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RAC GARAGE (PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE)

MAASKANT, VAN DOMMELEN, KROOS, SENF, 1958-1962, Hofdijk 651, Katshoek 2, Rotterdam

ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Maaskant, Van Dommelen, Kroos, Senf

:
Jan Buijs

ARTIST:
Kees Franse

PROJECT ARCHITECT:
H.G.M. Jocker

ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Hugh Maaskant

BUILDING TYPE:
Industrial and public-utility buildings
Libraries


RELATED BUILDINGS:
Public Records Office Rotterdam

The RAC (Rijks Automobiel Centrale) used to manage the fleet of vehicles belonging to the Dutch postal service. Its garage could accommodate something like 400 vehicles. Part of it was being used by the Ter Meulen mail order company. The exceedingly sturdy concrete structure has clear spans of 20 and 30 metres. The hefty bands of concrete in the facade have an infill of green glazed brick. A concrete cantilever bearing a relief by the Rotterdam artist Kees Franse marks the entrance. In 1998 the garage became the new home for https://www.architectureguide.nl/project/item/prj_id/1599" class="inline_link">Rotterdam's municipal archives. Its massive structure, once bolstered with extra columns, proved eminently suitable for storing 16 kilometres of archives. The reading rooms high up in the building have been fitted with roof lights.