World’s largest Floating Office Rotterdam, Rijnhaven harbor Building Photos, Netherlands Architecture

Floating Office Rotterdam Building Opening

7 September 2021

Design: Powerhouse Company

Location: Rijnhaven harbor, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

photograph : Sebastian van Damme

A Royal Launch for Floating Office Rotterdam (FOR)

His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands alongside Ban Ki-moon and Kristalina Georgieva today inaugurated the Floating Office Rotterdam (FOR). Designed by Powerhouse Company and developed by RED Company, the FOR is not only one of the most sustainable offices in the world, it is also the largest floating office in the world as well as a pioneer in circular timber workplaces of this scale.

photo : Sebastian van Damme

The FOR is home to the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), ABN AMRO, RED Company, Powerhouse Company and restaurant Putaine. Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the Board of GCA, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of Global Center on Adaptation, spoke during the opening ceremony after attending a High Level Dialogue on Climate Adaptation, convened by GCA, to call for accelerated adaptation action ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow in November.

FOR Opening, Leaders Group attending the High-Level Dialogue on Climate Adaptation:

photo : GCA

‘The building structure is designed in wood and can easily be demounted and re-used. It’s ready for the circular economy.’

– Nanne de Ru, Founder at Powerhouse Company and RED Company

We designed our floating office to reflect the values of its inhabitants: the Global Center on Adaptation. This Rotterdam-based NGO chaired by Ban Ki-moon aims at promoting planning, investment, and technology to mitigate climate change. The carbon neutral building is designed to be climate resilient and will float if sea levels rise due to climate change. Our climate-resilient office is both an illustration of the center’s mission and sets an example for how to build sustainable floating structures.

photo : Sebastian van Damme

‘Designing a sustainable, floating office building was a very challenging commission and we approached it in an integrated way. By using the water of the Rijnhaven to cool the building, and by using the roof of the office as a large energy source, the building is truly autarkic.’

– Nanne de Ru, founder of Powerhouse Company and RED Company

Generating its own energy thanks to 800 square meters of solar panels, the FOR uses the water from the Rijnhaven harbor in a heat-exchange system, while overhanging balconies provide cooling shade. It is an outstanding example of circular design with all the materials used in its construction completely recyclable. The use of wood as the main construction material reduces the carbon footprint of the building dramatically.

FOR Opening, King Wilem-Alexander and Nanne de Ru, Powerhouse Company:

photo : Sebastian van Damme

The FOR is the launch pad for the larger regeneration of Rotterdam’s Rijnhaven, formerly one of the of city’s busiest working harbors. The revitalizing of now disused former industrial land will pave the way for a vibrant, lively new city center. In the wake of the departed harbor industry, the Floating Office plays an important role in reactivating the streetscape with bustling activity with its public facilities. In addition to creating a desirable workplace, these features will draw footfall the to the area and breathe new life into the old harbor.

photo : Powerhouse Company

About Powerhouse Company

Powerhouse Company is an award-winning architecture office based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Founded in 2005, it has grown into a multidisciplinary office of around 100 professionals, with international studios in Beijing, Oslo and Munich. Prizes include the Dutch Design Award, the Maaskant Prize and the AM/NAI Award.

About the Global Center on Adaptation

The GCA is a global knowledge center that supports countries, organizations and companies with knowledge and advice in the field of climate change.

World’s largest floating office, Rotterdam – Building Information

Project credits
Project credits
Architect: Powerhouse Company
Developer: RED Company
Client: Global Center on Adaptation, Municipality of Rotterdam
Financing: ABN Amro
Project management: DVP
Contractor: FOR Building VOF (consisting of Bouwbedrijf Valleibouw B.V. and Bouwbedrijf Osnabrugge B.V.)
Contractor floating foundations: Hercules FC
Structural engineer: Bartels & Vedder
Wood structure engineer: Solid Timber
MEP installations & sustainability: DWA
Wood structure: Derix Gelamineerde Houtconstructies
Building installations: Roodenburg Groep
Glass: iFS Building Systems
Steel: W. Ten Ham Plaatwerk

Previously on e-architect:

2 Sep 2020

Architecture: Powerhouse Company

Location: Rijnhaven harbor, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

A Floating Foundation for the Future : Floating Office Rotterdam Hits the Water

World’s largest Floating Office Building

Rotterdam, 2nd of September, 2020 – The world’s largest floating office, Floating Office Rotterdam, has taken a giant step toward its completion. On Monday, 31 August, the huge floating structure, measuring 90 by 24 meters, arrived at its permanent berth in Rotterdam’s Rijnhaven harbor, having been towed there all the way from Zaandam, over 80 kilometers away.

Photographs: Sebastian van Damme

Powerhouse Company

World’s largest floating office, Rotterdam image / information 020920

Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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