De Rotterdam, a dynamic presence designed by Rem Koolhaas and OMA, stands prominently on the Maas River’s south bank. The 150-metre structure, completed recently, features glazed towers with apartments, offices, and a hotel. Koolhaas explains the adaptable design and strategic location that ensures the building’s visibility. De Rotterdam’s unique shifting volumes offer diverse perspectives, making it a notable addition to the cityscape. Tenants, including the municipality of Rotterdam, will occupy the building within the year.
Rem Koolhaas describes De Rotterdam as a “dynamic presence in the city.” In an exclusive interview, Koolhaas explains why this colossal new tower is OMA’s most visible skyscraper to date. He states that “nobody will be able to avoid” seeing it.
De Rotterdam, located on the south bank of Rotterdam’s Maas River, is a 150-meter structure with overlapping glazed towers housing apartments, offices, and a hotel. Despite developing designs for dozens of high-rises, this is only the fourth high-rise completed by OMA.
Koolhaas highlights the project’s prominent location, saying it is on a site where “nobody will be able to avoid seeing the entire building.” He compares it to the Rothschild Bank Headquarters in London and CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, which are both within dense cityscapes. The superb location on the river, approached by only one bridge, allows for predictable perception.
Originally, OMA considered designing two separate buildings. Koolhaas wanted to avoid “planting needles,” leading to a single structure concept with large vertical openings to break up the mass. He states that they made a building consisting of separate volumes slightly shifted relative to each other, allowing for adaptability. This design enables easy replacement of parts to accommodate different logics and arguments.
Koolhaas adds that the shifting creates a large, dynamic building, appearing different from every angle. It can look like a wall, almost three separate building, or a single mass.
The building was officially completed in 2013. Tenants, including the municipality of Rotterdam, have moved in over the next year.
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Address: 139 Wilhelminakade, Rotterdam, South Holland 3072 AP, Netherlands
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
