Stadswinkel XL





Client
The city of Rotterdam.
Project
Initiated and completed in 2006. ‘Stadswinkel XL’ or city store, providing public services to the citizens of Rotterdam.
Outcome
Rotterdam city hall is a national monument designed in a mix of neo-styles by architect Henri Evers. It was built between 1914 and 1920. The building is one of the few that survived the bombings in World War II. The administration hall behind the main building was transformed to a city store in 2006, a new formula for providing a wide range of administrative services to the public.
With several simple interventions, three halls each surrounded by galleries, are visually transformed into one space. Changing the light accent to the vaulted galleries restored the clarity of the architectural design. A row of masts reminiscent of a harbourscape, carries all light fixtures, information panels and communication banners as well as several long writing desks.
The design of the floor covering emphasizes the surrounding galleries. Desks were designed in cooperation with Christe & Veelenturf and stem from an earlier design for the city store. Wavy strips of ash wood are a spatial translation of graphic logo elements.