SAWA - unique wooden residential building comes to Rotterdam

SAWA - unique wooden residential building comes to Rotterdam

Bryan van Putten city news
Soon, Rotterdam's Lloydkwartier area will welcome an entirely wooden, fifty meters tall residential building. The new complex, designed by architectural firm Mei, will consist of one hundred homes.
 
Mei architects and planners designed a unique wooden residential building 'SAWA' in the heart of the Lloydkwartier in Rotterdam. A residential building with a height of 50 metres is not special in Rotterdam, but if that complex is entirely made of wood, it is a first.
 
SAWA comprises around 100 homes, 50 of which are mid-rental apartments. The building has been given the name SAWA because of its stepped shape with green terraces. Mei states that it is a reference to Asian rice fields and a reference to the history of the place. From the Lloydpier, passenger ships used to depart to the east with shipping company Rotterdamsche Lloyd.
 
Exceptional about SAWA is that the building is built as much as possible in CLT (cross laminated timber). By working with cross laminated timber, CO2 emissions are reduced. The construction time with this material is also shorter compared to concrete construction. The intention is to start building next year. In addition, the building distinguishes itself by its generous green terraces, which enhance the biodiversity of the district.
 
Sawa interior render 📷 Mei architectsSawa interior render 📷 Mei architects
 
The apartments will have spacious, green terraces. Help has been requested from city ecologists to integrate the greenery in the balconies, terraces and deck.
 
Architectural firm Mei is also behind Phoenix I, which was voted 'best building in Rotterdam' by a professional jury earlier this year. SAWA has been commissioned by Nice Developers & Era Contour.
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra performs Harry Potter

Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra performs Harry Potter

Marcel Kamphuis city news
If you've ever wanted to experience a magical evening with fellow Potter fans, this is the way to do it, in the large concert hall of De Doelen in Rotterdam. Tonight, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra performs the music of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. 
 
Since 2016, the Harry Potter in Concert series has been organized in Rotterdam with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. The Harry Potter live events follow each other in rapid succession. While the Goblet of Fire film was still being played in May, today, the Order of the Phoenix is already being performed for the fifth time.
 
The evening starts with bad news: Unfortunately, conductor Justin Vrijer had to cancel the concert due to family circumstances. Fortunately, the organization has succeeded in finding a good replacement in Ernst van Tiel in the short term. 'Much of the original music was eventually cut out of the film. Today you get to hear the music as it was intended', he tells the audience before they start.
 
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra 📷 Nikki SmitsHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra 📷 Nikki Smits
 
The fifth instalment in the Harry Potter-film series is the only one written by Michael Goldenberg, making it the only film in the series that was not scripted by Steve Kloves. To compensate, it was the first one filmed in 3D, with broomsticks flying through the room and fireballs whizzing by your ears. Today, however, it won't be in 3D, but with a live orchestra.
 
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra 📷 Nikki SmitsHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra 📷 Nikki Smits
 
All visitors have already seen the film and only come for the extra atmosphere and the live orchestra. Something that won't disappoint today.
 
Moreover, to celebrate the concert series, the entire building has been decorated in a Harry Potter atmosphere. Official merchandise is also available and some visitors have even come out dressed in their Hogwarts outfits.
 
As the film lasts more than 2.5 hours, the concert also includes a 25-minute break in which everyone receives a free drink.
 
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra 📷 Nikki SmitsHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra 📷 Nikki Smits
 
Although the tickets, ranging between €33.00 - €69.00, are a bit pricey, the event is certainly a huge success with a huge turnout. The Harry Potter in Concert series can now be added to the long series of successful events in De Doelen.
 
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra 📷 Nikki SmitsHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra 📷 Nikki Smits
 
The next concert series with music from Half-Blood Prince is even announced on the big screen during the break and is scheduled for later this year.
 
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra 📷 Nikki SmitsHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra 📷 Nikki Smits
The Gallery Salon Studios to offer salon spaces in Rotterdam

The Gallery Salon Studios to offer salon spaces in Rotterdam

Bryan van Putten city news
The Gallery Salon Studios opens in the centre of Rotterdam. The startup offers flexible, fully-equipped salon studios for independent hairstylists and beauty professionals.
 
In February 2020, The Gallery Salon Studios will open its doors at Schiedamsedijk 3 in Rotterdam's city centre. The Gallery Salon Studios offers independent hairstylists and beauty professionals their own inspiring and fully equipped salon studios with all facilities. The new concept will make available no less than 560m2 for flexible salon studio space. 
 
Professionals, also known as members, decide when they work, what products they work with and sell, and their own rates. In addition, they benefit from a network of other enterprising beauty professionals and a calendar of events, inspiration sessions and training sessions. The Gallery Salon Studios is part of the Station F Beauty Tech Atelier in Paris, L'Oreal's global startup innovation program. Memberships are already available from €690 per month. More information regarding registration can be found by visiting https://www.gallerysalonstudios.com/.
 

Fully equipped studios for beauty entrepreneurs

Following the global success of flexible office space providers, the concept of salon studios has become a well-known phenomenon in the United States. The market there is growing by 15 per cent annually and the major players from the US are now expanding to other countries. The two Rotterdam entrepreneurs Camiel Crain and Luuk van Wijmen, who previously worked for Proctor & Gamble and Unilever respectively, see the potential and with The Gallery Salon Studios they are the very first to bring the concept of flexible salon studios to Europe.
 
Luuk van Wijmen: "The number of independent stylists is growing by 5 per cent annually, but there are hardly any affordable and suitable salons to be found for this group of entrepreneurs. With The Gallery Salon Studios we provide stylists with fully equipped salon studios and support them in running their business, for example in the field of marketing. This allows stylists to fully focus on their own talents and clients. As a result, hairstylists have their own salon, but are not on their own."
 
 
 
Free metro on New Year's Eve

Free metro on New Year's Eve

Bryan van Putten city news

Planning on enjoying the New Year's Eve fireworks in the city? Not sure how to get there or how to get home? No need to worry, the metro will be riding both before and after the clock strikes midnight. RET and the municipality of Rotterdam have agreed to provide a free night metro on New Year's Eve and early New Year's Day. 

 

Ride the metro for free (2019-2020)

Visitors to the National Fireworks at the Erasmus Bridge or Nesselande Beach on December 31st will be able to ride the metro for free. It was such a success in recent years, that the RET and local government have joined forces to make it happen once again. This year, the metros will ride every 10 or 20 minutes between 22:00 and 2:00.

All gates will remain open, so you won't need to buy or carry an OV-chipkaart.  

Rotterdam's P+R locations were already free of charge. This means you could leave your car outside the centre and travel to and from the Erasmus Bridge or city centre by metro.

 

Adapted Timetable

On 31 December, metro lines B and E operate according to a special timetable between 22.00 and 02.00 hours. Please note that the metros do not stop at every intermediate metro station.

• Between Meijersplein and Slinge there is a metro every 10 minutes on metro line E;
• Between Vijfsluizen and Capelsebrug metro line B runs a metro every 20 minutes;
• Between Vijfsluizen and Nesselande metro line B runs a metro every 20 minutes.
(This means that there is a metro every 10 minutes between Vijfsluizen and Capelsebrug.)

 

RET metro oud en nieuw 20192020RET metro oud en nieuw 20192020

 

Important information

For safety reasons, the elevators are switched off at the turn of the year. Use the (rolling) stairs. Do you need the elevator? To activate the lift, you can contact one of the service staff at the station (or alternatively) use the SOS button.

Please note that vending and charging machines are closed from 15:00 on New Year's Day. With the exception of the vending machines at the stations: Slinge, Kralingse Zoom and Alexander, these will be closed from 18.00 hours.
On Tuesday 1 January after 12.00 noon, all vending and charging machines will be available again. Don't forget to recharge your ov-chip card or purchase a ticket in time.
 
It is never allowed to bring fireworks (not even in the packaging) in the vehicles of the RET.

Bicycles are no longer allowed in the vehicles after 16.00 on 31 December.
 
During the turn of the year, RET expects large crowds. Take into account extra travel time and crowds on the platforms and in the metro vehicles.


 

Rotterdam selects Tree House skyscraper for Delftseplein

Rotterdam selects Tree House skyscraper for Delftseplein

Bryan van Putten city news
The Municipality of Rotterdam rated Tree House by Provast as the best in the tender for the Delftseplein development location. The 140-meter-tall tower with mixed uses will be located next to Central Station, between Delftse Poort and Central Post.
 
The design is by PLP Architecture with co-architect Zones Urbaines Sensibles (ZUS). The next step in the process is the conclusion of a development agreement early 2020, after which the awarding of the project will be final.
 
Tree House comprises 41,000 m² and offers a varied range of 275 homes. The project consists of approximately 90 owner-occupied and 185 rental apartments, 30% of which are in the mid-rental segment. With the available office space of approximately 15,000 m² Tree House will focus on attracting innovative technology companies.
 
With Rotterdam's innovation and culture platform De Dépendance, Tree House will be a major crowd puller with socially relevant programming. The base of the building has been reserved for Rotterdam's hospitality entrepreneurs. Among other things, this fits in well with the needs of the many travellers to Rotterdam Central Station.
 
With Tree House, the Rotterdam Central District is taking the next step towards a more mixed and lively environment. Construction is expected to start in 2021 and completion is scheduled for 2024.
 
Alderman Bas Kurvers: "Tree House is a welcome addition to the area. With this design by Provast, Rotterdam's Central District will gain liveliness and warmth. Thanks to the use of wood and the varied facade, there is a nice contrast with the other buildings in the area. The mix of functions and facilities makes Delftseplein an attractive place for all Rotterdam residents and visitors. For future residents and entrepreneurs, this location, next to Central Station, is the most central place in the city to live or work".
 
Tree House to be built at Delftseplein RotterdamTree House to be built at Delftseplein Rotterdam
 

Inspiration from nature

Tree House is inspired by the ecosystem of a tree. The building functions as CO2 storage and leads the way by building with wood, circular construction through material reuse, rainwater harvesting and innovations in the field of energy. The abundance of greenery contributes to biodiversity and reduces heat stress. Tree House also captures part of the rainwater from the Central Station hall that flows from the roof when there's heavy rain.
 

Respect for station building

According to the municipality, Tree House will be built at a suitable distance from Rotterdam Central Station, which means that the station building retains its autonomous strength. Moreover, this creates space for valuable public spaces on both sides of the building. The Stadstribune will be a public staircase on the west side of the building and the Rotterdam Central Park, will be a 'pocket park' on the east side. The relationship between outside and inside is characteristic of Tree House and will be visible at several places in the building. Moreover, the wood of the ceiling of Rotterdam Central Station is reflected in the facade of Tree House. Also, the roof gardens and terraces are to bring more greenery into the Delftsteplein area.
 

Development agreement

The municipality and Provast will lay down the agreements on the further development and realization of Tree House in a development agreement. This agreement is expected to be signed in early 2020. With the conclusion of the development agreement, the award of the contract to Provast will become final.
 

Collaboration tender

The tender for the Delftseplein development location started in February and is a collaboration between the municipality, NS Stations and ProRail. Guidance will be provided by Fakton.
 

Team Tree House

The design of Tree House was realized under the direction of Provast, PLP Architecture with co-architect ZUS, Royal HaskoningDHV, BRAND The Urban Agency and Groos.
 
TQ, De Dépendance, BBN Advisors, REBEL Group, Cambridge Innovation Center, MESS Group, Ron de Jong, Area of People and V2_ Lab for the Unstable Media also collaborated on Tree House.

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