Markthal Rotterdam / MVRDV

Architects: MVRDV
Area: 100000 m²
Year: 2014
Photographs: Daria Scagliola+Stijn Brakkee, Ossip van Duivenbode, Nico Saieh
Co-architects: INBO, Woudenberg, NL
Principal-in-Charge: Winy Maas, Partner: Renske van der Stoep
Design team: Anton Wubben, Marc Joubert, Sven Thorissen, Monica Freundt, Laura Grillo, Joeri Horstink, Tadas Jonauskis, Diana Lopez, Gijs Rikken, Elsbeth Ronner, Yvo Thijssen, Johnny Tsang, Anet Schurink, Jeroen Zuidgeest, Michele Olcese, Ivo van Capelleveen
Strategy and Development: Jan Knikker
Structure: Royal Haskoning DHV, The Hague, NL
Services / Acoustics: Peutz & Associates, Zoetermeer, NL
Installations: Techniplan, NL
Above Ground Contractor: J. P. van Eesteren
Below Ground Contractor: Mobilis and Martens en Van Oord, NL
Artwork: Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam
Themes: NEXT, Interiors
Manufacturers: Laufen, Acor, Aldowa, Easy Drain, Guardian Glass, Octatube, Streetlife, ZNR
Budget: € 175,000,000
Client: Provast Nederland bv, The Hague, Netherlands
City: Rotterdam
Country: The Netherlands

Markthal, designed by MVRDV and completed in 2014 in Rotterdam’s Laurenskwartier, is the Netherlands’ first covered market, blending food, leisure, living, and parking in a 95,000-square-meter structure. The building houses 228 apartments, including 24 penthouses, offering views of the River Maas, Laurenskerk, or the market hall. The market hall features 96 food stalls, surrounded by 20 shops, cafés, and restaurants, with the “World of Taste” food innovation center below. The ceiling showcases the massive mural “Cornucopia” by Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam. Sustainability features, such as thermal storage and natural ventilation, earned a Very Good BREEAM rating. The underground section offers 1,200 parking spaces, and deliveries are fully integrated to avoid disruption. Markthal’s multifunctional design, combining residential, commercial, and public spaces, has revitalized the Laurenskwartier area and become a symbol of urban transformation in Rotterdam.

Markthal, located in the historic Laurenskwartier in the heart of Rotterdam, represents a pioneering hybrid of food, leisure, living, and parking. Designed by architecture studio MVRDV and completed in 2014, the building stands as the Netherlands’ first covered market, integrating diverse functions under a monumental arched structure. This innovative combination creates a public space that blends daily life and commerce with a vibrant, sustainable vision for urban living.

The horseshoe-shaped arch consists of privately developed apartments, forming a canopy over the bustling central market hall below. Spanning 95,000 square meters, Markthal houses 228 apartments (102 rentals and 126 for sale), including 24 penthouses, all benefiting from views of either the River Maas, the Laurenskerk, or the vibrant market hall itself. These residential units follow Dutch daylight laws, ensuring natural light in living areas, while kitchens and storage rooms face the market, separated by triple-glazed windows to prevent noise and smell intrusion.

At the ground level, the heart of the building is a lively market hall hosting 96 fresh food stalls, ranging from local Rotterdam vendors to renowned market favorites. The stalls offer a wide variety of products, from fresh fish and game to international cuisines and slow food delicacies. Surrounding the market are 20 additional retail spaces, cafés, and restaurants, which contribute to the building’s dynamic character by providing dining and shopping options throughout the day and into the evening. Below ground, a large supermarket and the “World of Taste” center for food innovation and education further enhance the market’s appeal.

One of Markthal’s most striking features is the interior artwork, “Cornucopia,” a massive mural by artists Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam. Covering over 11,000 square meters of the building’s vaulted ceiling, the mural depicts enlarged images of food, flowers, and insects, drawing inspiration from Dutch 17th-century still-life paintings. Rendered using Pixar software and printed on perforated aluminum panels, the artwork adds a spectacular visual element to the space, while the panels double as acoustic solutions to manage noise in the market hall.

Externally, Markthal is clad in natural grey stone, providing a contrast to the vibrant interior. The structure’s open character is maintained through its innovative cable net façade, the largest of its kind in Europe. This transparent façade system, which uses pre-stressed steel cables to support glass panes, allows the building to remain visually accessible while protecting the interior from the weather. Despite its lightness, the façade is robust enough to withstand harsh storms, ensuring that the building remains open and inviting throughout the year.

Sustainability is a key element in Markthal’s design, which earned a Very Good BREEAM rating. The building utilizes a thermal storage system to exchange heat and cool between different areas, reducing energy consumption. Natural ventilation is achieved through a thermal system where fresh air enters below the glass façade, rises through the structure, and exits via roof ventilation shafts. Moreover, an information panel within the market illustrates the building’s energy savings and CO2 reduction efforts. The tenants have signed Green Lease Agreements to further ensure responsible water, energy, and waste usage, while bats and swifts have been provided with nesting spaces to enhance the local ecology.

Underground, the Markthal offers 1,200 parking spaces, as well as an Albert Heijn supermarket and additional shops such as Etos and Gall & Gall. The building’s delivery systems are fully integrated underground to ensure that logistics do not disturb market visitors or residents, contributing to a seamless urban experience. Inhabitants can access their apartments via six separate entrances, each leading to elevators that gradually shift location as they ascend the arched structure. Every apartment features a wide, outdoor terrace, with the penthouses on the top floor boasting expansive roof terraces due to the building’s arch shape.

Markthal has become a new landmark of urban transformation, fostering economic growth and attracting international attention. Its combination of residential, commercial, and public functions seamlessly blends into Rotterdam’s urban fabric, revitalizing the Laurenskwartier and promoting a new typology of integrated living. The building is not just a market, but a symbol of Rotterdam’s innovative spirit and commitment to creating lively, multi-functional spaces that serve the needs of its residents and visitors alike.