Rotterdam Market Hall - Rotterdam, Netherlands (MVRDV)

[khris]

First ground broken at Rotterdam Market Hall paves way for social center

First ground was broken this week (18 November) at the site of the new €175 million Rotterdam Market, representing the beginnings of a new hybrid social hub. The mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutleb and city councillor Hamit Karakus were on site to commence the construction of the monolithic 100,000 sq m public market and apartment building, designed by MVRDV.

Once complete in 2014 the market will be a giant cavernous archway in the centre of post-war Rotterdam, situated near the historic Laurens church. 228 apartments over ten upper levels will engulf the market void and overlook 100 stalls from interior windows. Each apartment will also feature a balcony on the exterior connecting the project with the community from all angles. The two lower levels of the archway will be used as public space introducing shops and restaurants. Together with an underground supermarket, 1200 parking spaces and 102 of the apartments developed as rental properties, the project is expressed as a social integration in the centre of Rotterdam.

Appearing as an open ended archway, the development is actually protected from the elements by suspended flexible transparent glass façades covering the 40 m tall and wide openings. Those in the apartments are also protected from the noise of the market using heavy insulation.

The project joins the likes of OMA's Skadstantoor City Hall, Atelier Kempe Thill's Theatre Podium Grotekerplein and KCAP's Red Apple as regenerative projects in the centre of Rotterdam. At the end of October, Planning and Environment Minister Jacqueline Cramer announced that a further investment of €31 million would be dedicated to develop the city's Stadshavens area in the city centre. By 2040 13,000 homes are to be introduced - 1,200 of which will be built on the water. The plans outlined will make the entire area 'energy neutral' and improve accessibility whilst giving key areas such as the Waalhaven boulevard a makeover and improving transport facilities over the water.

 

[junctionist]

The design looks wonderfully innovative, but the giant fruits and vegetables look tacky.

 

[Ramako]

The design looks wonderfully innovative, but the giant fruits and vegetables look tacky.

Agreed - I think a similar, but less tacky effect could be achieved with simple vertical bands of colour.

 

[Whoaccio]

For some reason it reminds me of one of those old pioneer wagons.

 

[Tewder]

I like it too. It completely updates the traditional form of a European marketplace. I agree abut the Veggie design on the inside. It would be a nice feature if that design could be changed for events and holidays etc. Maybe if screens and projections were used? Not sure, my expertise in these things is pretty sad.

 

[alklay]

Interesting design but it looks like a child designed it (and painted it).

 

[SP!RE]

I think the campy vegetable effect is what MAKES the building. Without it, the effect wouldn't work and it would look awkward or maybe even outdated.

What a brilliant concept though... I'd never really thought of such a space for a market before.

 

[Conrad Black]

I think its really cool. I like how they included apartments on the outside of the project.

 

[ProjectEnd]

The apartments also have windows to the interior.

 

[junctionist]

I think the campy vegetable effect is what MAKES the building. Without it, the effect wouldn't work and it would look awkward or maybe even outdated.

What a brilliant concept though... I'd never really thought of such a space for a market before.

Outdated? How many inverted 'U' buildings do you find in cities on average with wide open core spaces like this?

 

[Edward Skira]

The apartments also have windows to the interior.

Looks like hallways to me.

 

[Hipster Duck]

I am really digging Rotterdam right now. I admire [envy?] them for being so architecturally daring. In terms of moving out of its architectural comfort zone, Toronto isn't as bad as many people say, but it wouldn't hurt us to go batshit crazy once in a while.

 

[ProjectEnd]

Looks like hallways to me.

Could be, but at the Nathalie de Vries lecture back in May, she described how the apartments would have views to the interior. Hallways/service corridors would make more sense though.