Rotterdam in development

92 R O T T E R D A M I N D E V E L O P M E N T | 2 0 1 8 n 1932, the Cooperative Wholesalers Association De Handelskamer (HAKA) moved to new business premises on the Vierhavensstraat. The building was constructed as a horizontally-segmented wall along the Lekhaven, located behind it. A longer industrial wing and a shorter office wing are connected by a vertical staircase and, behind that, an adjoining square silo house. Below this, on the elevated ground floor, the full length of the building consists of loading and unloading space, complete with steel sliding doors. It was awarded national monument status in 2002. Vestia bought the building in 2008 with the intention of installing a ‘living lab’ for water and energy, but legislative changes recently forced Vestia to sell the HAKA building to Dudok Group. “This is a long-term purchase with a view to the future restructuring of the Merwe-Vierhavens area,” says Marcel Schippers from the real estate firm, based in Dordrecht. “It’s all about to happen in this part of Rotterdam. Dudok Group is not interested in ordinary development”, he explains. “This is a striking building with a beautiful history, in a beautiful place. We want to breathe new life into it.” Previously, in Rotterdam, the company acquired the monumental office building De Rotterdamsche Lloyd in the Lloydkwartier. The Dudok Group has built up positive experience with the redevelopment of this kind of property, working on projects including Post120 in Dordrecht. “A Stalinist concrete colossus about which everyone said: ‘What are you going to do with that?’ We have managed to transform it into the buzzing heart of Dordt.” POURED CONCRETE The HAKA building is anything but Stalinist. It is an early example of poured concrete construction. The stucco concrete façades are fitted with steel and glass doors and sections of reinforced double- fired tiles. Inside, you can still find the original glazed tile work in the staircases and toilets. The office wing was formerly largely furnished wood, although unfortunately most of this was later removed. The front wall of the office wing contains a stained-glass window which is almost as tall as the wall itself. On the next floors, spiral-shaped radiators also function as protection against items falling through the stained glass. These are just some of the little surprises the building has to offer. SILO HOUSE There is also the silo house, well-hidden from the outside. You can still see the chutes from 20 silos, both above and below. The building’s rear wall still supports a section of the crane that used to hoist up shipments and transfer them to the silos. The new owner’s idea is to open the silo house both for work and for uses including transparent lifts, installations and specialised areas. A skeleton renovation plan has already been established and, together with Wessel de Jonge Architects, an architect has been engaged who is very experienced in renovating monumental buildings (such as the Van Nelle factory). In close collaboration with Wessel de Jonge Architects and the construction team partners, Dudok Group has PROPERTY REPURPOSING SOMETIMES MEANS A TOTAL METAMORPHOSIS, BUT THAT WILL DEFINITELY NOT BE THE CASE FOR THE HAKA BUILDING. ITS STATUS AS A NATIONAL MONUMENT WOULD FORBID THAT ON ITS OWN, BUT NO ONE WOULD WANT TO CHANGE MUCH ABOUT THESE DISTINCTIVE BUSINESS PREMISES IN ANY CASE. THE BUILDING’S AUTHENTICITY WILL REMAIN INTACT, BUT BEHIND THE SCENES SOMETHING BIG IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. FOLLOWING A LARGE-SCALE, MAINLY INTERNAL RENOVATION, THE BUILDING WILL REOPEN ITS DOORS AS AN UNCONVENTIONAL MULTI-BUSINESS LOCATION, IN COMBINATION WITH HOSPITALITY PROVISION THAT SPARKS THE IMAGINATION.