Valckensteyn Building: structural wood for 82 social housing units

In the historic Pendrecht neighborhood in Rotterdam, the Valckensteyn residential building embodies its sustainable soul and social mission: 82 affordably rented apartments housed in a structural wooden building

Elegance, affordability, and efficiency

The Valckensteyn building is one of Powerhouse Company's architecture projects in structural wood: the first in Rotterdam with this construction typology, commissioned by the real estate company Woonstad Rotterdam. The project brings innovation to the post-war urban fabric that characterizes the southern district of the city. Built in place of the skyscraper of the same name designed by architect Kranendonk that had defined the urban landscape from 1972 to 2012, the new building is the key to the area's redevelopment

An offset volume overlooking the park

After the war, the old skyscraper with its iconic shape of two offset wings of 10 and 14 floors had provided relief for the housing shortage caused by the war. Today, the new Valckensteyn confirms its social vocation and reinterprets the offset volume with contemporary aesthetic and technical standards. The building also remains faithful to the urban structure of the neighborhood designed by Lotte Stam-Beese, where buildings of various heights are arranged around green areas and squares

CLT structure and integrated elements for biodiversity

The structure of Valckensteyn is made of CLT (cross-laminated timber) except for the ground floor and vertical distribution elements. The result is an elegant effect combined with cost-effectiveness and efficiency. The building incorporates elements supporting biodiversity such as bird and bat nests integrated into its facades. Surrounding it, the park designed by LAP Landscape & Urban Design completes the virtuous ecological impact of the complex

Travertine and fiber cement for facades

The travertine that recalls the history of the post-war neighborhood, covers the ground floor of Valckensteyn. On the upper floors, instead, light brown and anthracite gray fiber cement panels evoke the wooden structure, offering ease of maintenance. The sustainable and circular identity of the building is thus confirmed and enhanced

Gallery

Photo credits
Top image, content and gallery images: Sebastian van Damme

Designers credits
Powerhouse Company
Design team: Stefan Prins (Partner in charge), Daphne Delissen, Albert Takashi Richters, Daan Masmeijer, Kaan Kalak, Nick Huizenga, Stefan de Meijer
Landscape design: LAP Landscape & Urban Design
Structural engineer: Pieters Bouwtechniek

Companies credits
Client: Woonstad Rotterdam
Contractor: Waal
Timber supplier: Binderholz
CLT consultant: Linkwood
Building physics safety: Buro Bouwfysica, Nieman
Environmental performance and sustainability consultant: Lois Advies

PEOPLE

Powerhouse Company

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