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Floating Office Rotterdam

Powerhouse Company

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The office restaurant on the ground floor - Mark Seelen
Top view of the Floating Office Rotterdam - Mark Seelen
Moored at the Rotterdam Rijnhaven port - Mark Seelen
The office restaurant on the ground floor - Mark Seelen

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Sponsor
Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Large Office
7.23
6.85
7.17
7.08
7.08
Mario Brown
Mario Brown Design Director at Landor&Fitch
Beautiful and theatrical looking sp...
7.58
7.22
8.24
7.19
7.56
Aviva Maya Shulem
Aviva Maya Shulem Founder / part-time faculty at AMS Design / Parsons School of Design
I love the poetic concept and the p...
7.29
6.86
8.37
7.63
7.54
Pauline Roussel
Pauline Roussel Cofounder and CEO at Coworkies
👏 Very beautiful project, thanks...
7.5
7.05
7.15
8.01
7.43
Wenchian Shi
Wenchian Shi Architect, Urbanist and Partner/Studio Director at MVRDV/MVRDV Asia
5.93
7.4
9.21
6.74
7.32
Federica Pellazza
Federica Pellazza Retail Designer at Federica Pellazza
I really like how "light" & "shadow...
6.45
6.1
7.02
5.24
6.2
Lucas G Martin
Lucas G Martin Global Creative Director at Flex by JLL
Bold moves. Stunning and elegant, o...
7.6
7.6
7.6
7.6
7.6
Winai Chairakpong
Winai Chairakpong Principal at b | u | g studio
6
6.5
6
5.5
6
Javier Deferrari
Javier Deferrari Cofounder and Director at Deferrari+Modesti
7.5
7
8
6
7.13
Ye Hui
Ye Hui Founder & Design Director at JG Phoenix
6.93
6.07
6.93
6.31
6.56
Elisa Pardini
Elisa Pardini Director at Pardini Hall Architecture
The overall concept is working and...
6.88
7.48
7.55
5
6.73
Gokhan Avcioglu
Gokhan Avcioglu Principal and Founder at Global Architecture Development
5
6.67
5
6.67
5.84
Björn Asmussen
Björn Asmussen Director and Executive Architect at 3Deluxe
6.45
6.1
7.1
6.02
6.42
Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
GRAND JURY VOTES
Shortlisted - Large Office of the Year
8.03
7.70
8.00
7.95
7.92
Mario Brown
Mario Brown Design Director at Landor&Fitch
Beautiful and theatrical looking sp...
7.58
7.22
8.24
7.19
7.56
Aviva Maya Shulem
Aviva Maya Shulem Founder / part-time faculty at AMS Design / Parsons School of Design
I love the poetic concept and the p...
7.29
6.86
8.37
7.63
7.54
Pauline Roussel
Pauline Roussel Cofounder and CEO at Coworkies
👏 Very beautiful project, thanks...
7.5
7.05
7.15
8.01
7.43
Wenchian Shi
Wenchian Shi Architect, Urbanist and Partner/Studio Director at MVRDV/MVRDV Asia
5.93
7.4
9.21
6.74
7.32
Federica Pellazza
Federica Pellazza Retail Designer at Federica Pellazza
I really like how "light" & "shadow...
6.45
6.1
7.02
5.24
6.2
Lucas G Martin
Lucas G Martin Global Creative Director at Flex by JLL
Bold moves. Stunning and elegant, o...
7.6
7.6
7.6
7.6
7.6
Winai Chairakpong
Winai Chairakpong Principal at b | u | g studio
6
6.5
6
5.5
6
Javier Deferrari
Javier Deferrari Cofounder and Director at Deferrari+Modesti
7.5
7
8
6
7.13
Ye Hui
Ye Hui Founder & Design Director at JG Phoenix
6.93
6.07
6.93
6.31
6.56
Elisa Pardini
Elisa Pardini Director at Pardini Hall Architecture
The overall concept is working and...
6.88
7.48
7.55
5
6.73
Gokhan Avcioglu
Gokhan Avcioglu Principal and Founder at Global Architecture Development
5
6.67
5
6.67
5.84
Björn Asmussen
Björn Asmussen Director and Executive Architect at 3Deluxe
6.45
6.1
7.1
6.02
6.42
Client
Red Company
Floor area
3700 ㎡
Completion
2021
Social Media
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Floating foundation

The Floating Office Rotterdam (FOR) is the biggest and most sustainable office in the world. It pioneers large-scale floating ultra sustainable constructions on city waters and marks the start of the larger Rotterdam Rijnhaven renovation in particular. Within this development, FOR reflects the mission of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA). It houses the headquarters of this top global knowledge center that works as a solutions broker to accelerate action and support for adaptation solutions. The exceptionally climate-resistant building is energy positive, CO2 negative and if the water level rises due to climate change, it will float. 

The office building features public facilities, like a restaurant and a large outdoor terrace with a floating pool in the Maas river as a special addition. FOR shows how the Rijnhaven can make the transition from an old industrial port to a lively area. The well-being of its users has been given priority in the design. Large 6x3m floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning views and the balconies on all floors give direct access to the outdoors. A workday can be enjoyed, surrounded by water, while relaxing on the spacious deck. Studies show that interiors with many wooden surfaces reduce stress and improve concentration, which is why the natural warmth and tranquility of the wood is left visible inside. That is why FOR has an iconic look from the outside, while inside an oasis of calm exudes.

The building is constructed of wood that is suitable for floating because of its light weight and which drastically reduces the ecological footprint as CO2 storage. This construction stands on a floating body consisting of 15 concrete barges, pre-tensioned with tension cables. The concrete makes a significant contribution to FOR's climate management because of in-situ liquid pipes that take the temperature of the harbor water and use it as a cooling and heating source for the indoor temperature. An ideal size has been found in a 6x6m square grid. As a result, the wooden structure is efficient in use of materials and consists of a modular construction system of CLT floors and walls and laminated columns and beams that can be easily disassembled and reused by means of dry connections. The grid also increases the flexibility to accommodate forms of use and to enable future changes in use. 

With 870m2 of PV panels on the roof, FOR annually generates more power than its own demand and supplies power to the city. The 900m2 green roof offers space for biodiversity, meaning that the building consists of a balanced combination of components - the floating body as the heat source, wood as the main material and the roof for electricity - matched in their properties in such a way that the whole functions optimally, adaptively, and sustainably. The ultimate value of the Floating Office Rotterdam is that all the above has been brought together in an elegant, timeless, and comfortable design in which the user is central.