July 14, 2002: THE
ARCHITECTURE OF ROTTERDAM
Rotterdam is known all over the world for its
innovative architecture. Both students and professionals come to the city to
study and appreciate its contrasting and amazing angles and shapes. The old and
the new meet there in perfect harmony, mixing different styles and times, which
makes it a unique city. In its 18th Century buildings in Delfshaven,
or even in its cube dwellings, Rotterdam has an atmosphere that is both
contemporary and conservative. The untouched part of the city: Delfshaven If you are in Rotterdam and you want to see typical
Dutch architecture from the medieval times, don’t think twice before visiting
Delfshaven. The origin of this place is history, as it hasn’t always belonged
to the city of Rotterdam. In the 10th Century, the Delft region, 30
km away from Rotterdam, needed a sea route connection, so a haven was built
called Delfshaven (as in “Delft haven”). Rotterdam eventually grew and
encompassed the former Delft haven. The architecture is still the same as it was
in the 17th Century, with tiled streets, an old factory, a church
with a sundial and a windmill. Visitors in Delfshaven feel as if they are in a different time. In spite of the several restaurants, pubs and theaters around the canal, this small haven still retains an 18th Century atmosphere. One of the pubs offers the locally brewed Pilgrins beer. The name is a reference to the pilgrims who once lived there. When Holland was under Spanish (and therefore Christian) domination, the Rotterdam Anglicans were forced to retreat to Delft, home town of Josue Robinson, mentor of the religion in Holland; they later migrated into the United States. Nowadays, as a tribute to the pilgrims who left Holland, the Pilgrins beer is only brewed and sold in Delfshaven. Pictures of a show and local landscapes: 1, 2 The White House Rotterdam had the tallest building in Europe until 1923. The “Het Witte Huis” (The White House) was built in 1898 in American style, designed by architect W. Molenbroek. This 43-meter high building was built at a time when tall buildings like this were not a common sight; that’s why its architecture looks like an oversized house. “Het Witte Huis” stands out in the Rotterdam landscape. Pictures
of the White House: 1,
2 A mixture of styles The Rotterdam architecture was influenced by several
movements of the early 20th Century. The De Stijl (the style)
movement stressed colors, line and simplicity, with painter Mondrian as a
prominent artist. The movement brought vividness and colors to Rotterdam
buildings and sculptures which can be appreciated to this day. Another style the
city became known for was De Nieuwe Zakelijkheid, typical of the 30’s, like
the Erasmus House, designed by the famous architect Willen Dudok. The modernist
movement Nieuwe Bouwen, also in the 30’s, gave the early 20th
Century Rotterdam the modern inspiration that is still its trademark. The postwar period A large portion of downtown and the Rotterdam haven was destroyed by bombings in the early 40’s during World War II. The wrecked buildings and streets had to be rebuilt. The project was headed by W. G. Witteven and C. Vaan Traa. Large structures were built in modern style, making Rotterdam known all over the world for its innovative architecture. A lot of commercial buildings were built to prevent business moving from Rotterdam to Amsterdam. Large stores and malls emerged in the 50’s. In the Bijemfork building, rebuilt after the War, there are no windows, so nothing will divert the shoppers’ attention. Pictures: Bijemkorf, Shopping Zone and Shopping Zone Mall The 80’s Rotterdam visitors are quickly attracted by the Erasmus
Bridge and by the innovative lines of the buildings around it. Across the bridge
there is Kop van Zuid, heading south. The district is attractive for its
contemporary style buildings, forming a beautiful landscape with the contours of
the bridge. The Luxor Theater is a reference for its bold design. Famous
architects who left their marks were Renzo Piano and Norman Foster. Near the
theater there is the New York hotel, forming an interesting contrast of the old
against the new. From this building immigrants set out to colonize the United
States. Pictures of Kop van Zuid avenue, Kop van Zuid buildings, Luxor Theaterr, KPN building and buildings outline Cube dwellings One of the major attractions in the Rotterdam
architecture are the Cubic Houses, built in 1984 by Piet Biom. These are 39
cube-shaped dwellings which are still inhabited. If you’re curious to know how
one can live in a house like this, you can visit you can visit one of them! Near
the cubic houses there is the Rotterdam library, which also stands out for its
pyramid-like shape: eight diminishing floors with yellow tubes around the
building. The Rotterdam World Trade Center, built in 1986, is
another outstanding building in town. Its fully mirrored tower is 93-meters high
and was built atop the old Stock Exchange building. The Sea Museum, near the Erasmus Bridge, must also be
admired, as well as its own collection. The Pathe cinema building offers a rich display of contemporary architecture. The cinema itself has innovative lines. The facing square has mobile lights which can be manipulated freely. Pictures of the Library, Blaak Station with the cubic houses and the Cubic Houses: 1, 2, 3; the Cinema Square and the Pathe Cinema; and the World Trade Center: 1, 2 The Erasmusbrook Ben van Berkel’s Erasmus Bridge is the town’s
current icon. It is really good looking with its bold lines. The bridge was
built in 1996 and it is totally supported on one side. In order to stress the contribution of Rotterdam to
Architecture, the Rotterdam Architecture Institute offers great expositions for
those interested. Pictures of the Erasmus Bridge: 1, 2 Translated by Traduzca |
