"MVRDV has received approval to build Schieblocks, a 47,000-square-meter office complex set to become the largest private new office building currently under construction in the Netherlands. Rising 61 meters alongside the central railway, the project stacks 11 colorful blocks whose facades combine brick constructed from recycled material and Building Integrated Photovoltaic panels. Drawing inspiration from Donald Judd's iconic furniture series, the bold composition forms a dynamic 'slice' of Rotterdam that brings color, texture, and material innovation into a vertically layered urban ensemble."
"Located within the Schiekadeblok, a post-war district that evolved into a cult destination for creative businesses, bars, and clubs, the project BY MVRDV echoes the area's protected character. The Dutch firm divides the long, narrow building into four horizontal segments, each with a distinct plinth and one or two blocks above, referencing the scale of the surrounding reconstruction-era architecture. Carved upper volumes respond to the angle of the sun, preventing shadows from falling on residential areas across the tracks, demonstrating a sensitive approach to densification."
"Each block's unique combination of fenestration and color references different landmarks across Rotterdam. One block features bay windows derived from Huig Maaskant's Citrusveiling building paired with the vivid yellow of the former Luchtsingel bridge. Another uses the sandstone hue of the city hall with octagonal windows inspired by Hofplein 19 that collectively spell out '010,' Rotterdam's telephone code. This layered approach transforms the building into a catalog of local architectural memory."
MVRDV received approval for Schieblocks, a 47,000-square-meter office complex rising 61 meters alongside Rotterdam's central railway. The design stacks 11 colorful blocks whose facades combine recycled-material brick and Building Integrated Photovoltaic panels, forming a vertically layered composition inspired by Donald Judd. The long narrow mass is divided into four horizontal segments with distinct plinths and one or two blocks above, referencing surrounding reconstruction-era architecture. Carved upper volumes are oriented to the sun to prevent casting shadows on residences across the tracks. Each block's fenestration and color reference Rotterdam landmarks, transforming the building into a catalog of local architectural memory. A transparent ground level hosts public amenities.
Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine
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