Cube houses in Rotterdam are the calling card of the city of the future

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Original Holland, which attracts tourists with the smell of freedom, is famous for its lush tulip fields, windmills, and numerous canals. There are legends about the beauty of the medieval architecture of the hospitable country. However, there are also modern attractions that amaze with their diversity and have no analogues in the world.

Modern architectural monument

Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands, in stark contrast to Amsterdam. Famous for its quaint architectural monuments, it makes an indelible impression. An unusual residential complex, which appeared in the mid-80s of the last century, is recognized as the hallmark of the city of the future.

There are many different house designs in the world, but not every one of them attracts attention with a curious design. The cubic houses in Rotterdam, whose photos make you want to admire them with your own eyes, are a uniquean attraction that is simply impossible not to notice.

History of the residential complex

The idea of creating an unusual object belongs to the Dutch architect Piet Blom. Cube houses in Rotterdam, the Netherlands resemble trees, making the upscale residential area look like a forest. The idea of a new complex came to the architect back in the 70s, but then he could not bring it to life. It is known that Blom, who prefers a bright palette and turns geometric shapes upside down, turned the model of an ordinary hexagon by 45 degrees. Immediately, the talented author put a pencil to the lower cube, and the result was a figure resembling a tree. Loving experiments, he immediately thought that it would be nice to create houses according to this principle.

However, only ten years later Pete receives an order from the city administration. Local officials instruct to develop a project that would go beyond the usual architecture. Blom's master plan, which made precise mathematical calculations, is recognized as the most original. Soon, on the site of the old port, destroyed during the Second World War, there is an innovative Blaak Forest complex, consisting of 40 houses interconnected.

In 2009, a radical redevelopment of the "cubes" was carried out. Several of them are now hostels for tourists who want to stay here for a few days and experience all the delights of staying in cubic houses inRotterdam.

Architecture Features

To be absolutely precise, the shape of a real miracle of engineering is more like a parallelepiped. However, from the outside, the dwellings look like cubes touching each other with their faces. Due to the slope, their usable area is much smaller than the actual one.

Constructed cube houses in Rotterdam, whose frame is a vertical hexagon, look like they are painted. Carefully crafted colors are the perfect match for the whimsical architecture. Wood fiber frames and cement are used as the main material. The base of the isolated houses with an area of approximately 100 m22 is a high pylon column, inside which is hidden a metal twisted staircase leading to the premises.

It is curious that each dwelling, placed on one corner, consists of several floors, and on the first, in the intervals between the pedestals, there are offices and shops. All cubic houses in Rotterdam (Netherlands) are three-level: the living room and kitchen are on the lower level, the bathrooms and bedrooms are on the second, the so-called atrium (sunlight-lit study) is on the third. Thanks to the windows oriented to all directions of the world, which offer a wonderful panorama of the city, there is always a lot of light inside the premises.

Unexpected problems

The interior of the cubic houses in Rotterdam is quite interesting, because inside all the walls are inclined, not straight. In addition, the windows are in the most unexpected places, and the ceiling is supported by a powerful column. The inhabitants of amazing dwellings endureinconvenience, since it is impossible to hang pictures on the walls or nail shelves, as well as attach furniture to them. And all wardrobes, chairs, sofas have to be ordered from designers.

Despite the rather large room, the inside is rather cramped. Perhaps it is for these reasons that most apartment owners changed their place of residence, and organizations settled in the "cubes".

A unique opportunity to get to know a curious object better

Tourists visiting the city are sure to visit the cubic houses in Rotterdam and view them. They admit that no photographs can convey the beauty of an extraordinary spectacle. Many are even speechless. From the side, the houses resemble an artificial forest grown in a metropolis.

Some residents take advantage of the excitement and create original museums from their homes. For a small fee (approximately 2.5 euros / 184 rubles), tourists will be able to go inside strange-looking houses from 11 am to 5 pm daily. Visitors are surprised at how unusual everything here is, and even find themselves thinking that it would be nice to settle here for a week.

Some stay at the Stayokay Rotterdam hostel, which is located in the cabins. Visitors are offered double, quadruple and six-bed rooms, as well as places in a common room for 4, 6 and 8 people. The cost of living (from 30 euros / 2200 rubles per day) includes breakfast, toilets and showers are shared. Check-in takes place around the clockeven at night.

The most famous and unusual complex

Innovative residential complex occupies an entire block. The most famous architectural object in Holland is located next to the Blaak metro station. You can also get to the cube houses in Rotterdam, whose address is 70 Overblaak Street (Overblaak Street), by tram (No. 21, 24) or bus (No. 32, 47), which follow to the desired stop.

One of the most unusual sights of the city, a visit to which will give a lot of pleasant emotions, and now causes a lot of controversy among architects. The original buildings are memorable at first sight, but travelers who visit the cabins would not want to live here all their lives.