Port City 2 and 3, Rotterdam
The transshipment activities in the port of Rotterdam are moving increasingly from the heart of the city towards the Maasvlakte, an industrialized area outside of town, which changes the character of the historic ports of Rotterdam. Port City is an office project initiated by the Rotterdam Port Authority, designed to give the outdated business area (Waalhaven) a new impulse. In this context Port City 2 and 3 are designed. Both buildings refer in their appearance to the disappearing port activities. In Port City 2 one can recognize the stacks of shipping containers still define the appearance of the port today. The silo-like cores of Port City 3 refer to the former, large-scale transshipment of grain.
Port City 2 consists of two volumes connected by a spacious void. Daylight fills the void, the glass elevators, the grand stairs and the walk bridges that connect the two parts of the building on each floor level. On the top floor of the building the Captain Lounge is situated; an impressive meeting room with large windows overlooking the port. The open walls on the water- and landside are characterized by uniform, wide transparent elements with deep windows. The closed side walls are covered with corrugated steel plates. The office floors have a flexible layout with fixed service and facility areas.
With glass on all sides Port City 3 unifies with the open character of the sounding area. The reflective glass facades of the building are constructed in steel, have windows that open individually and offer a magnificent view over the Waalhaven. Due to the similar structure in both stability cores of Port City 3 the office floors of approximately 1000m3 each, can be independently utilized by multiple users and entered through their own access. Parking lots are situated underneath the buildings.
Client
Havenbedrijf Rotterdam
Architect
Benthem Crouwel Architekten
Gross floor area
Port City 2: 8.000 m²
Port City 3: 8.000 m²
Start design
2007
Start construction
2009
Completion
2010
