Montevideo

Mecanoo transforms a postindustrial pier with a multifaceted residential tower in one of Europe's most architecturally progressive cities.

By Penelope Dean - This is an excerpt of an article from the August 2007 edition of Architectural Record.

Sitting somewhere between the Erasmus Bridge designed by Ben van Berkel, the Euromast or “space tower” designed by H.A. Maaskant, and almost perfectly aligned above the twin black towers designed by Wiel Arets, a giant, rotating letter M floats on top of what is fast becoming Rotterdam’s crowded riverfront skyline.

It is not until one is moving south down Rotterdam’s central street—the Coolsingel—to cross the Erasmus Bridge that the rotating M’s “pedestal” finally comes into view: a tall, thin, gray-white-and-orange tower, clad with different materials, at the end of Rotterdam’s Wilhelmina Pier. Turning right and moving toward the end of the pier, this recently completed tower, designed by the Dutch architects Mecanoo, now appears as a series of superimposed volumes. And it is not until one actually enters the tower’s lobby that the giant letter M begins to make any sense: a map of Uruguay revealing the M not only as the initial for its capital city, but also the tower’s name—Montevideo—and, according to the architects, a “logo” to confirm “Rotterdam’s maritime tradition.”

Commissioned by ING Real Estate and the Rotterdam Urban Planning Agency in 1999, Mecanoo’s Montevideo is one of several tall buildings planned for the Wilhelmina Pier area, part of Rotterdam’s old city harbor now free for development after port activities moved west, closer to the coast. Aptly labeled “Skyscraper City,” the area forms part of a master plan, designed by Foster + Partners in London, aimed at integrating commercial and residential zones with recreational and urban programs. As predominantly residential, Montevideo sits at the southern side of the pier adjacent to Hotel New York, the former Holland-Amerika Line offices. Though just 43 floors, the architects claim Montevideo is the highest residential building in the Netherlands.

More in keeping with the recent tradition of Dutch dwelling design, Mecanoo developed a catalog of apartment formats, with different sizes marketed to accommodate a multitude of lifestyles and family types. The firm has developed 54 different types across 129 units.

Programmatically organized in section, the architects piled large flats with varying floor heights into the main tower: five levels of “Loft,” 20 levels of “City,” and 14 levels of “Sky” apartments, as well as a penthouse. Ten levels of “Water” apartments create a mansion-esque mix in the shorter tower that cantilevers out toward the water. The two towers connect through a five-story horizontal bar containing offices and public facilities, such as a swimming pool and fitness center.

Formal name of project: Montevideo

Location: Otto Reuchlinweg, Wilhelminapier, Rotterdam

Completion Date:
May 2006

Gross square footage: GFA: 57,530 m2, of which 36,867 m2 residential; 905 m2 swimming pool, fitness and service centre; 6,129 m2 offices; 1,608 m2 retail and 8,413 m2 car park

Total construction cost: 90,000,000 euros

Client: ING Real Estate, The Hague

Architect:
Mecanoo architecten
Oude Delft 203
2611 HD Delft NL
+31 (0)15 279 81 100
+31 (0)15 279 81 111
www.mecanoo.com/

 

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