The city of Modern Architecture - II, Rotterdam

Skyscrapers of Kop Van Zuid

Boompjes:

Towards the Boompjes is a white building Willemswerf, designed by the Amsterdam architect Wim Quist. It has a facade with an interrupting sloping glass diagonally over the full length of the façade, dividing the structure into two parts as it appears from front.

Willemswerf; 1989; Wim Quist

Just beside the Willemswerf is the Red Apple, which is 124 m high are 40-storey residential skyscraper. Red Apple is designed by KCAP Architects & Planners and Jan des Bouvrie and was completed in 2009. The facades are designed with bright red anodized aluminum with small shifts relative to one another.

Red Apple;2009;KCAP Architects

Adjacent to Red Apple is Waterstadtoren which is about 108.88 m high and is constructed in 2004. It was designed by HM Architekten.

Waterstadtoren;2004;HM Architekten(L), Red Apple;2009;KCAP Architects(R)

Through the Boompjes is another popular building De Maas.

De Maas, Boompjes

Walking down the Boompjeskade at the waterfront, gives a spectacular view of Noordereiland and the skyscrapers of the Kop Van Zuid overlooking Nieuwe Maas.

World Nations Flags, Boompjeskade

Indian Flag flying high, behind is the De Mass Building

Noordereiland or the North Island as seen from Boompjeskade

Kop Van Zuid:

This is a small neighborhood of Rotterdam on the south bank of Nieuwe Maas connected by the famous Erasmusbrug. Most of the popular skyscrapers of Rotterdam are located around this area. Some of the significant ones are, De Rotterdam, Montevideo, Maastoren, New Orleans, De Brug, World Port Center, and the KPN Tower.

Panoramic view of the skyscrapers of Kop Van Zuid

From left is the Maastoren-KPN tower-De Rotterdam-Erasmusbrug-Montevideo-World Port Centre.

The view from Boompjeskade is amazing with a panoramic view of the skyscrapers along with the Erasmus Bridge and the Nieuwe Maas. Best of all is sitting and gazing around the ships and cruise boats passing by the Nieuwe Maas during the evening hours until sunset.

How about a water Taxi??

Or Even a Water Bus??

Port Authority cruise saling by the tallest structure of Netherlands - Maastoren

De Rotterdam is designed by Rem Koolhaas in 1998, and was completed in 2013. It has 44 floors with an approximate total area of 160 000 m² (1,722,226 sq. ft.), allegedly making it the largest building in Europe.

The design of the building is unique with a common base of 6 floors and then rises three towers, which are moved by few meters in different directions, which enhances the wind stability and provides space for terraces.

The cable-stayed bridge Erasmusbrug is built across Nieuwe Maas river connecting north and south Rotterdam. The bridge is designed by Ben van Berkel and was completed in 1996.

It is about 802 m long and 139 m in height and has single asymmetrical pylon in the shape of a swan, so it is sometimes termed as "The Swan". There is a bascule bridge at its southern end to allow ships to sail through which can’t pass under the bridge.

Montevideo is another popular skyscraper of Rotterdam, which is a 43-storey building at an height of 139.5 m. Montevideo was Designed by the Mecanoo architects and was completed in 2005.

Next to Montevideo is the 32-storey building World Port Centre designed by Sir Norman Foster and was completed in 2001.

KPN Tower

The tallest building in the Netherlands, Maastoren is another skyscraper at Kop Van Zuid. It is a 44-storey, 165 m office skyscraper designed by Dam & Partners Architecten and was completed in 2009. One can notice Deloitte on top of the building, which is the main office space rented at the building.

Maastoren; 2009; Dam and Partners

This is the best place to end your Rotterdam journey with a lovely sunset.

Sunset over Erasmusbrug

We caught our tram back to Central station from the Inntel hotel or the Golden Tulip Inntel near the Nieuwe Maas waterfront. Golden Tulip Inntel was constructed in 2006 and was designed by Mas Architectuur.