Rotterdam Centraal station reopens with a pointed metal-clad entrance

An angular metal-clad canopy now projects over a public square at the entrance to Rotterdam Centraal station, which reopened last week following an extensive remodelling by a team including Dutch firm Benthem Crouwel Architects (+ slideshow).

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8

A project team called Team CS, comprising Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and landscape firm West 8, was tasked with redeveloping the existing station built in 1957, which was struggling to meet the demands of a modern transportation hub.

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8

The architects expanded the main station complex and updated the surrounding public spaces to improve the building’s integration with its urban context.

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8

“The new station is not only larger, brighter and more orderly than the former, but also has an international feel; it beautifully complements both the efficiency of the hi-speed stop and Rotterdam city’s bold ambitions for urban development and renewal,” said the architects in a statement.

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8

A modest entrance on the north side of the station reflects the character of its historic surroundings and the smaller number of passengers who use it, while the shiny canopy above the main entrance signals the station’s presence to those approaching from the city.

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8

“The roof of the hall, fully clad with stainless steel, gives rise to the building’s iconic character and points to the heart of the city,” said the architects.

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8

The underside of the projecting structure is partly clad in wood and envelops a glazed wall that opens up to a bright forecourt with an angular wooden ceiling.

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8

“The wood finish on the inside of the hall, combined with the structural wooden beams of the platform roof creates a warm and welcoming ambience, inviting visitors to linger,” the architects added.

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8

Stone floor slabs with a reddish hue continue from the esplanade into the station’s forecourt, helping to enhance the connection between the external and internal spaces.

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8

Parking for 750 cars and 5200 bicycles is hidden away underneath the esplanade. Meanwhile, services for buses, taxis and trams, have been relocated to free up space for pedestrians.

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8

The roof above the platforms is made from glass so passengers arrive into an airy space filled with natural daylight. Light also reaches the lower levels through large voids containing staircases and escalators.

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8

Solar panels partly covering the roof have a high level of transparency to prevent them reducing the amount of light entering the station.

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8

A narrow horizontal LED screen in the main hall was donated by the Port of Rotterdam and displays imagery relating to the city’s heritage as an important port.

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8

Photography is by Jannes Linders, apart from where otherwise stated.

Here’s some more information from the project team:


Rotterdam Centraal

Rotterdam Centraal Station is one of the most important transport hubs in The Netherlands. With 110,000 passengers a day the public transport terminal has as many travellers as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. In addition to the European network of the High Speed Train (HST), Rotterdam Centraal is also connected to the light rail system, RandstadRail. With the advent of both the HST and RandstadRail the number of daily travellers at Rotterdam Centraal is expected to increase to approximately 323,000 by 2025.

Rotterdam HST is the first stop in the Netherlands when travelling from the south and is strategically positioned in the middle of Europe, with Schiphol only twenty minutes and Paris a mere two and a half hours away. Hence the new station is not only larger, brighter and more orderly than the former, but also has an international feel; it beautifully complements both the efficiency of the Hispeed stop and the Rotterdam city’s bold ambitions for urban development and renewal. The station matches in all respects the practicality, capacity, comfort and allure, of the central stations of Madrid, Paris, London and Brussels.

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8

Integration in urban environment

One of the fundamental challenges of Rotterdam Centraal station was the difference in the urban character of the north and south side of the station. The entrance on the north side has a modest design, appropriate to the character of the neighbourhood Provenierswijk and the smaller number of passengers. The entrance gradually connects to the city. In the Provenierswijk the character of the 19th-century Dutch provincial town is strengthened. Large architectural extensions are avoided on this side of the station, the presence of green is ameliorated and the station is transparent.

In contrast, the grand entrance on the city side is clearly the gateway to the high-rise urban centre. Here the station derives its new international, metropolitan identity from the hall made of glass and wood. The roof of the hall, fully clad with stainless steel, gives rise to building’s iconic character and points to the heart of the city.

Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8
Aerial photograph by Iwan Baan

Now Rotterdam Centraal has the appropriate structure and dimensions for the urban landscape; it is in balance with the heights that characterise the metropolis and simultaneously reflects the human scale. The city of Rotterdam is drawn to the new station via the compaction of the small-scale urban texture surrounding the public transport terminal. The entire railway zone becomes one with the city. This finer urban texture with new sight lines and a mixture of living and working will dramatically improve the quality of life and the environment of the station area.

Site plan of Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8
Site plan – click for larger image

The esplanade in front of the station is a continuous public space. To achieve this simplicity a parking garage for 750 cars and a bicycle shed for 5,200 bicycles are located under the square. The tram station is moved to the east side of the station, so the platforms broaden the square. Bus, tram, taxi and the area for short-term parking are integrated into the existing urban fabric and do not constitute barriers. The red stone of the station floor continues into the forecourt, merging the station with the city. Pedestrian and cycling routes are pleasant and safe and arriving travellers now have dignified entrance to the city, free from traffic.

Station plan of Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8
Station plan – click for larger image

Interior and appearance

Incorporation of natural light, the warmth of the sun’s rays and a modern look are important elements in the design. The platform roof on the Proveniersside is transparent. When the train drives into the station, there is an almost tangible feeling of being enshrouded in the station building. Upon entering in the bright high hall through the centre side, the traveler gets an overview of the entire complex and a view to the trains that are waiting invitingly along the platforms.

The wood finish on the inside of the hall, combined with the structural wooden beams of the platform roof creates a warm and welcoming ambience, inviting visitors to linger. The largely transparent roof structure which covers all the tracks over a length of 250 meters, flood the platforms with light. The glass plates of the roof vary the level of light transmittance by utilising different solar cells patterns, which produce an ever-changing and fascinating play of shadows on the platforms.

Station roof plan of Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8
Station roof plan – click for larger image

Routing and layout

The routing through the station is logical; travellers are guided by a direct view of the trains and by the daylight that penetrates to the traveler’s passage via the voids that extend through the transparent roof platform and down to the stairs. Because of its transparency the widened traveler’s passage, lined with commercial functions, forms a natural part of the station. Escalators, lifts and stairs lead up to the new platforms, which feature inviting and comfortable platform furniture. On the west side of the station there is a footbridge over the tracks for travellers in transit. This footbridge also functions as an escape route in the event of an emergency.

Railway yard section of Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8
Railway yard section – click for larger image

The passenger terminal is a national and international hub that connects train, tram, bus and subway. The public transport terminal is designed for passenger comfort, which is visible in the different zones of the station. It includes commercial spaces, a lounge, restaurants, offices, parking for cars and bicycles. In the spacious concourse the passenger service functions are conveniently arranged. There is travel information, an information point, the Dutch Railways (NS) travellers shop, ticket vending machines and commercial functions. The grand café and the NS-lounge offer spectacular views across the hall and the adjacent tracks. Waiting areas in the hall and the passage are linked to the passenger flows, with areas both for browsing and quick shopping.

The new Rotterdam Centraal Station is a pleasant, open and transparent public transport terminal which functions as an iconic meeting point. Interwoven into the urban network, the station connects the diverse characters of the city and marks the beginning of Rotterdam’s cultural axis. This modern and efficient building offers travellers to and from the port city all the amenities and comfort they could want or need in the present and the future.

Section one of Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8
Section one – click for larger image

Sustainability

Windows with 130,000 solar cells cover 10,000 m2 of the total roof area of 28,000 m2. This is the largest application of solar energy in a station roof in The Netherlands and is also one of the largest rooftop solar projects in Europe. The solar cells are placed on the parts of the roof that get the most sun, taking into account the high buildings around Rotterdam Centraal. The glass panels vary in light transmittance by using different patterns in the solar cells. Where the roof has the greatest efficiency in terms of sunlight, the cell density is the highest. The solar cells that are integrated in the roof have a high degree of transparency, so there is ample light. The solar cells represent an 8% reduction in the station’s CO2 emissions. The cells are expected to generate 320 megawatt per annum, which is enough energy for 100 households.

Section two of Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8
Section two – click for larger image

History

The former station was designed by Sybold of Ravesteyn in 1957. However, this post-war building was no longer suitable for the current passenger numbers and complexity of the transport hub. In order to maintain the connection with the past after the demolition of the building, several characteristic elements from the former station can be found in the new Rotterdam Centraal. The Speculaasjes, two typical granite sculptures are placed above the access to the bike tunnel. The beginning of the esplanade is defined by two flagpoles, which were also part of the former station. Moreover, the letters ROTTERDAM CENTRAAL and the station clock are proudly displayed on the current façade as a tribute to the past.

Elevation one of Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8
Elevation one – click for larger image

LED screen

In the main hall of the station a LED screen of 40 x 4.5 meters has been installed. To emphasise the importance of the port and to strengthen the bond between the city and the port, the Port of Rotterdam donated the LED screen to the City of Rotterdam. By showing elements of the port on this LED screen, the Port of Rotterdam wants to give the thousands of travellers who arrive daily in Rotterdam the feeling that they have entered a port city, even though the port has slowly disappeared from the cityscape, due to seawards development. Now travellers can enjoy views of Europe’s largest port at all hours and times of the day.

Team CS is a cooperation between Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Meyer en Van Schooten Architecten and West 8. This unique combination of designers came to existence in 2003, when the competition for the new Rotterdam Centraal was issued.

Elevation two of Rotterdam Centraal station redevelopment by Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Architects and West 8
Elevation two – click for larger image

Client: Gemeente Rotterdam and ProRail
Architect Team CS: a cooperation between Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Meyer en van Schooten Architecten
and West 8
Gross floor area: 46,000 m²
Gross floor area urban design: 50,000 m²
Location: Stationsplein 1, 3013 AJ Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Lead architects: Jan Benthem, Marcel Blom, Adriaan Geuze, Jeroen van Schooten
Project team: Arman Akdogan, Anja Blechen, Freek Boerwinkel, Amir Farokhian, Joost Koningen, Joost van Noort, Falk Schneeman, Daphne Schuit, Matthijs Smit (†), Andrew Tang, Wouter Thijssen, Joost Vos
Structural engineer: Arcadis and Gemeentewerken Rotterdam
Mechanical services: Arcadis and Gemeentewerken Rotterdam
Building physics: Arcadis and Gemeentewerken Rotterdam
Contractor: Bouwcombinatie TBI Rotterdam Centraal (BTRC), Iemants NV (zuidhal)

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with a pointed metal-clad entrance
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Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam by Benthem Crouwel Architects

Benthem Crouwel Architects have completed the new extension to the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, which looks rather like the underside of a kitchen sink (+ slideshow).

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam by Benthem Crouwel Architects

Designed by A. W. Weissman in 1895 the museum’s original red brick building has been renovated and enlarged with a curvy white extension, part of which is underground.

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam by Benthem Crouwel Architects

The entrance is situated in a transparent facade facing onto the open grassy expanse of Museumplein.

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam by Benthem Crouwel Architects

The upper edges of the white extension extend outwards to shelter the plaza.

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam by Benthem Crouwel Architects

Above image is by Ernst van Deursen

The museum’s shop and restaurant are located next to the entrance, while a large exhibition hall, library and ‘knowledge centre’ all lie below ground.

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam by Benthem Crouwel Architects

Above image is by KLM Carto

Two escalators in an enclosed tube connect the exhibition spaces on the lower and upper levels, allowing visitors to bypass the entrance area.

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam by Benthem Crouwel Architects

We recently featured another large white extension to a red brick building – a museum in a former brewery in Zurich.

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam by Benthem Crouwel Architects

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Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam by Benthem Crouwel Architects

Photographs are by John Lewis Marshall except where otherwise stated.

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam by Benthem Crouwel Architects

Here’s some more information from the architects:


Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum is renovated and enlarged. Designed by A.W. Weissman, the building is celebrated for its majestic staircase, grand rooms and natural lighting. These strong points have been retained in the design along with the colour white introduced throughout the museum by former director Willem Sandberg. The existing building is left almost entirely intact and in full view by lifting part of the new volume into space and sinking the rest underground.

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam by Benthem Crouwel Architects

Its entrance has been moved to the open expanse of Museumplein where it occupies a spacious transparent extension. The smooth white volume above the entrance, also known as ‘the Bathtub’, has a seamless construction of reinforced fibre and a roof jutting far into space. With this change in orientation and the jutting roof, the museum comes to lie alongside a roofed plaza that belongs as much to the building as to Museumplein. Against the backdrop of the old building, the white synthetic volume is the new powerful image of the Stedelijk Museum.

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam by Benthem Crouwel Architects

Besides the entrance, a museum shop and the restaurant with terrace are situated in the transparent addition on ground level. Below the square are among others, a knowledge centre, a library and a large exhibition hall of 1100 m2. From this lowest level in the building it is possible to move to a new exhibition hall in the floating volume level. Via two escalators in an enclosed “tube”, straight through the new entrance hall, the two exhibition areas are connected. This way the visitor crosses the entrance area without leaving the exhibition route and without being distracted by the public functions; visitors remain in the museum atmosphere.

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam by Benthem Crouwel Architects

The detailing and color on the inside of the old and new buildings is in alignment, making the explicit contrast between the old building and the new building barely noticeable when walking through the museum. The Weissman building is reinstated in its former glory as it embarks on a new life, facing Museumplein, under one roof with the new addition.

Client: City of Amsterdam
Architect: Benthem Crouwel Architekten
Gross floor area: 12000 m²
Start design: 2004
Start construction: 2007
Completion: 2012

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Benthem Crouwel Architects
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