Valckensteyn housing development by Powerhouse Company in Rotterdam has introduced a circular, sustainable design for the largest timber-built affordable housing complex in the Netherlands, featuring 82 homes within a 12-story structure. Completed on the site of a former residential building in Pendrecht, the project emphasizes sustainability through existing foundation reuse and biodiversity-enhancing gardens, contributing to a nature-inclusive environment.
Powerhouse Company has unveiled its design for the largest timber-built affordable housing complex in the Netherlands. The “Valckensteyn” project features a circular 12-story timber structure comprising 82 homes. Located in Pendrecht, a post-war neighborhood in Rotterdam, the development occupies the site of a former residential building with the same name, demolished a decade ago. The timber construction promotes a sustainable, nature-inclusive environment accessible to all residents.
Timber’s lightness, compared to steel and concrete, enabled the use of existing foundations, eliminating the need for new ones and significantly reducing materials and waste. LAP Landscape & Urban Design has incorporated publicly accessible collective gardens throughout the project, enhancing biodiversity with year-round flowering plants that attract bees. The car park is designed as a “green carpet” with water filtration and cement-free paving stones.
Floor-to-ceiling windows on the lower floors connect residents to the outdoors, while the west-facing facade features timber-clad balconies overlooking the park. The ground floor, with a travertine-clad plinth, pays homage to the neighborhood’s post-war history. The lobby offers communal spaces with ample natural daylight, fostering social interaction.
The Valckensteyn development’s modular design uses cross-laminated timber extensively, ensuring efficiency. Its higher and lower volumes reflect the massing of the previous building. The structure is demountable and flexible, constructed with large prefabricated wood components, emphasizing the growing popularity of mass timber for its strength, cost, time efficiency, and sustainability.
Powerhouse Company’s partners, including Stefan Prins and lead architect Daphne Delissen, alongside a dedicated project team, have realized this innovative design. The development reflects a broader trend towards sustainable timber structures, as seen in recent projects by BIG and Henning Larsen across Europe.
