Excerpt: The Modernist, a mixed-use project by MVRDV, includes 421 private and rental apartments, 14,000 m² of offices, a plinth with commercial spaces, and a passage through the building. The project is the third and final phase of the Weenapoint redevelopment by the Maarsen Group, aiming to create a more mixed urban character in the Rotterdam Central District. The complex will serve as a recognizable city entrance from Rotterdam Central Station.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] Construction has started on the MVRDV-designed The Modernist complex opposite Rotterdam Central Station. The 60,000 m2 complex contains 421 owner-occupied and rental apartments in the private sector and mid-range rental, 14,000 m2 of offices and a plinth with commercial spaces and a passage through the building. The Modernist is the third and final phase of the (re)development of the Weenapoint by Maarsen Group. The Rotterdam Central District, a part of the city center dominated by office buildings, gets a more mixed urban character with The Modernist.
On December 6, the start of construction of The Modernist was given by Rotterdam councilor for Climate, Building and Living Chantal Zeegers. The complex on Kruisplein, with its inviting plinth and residential towers, will form a recognizable city entrance from Rotterdam Central station.
The plinth will have a passage in the middle that crosses the building. The passage provides easy, new access to the renovated courtyard of the Weenapoint, which is publicly accessible to everyone. The ground floor and first floor of the plinth will house restaurants, a café, co-working spaces, offices and a fitness studio. The remaining four floors of the plinth consist of office spaces. The ambition is to connect all spaces at street level, including the passage and lobby of the adjacent FIRST Rotterdam building on Weena. These connections create a lively ground floor, even outside office hours.
The Modernist increases the population in the Rotterdam Central District, in an area with mainly office buildings in the immediate vicinity of Rotterdam Central Station. The two residential towers contain 421 apartments. At the top of the South Tower there are 88 owner-occupied apartments, the remaining apartments in both towers are 175 private sector rental properties and 158 mid-rental properties. The apartments range from 45 to 120 m2, the majority of which have 1 to 2 bedrooms.
A striking aspect of the design are the so-called ‘sun cuts’ – recesses in the towers that allow extra sunlight at street level on Kruisplein. These recesses are determined by the Rotterdam high-rise regulations. These rules designate ‘sun spots’ in public spaces where no shade may come from newly constructed buildings at specific times of the day. MVRDV’s design brings together data about the urban landscape and local regulations in a physical way.
88% of the apartments have an outdoor space in the form of a loggia or roof terrace. At 125 meters, the South Tower is a counterpart to the opposite Millennium Tower. The North Tower of 70 meters is lower and narrower, so that as many apartments as possible in both residential towers have a view of Kruisplein and Central Station. There is a limited number of 59 parking spaces in the underground garage and there are several spacious bicycle sheds at street level. This encourages residents and other users of The Modernist to use two-wheelers or public transport instead of the car.
“The Modernist refers to the reconstruction architecture of Rotterdam,” says Jacob van Rijs, co-founder of MVRDV. ‘The clear volumes and the raised plinth refer to the buildings around the nearby Lijnbaan. This gives De Modernist a first impression of the city when you arrive at Rotterdam Central Station.’
“The Modernist, with its special architecture, will strengthen the entrance to our vibrant city center,” says councilor Chantal Zeegers. ‘With the start of this project, we are simultaneously celebrating the kick-off of the new construction in Rotterdam Central District. This dynamic area around the central station will contain a total of 4,000 homes and 100,000 m2 of office space. Together with the other developments, The Modernist contributes to the good growth of our city.’
“We are extremely proud of the realization of The Modernist,” says Monique Maarsen, general manager of Maarsen Group. ‘This moment was made possible by intensive collaboration with the municipality of Rotterdam and Stebru and with our partners ASR, NLV and Rabobank. With 421 homes and a modern office offering, we make a significant contribution to the development of Rotterdam Central District as a mixed city center. The Paris Proof offices in particular, which we hold in our own portfolio, illustrate our commitment to quality and sustainability. We are already in discussions with several parties about the office space.’
The Modernist is a design by MVRDV for developer Maarsen Groep. This is the final phase of the (re)development of the Weenapoint, in which the FIRST Rotterdam building was previously built, Weena 750 was transformed and the courtyard and the monumental Koepel building were renovated. Maarsen Group has selected Stebru as main contractor for the realization of The Modernist. All homes have been developed with an A+++ energy label. The offices are certified with a BREEAM-NL Excellent certificate and are delivered with an A++++ energy label. The expected completion of The Modernist is at the end of 2028.
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