ARCHITECTUURGIDS.NL / ARCHITECTUREGUIDE.NL

HEADQUARTERS UNILEVER

J. HOOGSTAD, 1988-1992, Weena 455, Rotterdam

ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Jan Hoogstad

ARTIST:
Wessel Couzijn

BUILDING TYPE:
Office buildings


RELATED BUILDINGS:
Weena Area
Office Building Unilever (Hogeschool)

In 1992 Unilever was the second large Rotterdam company to have its headquarters built on Weena. The building's plan is that of a cross within a square. Almost the entire surface area is built up on the ground floor and at the uppermost level. Originally, glazing was to define the rest of the cube to produce the atria of which Hoogstad is so fond. These are now merely suggested with black granite on the outer edges of the cross and slender steel columns. Fronting the building is a large bronze entitled 'Corporate Entity', designed in 1963 by the Amsterdam sculptor Wessel Couzijn. This six-metre-tall, fourteen-metre-wide welded colossus was brought from the former https://www.architectureguide.nl/project/item/prj_id/205" class="inline_link">head office on Museumpark to Weena.
At over 100 metres high, the residential tower block https://www.architectureguide.nl/project/item/prj_id/1353" class="inline_link">Weenacenter was likewise designed by Jan Hoogstad.