designed by powerhouse company, the world’s largest floating office has taken a big step towards its completion. on august 31, 2020, the huge structure, measuring 90 by 24 meters (295 x 79 feet), arrived at its permanent berth in rotterdam’s rijnhaven harbor, having been towed there from the city of zaandam, over 80 kilometers (50 miles) away. ‘designing a sustainable, floating office building was a challenging commission, and we approached it holistically,’ says nanne de ru, founder of powerhouse company.

powerhouse company floating office rotterdam
image by sebastian van damme | video by marcel ijzerman

 

 

described as a building for a new era, the ‘floating office rotterdam’ (FOR) is completely reusable and recyclable. designed by powerhouse company and developed by RED company, the timber project is completely off-grid and carbon-neutral. the floating office, with its own solar energy source and water-based heat-exchange system, will reflect the values of its future inhabitants: the global center on adaptation. this rotterdam-based NGO promotes planning, investment, and technology to mitigate climate change.

powerhouse company floating office rotterdam
image by marcel ijzerman

 

 

built entirely of timber, to minimize its carbon footprint, the building has three stories and will be accessed via a boardwalk. it will make use of natural energy thanks to 800 square meters (8,611 sqf) of solar panels. it will also use the water from the rijnhaven for cooling. meanwhile, overhanging balconies around each floor plus a pitched roof will provide shade. FOR will also feature public facilities: a restaurant with a large outdoor terrace and a swimming pool, adding new life to the harbor area.

powerhouse company floating office rotterdam
image by marcel ijzerman

 

 

the arrival of the floating foundations completes the project’s first major milestone. over the coming months the building will be further constructed and finalized in place. see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here, and see other projects by powerhouse company on our dedicated page.

powerhouse company floating office rotterdam
image by marcel ijzerman

designed by powerhouse company, the world's largest floating office arrives in rotterdam
image by marcel ijzerman

designed by powerhouse company, the world's largest floating office arrives in rotterdam
image by marcel ijzerman

designed by powerhouse company, the world's largest floating office arrives in rotterdam
image by sebastian van damme

powerhouse floating timber office building
rendering illustrating the completed project by atchain

 

 

project info:

 

architect: powerhouse company
developer: RED company
client: global center on adaptation, municipality of rotterdam
financing: ABN amro
project management: DVP
contractor: FOR building VOF (consisting of bouwbedrijf valleibouw B.V. and bouwbedrijf osnabrugge B.V.)
contractor floating foundations: hercules FC
structural engineer: bartels & vedder
wood structure engineer: solid timber
MEP installations & sustainability: DWA
wood structure: derix gelamineerde houtconstructies
building installations: roodenburg groep
glass: iFS building systems
steel: w. ten ham plaatwerk