‘De Admiraal’ mixed-use complex, Rotterdam

On one side there is a wharf with post-war offices; on the other there is historical architecture: the block between the Oostzeedijk and the Admiraliteitskade had to reconcile those differences. This inspired the design of a large-scale complex that seems to be composed of smaller volumes. A high-rise residential block reaches skyward on the quayside, flanked by a larger office building with a contrasting articulation of the façade. The lowest section overlooks the Oostzeedijk. Differentiation in the fenestration and detailing makes these different volumes readable from the exterior. In the middle of the block there is a car park with a spacious courtyard garden on its roof.