MVRDV unveils new 3D office neighborhood for Rotterdam
MVRDV has received approval to build Schieblocks, a 47,000-square-meter office complex set to become the largest private new office building currently under construction in the Netherlands. Rising 61 meters alongside the central railway, the project stacks 11 colorful blocks whose facades combine brick constructed from recycled material and Building Integrated Photovoltaic panels. Drawing inspiration from Donald Judd’s iconic furniture series, the bold composition forms a dynamic ‘slice’ of Rotterdam that brings color, texture, and material innovation into a vertically layered urban ensemble.
all images courtesy of MVRDV
Schiekadeblok & Rotterdam stories embedded in color and form
Located within the Schiekadeblok, a post-war district that evolved into a cult destination for creative businesses, bars, and clubs, the project BY MVRDV echoes the area’s protected character. The Dutch firm divides the long, narrow building into four horizontal segments, each with a distinct plinth and one or two blocks above, referencing the scale of the surrounding reconstruction-era architecture. Carved upper volumes respond to the angle of the sun, preventing shadows from falling on residential areas across the tracks, demonstrating a sensitive approach to densification.
Each block’s unique combination of fenestration and color references different landmarks across Rotterdam. One block features bay windows derived from Huig Maaskant’s Citrusveiling building paired with the vivid yellow of the former Luchtsingel bridge. Another uses the sandstone hue of the city hall with octagonal windows inspired by Hofplein 19 that collectively spell out ‘010,’ Rotterdam’s telephone code. This layered approach transforms the building into a catalog of local architectural memory.
Schieblocks, a 47,000-square-meter office complex for Rotterdam
Public energy at the plinth and on the roof
A transparent ground level hosts public amenities, including a concept store, bakery, and bike café, while linking to a three-level underground parking garage. At the west end, an immovable historic parking ramp from the neighboring Central Post building becomes a feature, enclosed in glass as the centerpiece of the new Wokkelbar, a spiral-shaped venue that channels Rotterdam’s gritty, improvisational spirit.
Above, a rooftop restaurant and two-story cultural space open onto a continuous green landscape by Juurlink & Geluk, complete with water-retaining surfaces, spiral connections, and a solar-panel pergola. Together, these elements signal what MVRDV calls a ‘second reconstruction’ for Rotterdam, one shaped by creativity, sustainability, and bold architectural expression.
the vibrant design draws inspiration from Donald Judd’s iconic furniture series
project info:
name: Schieblocks
architect: MVRDV | @mvrdv
founding partner in charge: Winy Maas
director: Gideon Maasland
design team: Gijs Rikken, Bob de Rijk, Guido Boeters, Piotr Janus, Veronica Della Ventura, Magda Porcoțeanu, Valentina Fantini, Renata Tavares, Amanda Galiana Ortega, Mirco Fachinelli, Tobias Kalmbach, Yifei Zhang, Bin Wei, Ievgeniia Koval, Rafiq Sawyerr
location: Rotterdam, Netherlands
area: 47,000 sqm
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