Forum Rotterdam

In collaboration with Wessel de Jonge architecten en OMA

2014-2015
Client: Multi Vastgoed

Txell worked as an architect with Wessel de Jonge Architecten and OMA in the transformation of an existing city-plot in the shopping city center of Rotterdam.

Four buildings were being renovated or transformed into retail and residential units. This resulted in:
The shops on the monumental Lijnbaan shopping street gained square meters and a new façade in line with the characteristics of their original state.
The famous building Jungerhans was demolished and rebuilt in its original form.
An aged office tower got a new facade and was transformed into apartments.
The ground floor in a post-war monument bank building facing the Coolsingel being transformed for retail purposes (book shop). Some of the bank’s original luxury interior which had been wiped out during the renovation that took place in the 70’s was also rebuilt.
A new building was also added to the city-plot, creating extra space for a 1500m2 department store.

Txell´s role in the team was mainly to design the renovation of the post-war monument bank building and the transformation of the ground floor into a book shop. We literally opened the ground floor front façade to the streets, inviting the passers-by to contemplate the grandiosity of the bank’s interior with its new public function. The bookshop needed extra light and spatial quality. Therefore we partly demolished the first floor creating a big void with staircases. To regain the loss of m2 we took some extra space from the roof of the new building in the back. We needed a new roof in order to expand. The new construction of the roof touching the famous post war monument became an issue during the Monument Commission evaluations. Therefore we decided to build a delicate glass roof with respect for the back façade of the building and its impressive glass artwork. This project has been approved and built.