Dutch architecture firm MVRDV has received approval to construct Schieblocks, a massive 47,000-square-meter office complex that will become the largest private new office building currently under construction in the Netherlands. The vibrant project, rising 61 meters alongside Rotterdam's central railway, features 11 colorful stacked blocks whose facades combine recycled brick materials with Building Integrated Photovoltaic panels. Drawing inspiration from Donald Judd's iconic furniture series, the bold architectural composition creates a dynamic addition to Rotterdam's skyline while bringing innovative color, texture, and sustainable materials into a vertically layered urban design.
Located within the Schiekadeblok district, a post-war area that has evolved into a cultural hub for creative businesses, bars, and clubs, the MVRDV project carefully respects the neighborhood's protected character. The Dutch firm has divided the long, narrow building into four distinct horizontal segments, each featuring a unique plinth with one or two blocks positioned above, deliberately referencing the scale and character of the surrounding reconstruction-era architecture. The carved upper volumes are strategically angled to respond to the sun's path, ensuring that shadows do not fall on residential areas across the railway tracks, demonstrating the architects' sensitive approach to urban densification.
Each individual block within the complex features a unique combination of window designs and colors that reference different architectural landmarks throughout Rotterdam. One block showcases bay windows derived from Huig Maaskant's historic Citrusveiling building, paired with the vivid yellow color of the former Luchtsingel bridge. Another block incorporates the sandstone hue of Rotterdam's city hall alongside octagonal windows inspired by Hofplein 19, which collectively spell out '010,' Rotterdam's distinctive telephone code. This layered design approach transforms the entire building into a comprehensive catalog of local architectural memory and cultural identity.
The ground level of Schieblocks will host a transparent public space featuring various amenities, including a concept store, bakery, and bike café, while connecting to a three-level underground parking garage. At the building's west end, an immovable historic parking ramp from the neighboring Central Post building has been preserved and enclosed in glass as the centerpiece of the new Wokkelbar, a spiral-shaped venue designed to channel Rotterdam's renowned gritty and improvisational spirit.
The building's upper levels will feature a rooftop restaurant and a two-story cultural space that opens onto a continuous green landscape designed by Juurlink & Geluk. This rooftop environment will include water-retaining surfaces, spiral connections, and a solar-panel pergola, creating both recreational and sustainable spaces. Together, these architectural elements represent what MVRDV describes as 'a second reconstruction' for Rotterdam, one that is shaped by creativity, environmental sustainability, and bold architectural expression that honors the city's innovative design heritage.
