De Rotterdam, the largest building in the Netherlands

De Rotterdam, un complejo con tres torres de usos mixto interrelacionados diseñado por OMA, se comenzará a construir en diciembre de este año.
El proyecto, a cargo de los desarrolladores del MAB y OVG, está ubicado en el antiguo barrio portuario de Wilhelminapier, junto al icónico puente Erasmus. Las tres torres de 150 metros de altura y una superficie bruta de aproximadamente 160.000 m2, se convertirán en el edificio más grande de Rotterdam, Holanda.

El principio rector del proyecto arquitectónico es, según sus autores, además del gran tamaño del complejo, una propuesta de alta densidad urbana y de diversidad tanto en el programa como en la forma, una ciudad vertical con oficinas, departamentos, hotel, salas de conferencias, gimnasio, tiendas, restaurantes y cafés.

De Rotterdam, a complex of three interconnected mixed-use towers designed by OMA, will go under construction in December this year, the developers MAB and OVG announced today.

The project is located in the old harbour district of Wilhelminapier, next to the iconic Erasmus bridge. The three stacked towers reach 150 metres high, producing a gross floor area of approximately 160,000m2, making De Rotterdam the largest building in the Netherlands.

OMA’s architectural concept produces more than sheer size: urban density and diversity -both in the program and the form- are the guiding principles of the project. De Rotterdam is conceived as a vertical city, accommodating offices, apartments, a hotel, conference facilities, gym, shops, restaurants, and cafes.

The towers are part of the ongoing redevelopment of Wilhelminapier, and aim to reinstate the vibrant urban activity -trade, transport, leisure- once familiar to the neighbourhood. De Rotterdam is named after one of the ships on the Holland America Line, which used to depart from the Wilhelminapier in decades past, carrying thousands of Europeans emigrating to the US.

The design for De Rotterdam started in 1997. OMA founder Rem Koolhaas said: “It’s a miracle that construction will finally begin. One of the positive outcomes of the economic crisis is the drop in the cost of materials and construction, which has given new energy to long running projects like this one.”

The project is led by OMA partners Rem Koolhaas, Ellen van Loon and Reinier de Graaf and the associate in charge is Kees van Casteren.

The total investment in the project is €340m. Completion is expected in 2013.

On OMA:
The Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) is a leading international partnership practicing contemporary architecture, urbanism and cultural analysis.
At its HQ in Rotterdam OMA is working on several major projects in Europe and the Middle East, including. a 90,000 m2 mixed-use building at the Coolsingel in Rotterdam; Koningin Juliana Plein, a mixed-use building in The Hague; the Fondazione Prada in Milan; the renovation and expansion of Commonwealth Institute in London; and the Bryghusgrunden museum and office building in Copenhagen. OMA recently completed the Prada Transformer in Seoul and won two large competitions in Asia for the Taipei Center for Performing Arts and Shenzhen Crystal Island. OMA’s largest project to date, the headquarters for Chinese Central Television in Beijing, will be completed later this year.
OMA is led by six partners: Rem Koolhaas, Ole Scheeren, Ellen van Loon, Reinier de Graaf, Shohei Shigematsu and Managing Partner Victor van der Chijs.

Publicado por: Alberto Gorbatt