ARCHITECTUURGIDS.NL / ARCHITECTUREGUIDE.NL

HAKA BUILDING

H.F. MERTENS, J. KOEMAN, 1931-1932, Vierhavensstraat 40-42, Rotterdam

ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Herman Mertens
J. Koeman

RENOVATOR:
Post Ter Avest Van Remundt

INTERIOR ARCHITECT:
Doepel Strijkers Architects

BUILDING TYPE:
Industrial and public-utility buildings

STATE:
Post Ter Avest Van Remundt (ren. 1994); Doepel Strijkers Architects (int. 2010)

Built for a cooperative wholesalers' society (De Handelskamer), the Haka Building comprises offices and commercial space, storage zones, a silo and a factory. Owing to the narrowness of the available site (15 metres), wedged as it is between quay wall and roadway, all storeys except the ground floor cantilever 2.3 metres on both sides. Rails below the jutting first floor enable wagons to load at ground floor level. The building, which has a concrete frame and lightweight wall partitions, was renovated at the end of the century. Since 2010 the building has been restored into the Livin Lab for Clean Water & Energy.