Floating Office Rotterdam
A vessel for change
- Programme
- Office
- Size
- 3,606 m²
- Location
- Rotterdam
- Status
- Realized 2021
FOR started with the ambitions of the Global Center on Adaptation. Rotterdam made the visionary promise to house the institute’s worldwide headquarters in a floating office in the Rijnhaven, highlighting its belief in innovation and resilience. We took on this challenge and double down on its promise. Not only does the HQ of the GCA float, it also meets the highest possible sustainability standards.
A timber, demountable, energy-positive, CO₂-negative office, cooled by harbour water, which we’ve designed, developed, built, and own.
Energy label
A+++++
An office that remains afloat
The mission to mitigate the effects of climate change is embraced by the GCA, the City of Rotterdam, and RED Company. FOR has become an excellent example of circular design: fully recyclable and reusable. In addition, the building is ‘off-grid’ and CO₂ neutral. Even if the water level rises as a result of climate change, it will remain afloat.
The idea of a floating island informs the way the outdoor spaces have been organized around the building. On every side and every level, the office spaces are surrounded by generous outdoor terraces. On the south side of the ground floor, the deck leads down to the water, providing a unique connection to the water as well as gathering spaces. The enclosed pool ensures a safe area for swimming in the harbor. These outdoor spaces are essential in ensuring a comfortable and healthy working environment, and one that is inspiring and energizing.
Develop, design, build & own
Our company model is engineered to control and elevate the entire value chain. This integrated way of working enables us to design with a developer’s decisiveness, an owner’s eye, and a builder’s realism. Keeping our projects economically sound, environmentally fit, and socially meaningful.
“A climate-resilient world is one of the biggest challenges for current and future generations. With this building, we want to show that real estate development can also take the initiative in solving these climate-related threats.”
Nanne de Ru
Founding Partner
A royal opening
In September 2021, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands alongside Ban Ki-moon and Kristalina Georgieva inaugurated the Floating Office Rotterdam (FOR).
If you have specific questions about this project, please reach out.
One giant building kit
FOR’s foundations consist of fifteen concrete pontoons, manufactured by three specialized workshops in the Netherlands. Once gathered at a central location, the pontoons were connected and brought to Rotterdam in an epic journey of 80 kilometers over the water.
FOR’s main structure relies on a simple yet ingenious building system. Like a giant building kit, each FSC-certified CLT element fits together easily and can later be taken apart and reused.
Together, the following parties worked on the groundbreaking Floating Office Rotterdam, adapting to the social, economic, ecological and technological trends concerning climate change.
Team
- Developer
- RED Company
- Architecture
- Powerhouse Company
- Project management
- DVP
- Engineering floating element
- Bartels & Vedder
- Engineering wood structure
- Solid Timber
- Consultancy
- DWA
