The BaanTower: Contemporary Classic

‘Unobstructed Views’

Nanne de Ru, Founder

Standing 159 meters tall, The BaanTower will be the Netherlands’ second-highest residential tower. It’s a one-off in the Netherlands to have such a tall tower in a city center. Nevertheless, The BaanTower does not rely on height alone for its impact but on architectural quality. The design can be described as quite rational, on a straightforward square plan, but unique in our use of rich materials and huge windows. Measuring 2.3m x 2.3m, these windows allow amazing, unobstructed views of the cityscape, underlining the special nature of the location, which we characterize as “golden”. In the heart of the city, it’s a short stroll to the lively Witte de Withstraat, several schools, and many other facilities.

The choice of dramatic black marble for the fa?ade is daring yet elegant. The dark fa?ade and the anodized window frames give the building a unique architectural character in Rotterdam – whereas other nearby towers are light-colored. We added detailing in travertine to link to the post-war heritage of Rotterdam. Embedding a building in the local surroundings is typical of our Powerhouse Company approach: we always visit and re-visit the site extensively during the design process. The power of the context is something we want to harness.

‘Art Deco Atmosphere’

Stefan Prins, Partner Architect

The building’s plinth plays an important role in connecting The BaanTower to the urban fabric. The entrance lobby is welcoming, transparent, and open. It adds energy to the new neighborhood. A rundown area until recently, the up-and-coming Baan Quarter is now one of the hottest locations in the city. The lobby is minimalist in style yet enriched by the tactility of the black marble. Champagne anodized window frames add a sumptuous touch. Inside, but visible from the street, a ceiling painting in gold depicts the so-called “Dutch mountains” – the big cloudy skies for which the Netherlands is known. The use of marble, and a touch of Art Deco atmosphere, recall other buildings we designed, including the monumental Villa B in Germany and Merckt in Groningen, the Netherlands. The BaanTower taps into the theme of contemporary classicism in our work. It’s modern yet also timeless. You see lots of towers, but few are materialized in stone. This makes The BaanTower an enduring landmark, a worthy addition to the great modern architectural heritage of Rotterdam.

‘Accessible Luxury’

Nanne de Ru, Founder

Despite its rather opulent appearance, The BaanTower is more accessible than exclusive. It’s a special residential project as all the homes are rentals – which is unique in this area. This means that the homes are within the reach of a wide demographic, and the different types of apartments also reflect this. The 427 homes in the tower will range from one-person studios to family-sized four-bedroom apartments. In addition, an unusual range of services will add a community feel. Residents will be able to use the communal pool and roof park. They can also book a workspace in The Library, a guest apartment for visitors, or reserve the Living Room for a party – via either the concierge or the BaanTower app. There’s also a strong focus on health, with indoor parking spaces for 1000 bicycles and a gym as well as a pool and park. In designing The BaanTower, we were inspired by two other towers: Wim Quist’s dark, sleek Robeco Tower (now Allianz Tower) in Rotterdam, and Raphael Vinoly’s 432 Park Avenue in New York, with its large square windows. Of course, we also drew on our own wide-ranging villa portfolio and its long experience in residential architecture. We love to design wonderful homes for people to live in. There is nothing standard about The BaanTower. We’ve designed an apartment building that we would like to live in ourselves.