ARCHITECTUURGIDS.NL / ARCHITECTUREGUIDE.NL

BLOCK OF FLATS MAASTORENFLAT

H.D. BAKKER, 1953-1956, Schiedamsedijk 155-200/Vasteland, Rotterdam

ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Herman Bakker

ASSISTING ARCHITECT:
Jan Hoogstad

ARTIST:
Frans Tuinstra

BUILDING TYPE:
Housing

This 14-storey tower block incontestably marks off one side of the 'Window on the River', a component of the 1946 'Basic Plan' for Rotterdam. Being sited beyond the former dykes, the lowest levels are for cellars, archives and a showroom. Two office storeys in their own vertically articulated box sit atop this plinth. The elevations are kept lively by the combination of concrete cladding panels and brick, the rhythm and dimensions of the repeating elements and the expressive concrete emergency stair on the north side.