De Zalmhaven | KAAN Architecten

A project of about 300 apartments, built over a large parking, is developed on a site adjacent to the onetime port of Zalmhaven, center of Rotterdam.
A public space occupying the former harbour that closed after the construction of the Erasmus bridge, marks the North-West boundaries of the complex. The buildings reach the same heights as the ones situated on the opposite South-East side of Houtlaan Avenue, while the access to the upcoming block will be through an internal linear gallery.
The buildings’ appearance blend nicely into the historical context of the maritime district. Layout, flow and materials are inspired by the surrounding streets and squares.
Five large blocks of apartments are housed on the park side, they differ in height and have separate access routes. The buildings themselves form one of the park’s boundary walls and are a terrace to the riverside, while towards the Erasmus bridge the project flirts with the new urban scale of Rotterdam.