city packed with diverse architectural styles

The destruction of Rotterdam’s inner city in 1940 resulted in the patchwork of architectural styles that you encounter today. Here, icons of the Nieuwe Bouwen style (Sonneveld House, Van Nelle Factory) and typical post-war architecture (Het Industriegebouw, Rotterdamsche Bank) dazzle alongside ultramodern residential towers (De Rotterdam, Zalmhaventoren and The CoolTower). It is this variety that tells the story of the city. The city where, on a stroll through the centre, you will also come across monuments such as the City Hall, the Laurenskerk and the Schielandshuis: relics of pre-war Rotterdam. And the 45-metre-high Witte Huis (White House), built in 1898 – Europe’s first skyscraper – also survived the bombing. The Markthal, next to the Laurenskerk, tells its own story and heralds a new era in Rotterdam.

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Spacious Rotterdam

By breaking with the past and opting for a wide layout and modern architecture during reconstruction, Rotterdam acquired its present, spacious look. Light, air and space became the motto. This can be seen at the Lijnbaan, the Netherlands’ first car-free shopping promenade. And also at the music venue (and national monument) De Doelen, the Groothandelsgebouw, the Euromast and De Bijenkorf, which also saw the light of day at this time. Of course, a counter-reaction to this was inevitable. That came in the 1970s when more small houses were built in the city according to the ‘human’ scale. The Cube Houses mentioned earlier are the result of this. In the next phase, Rotterdam took to the skies: high-rise buildings broke through and steadily formed the city’s now characteristic skyline. The arrival of the Erasmus Bridge brought more and more activity – and new buildings – to the Kop van Zuid, with Montevideo, the Maastoren and New Orleans. Gradually, Rotterdam Zuid became a fully-fledged part of the city and the Erasmus Bridge and the monumental Maas Tunnel became must-sees and gateways to new developments in the city. Such as on Katendrecht with Theatre Walhalla, Fenix I, the Fenix Food Factory and the many cultural programmes. And with all the developments in the Afrikaanderwijk and Hart van Zuid. Too many to mention!

We continue to innovate!

The urge to innovate is still alive and kicking in Rotterdam! A lot is happening in the city’s Central District, for example. Architectural firm ZUS saved the Schieblock from demolition, transforming it into a vibrant multi-tenanted business centre with the DakAkker, a rooftop farm. Via the bright yellow Luchtsingel – the bridge connecting the city centre with Noord – you can walk to the Hofbogen air park on top of the former train station. The entire stretch of De Hofbogen is being transformed into a green and lush city park at a height of almost two kilometres! In the same neighbourhood, work is underway on the new development of ZOHO (the Zomerhofkwartier), where residents, entrepreneurs and makers will soon be living, working and socialising together.

Climate-adaptive design

Work is also underway on climate adaptive measures at other outdoor locations in the city. With water plazas, wadis, green roofs and less pavement, for example, the city can better withstand heat, drought and heavy rainfall. By consistently and generously investing in innovation, Rotterdam is one of the front runners in the field of climate adaptation. The Hofbogenpark, as mentioned above, will also be designed in a climate-adaptive way by DE URBANISTEN, DS landscape architects and de Dakdokters. It will provide maximum cooling, offer shelter and absorb CO2 and water. This park is one of seven urban projects in which Rotterdam is committed to a greener, more sustainable living environment.

Architecture of the future

The architectural diversity invites new architects and designers to contribute. The positive spiral of stimulation and inspiration logically continues into the future. The first signs of this are already visible. In line with the idea of sustainability, various historic buildings are being transformed. They are being given a new purpose and, with that, partly a new image, with an addition or extension that depicts the fusion of Rotterdam’s history and innovation beautifully. This applies to the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, the old Post Office on the Coolsingel and also to the Fenix Loodsen II. This is where FENIX will be realised, a place where art, history and stories come together in the place where the emigrants used to arrive and depart. After an intensive renovation, a spectacular structure and viewpoint will be added to the pre-war warehouse, which in itself is worth a visit.

BlueCity and M4H: breeding grounds for innovation

Rotterdam is tackling the climate challenge with the same fearlessness and experimental drive with which it built its inner city. Architects, designers and scientists are encouraged to work together on innovative ideas. For example, the former tropical swimming paradise Tropicana has been transformed into BlueCity, a model city for the circular (blue) economy. It offers workshops and laboratories to start-ups such as Waterweg, which develops permeable tiles, and BlueBlocks, which produces bio-based construction materials. The old docks M4H and RDM, which together form Rotterdam’s new makers’ district, are also home to many innovations on the cutting edge of art, design and technology.

Artist Joep van Lieshout also proves that creatives are always given the space and opportunity to innovate here. In collaboration with architect and developer Nanne de Ru (Powerhouse & RED Company), he is building BRUTUS in the M4H district. This cultural centre of at least 7000 m2 houses exhibition spaces, a labyrinth, a place for workshops and education, studios, living and working spaces for artists and an outdoor sculpture garden. This ‘artist-driven playground’ puts ‘makers’ centre stage and guarantees them a place, regardless of gentrification. That too is a sustainable idea because it contributes to the preservation of Rotterdam’s creative and innovative mentality.

Explore the city yourself with the brochure Discover Rotterdamor join an architecture tour with UrbanGuides. Either way, don’t miss out on these 10 (mostly architectural) must-sees!