Rotterdam in development

96 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 he enormous transparent cube OMA originally had in mind for the Forum project has been out of the picture for some time. This former plan would have added 40,000 m2 of retail space to the Coolsingel, Beurstraverse (‘Koopgoot’) and Lijnbaan zone, all in one go. A dip in the retail market meant the plan had to be adjusted, and a longstanding conflict with the intended contractor also got in the way. “Developer Multi completed the business case over the course of 2017. Syntrus Achmea Real Estate & Finance is a partner in the development; in cooperation with ASR Property Fund, it owns the Lijnbaan shops in the Forum project,” says Rob Vester, Development Company Director at this large real estate and mortgage investor. Syntrus Achmea RE&F is also taking over a tower block that will be renovated as part of the project. The implementation was taken up by two new contractors at the end of August. A total of around 65,000 m2 of floor area will be renovated or added to the current stock. The imposing ABN Amro building on the Coolsingel, with its distinctive copper roof, will receive a thorough makeover designed by Wessel de Jonge Architects, both inside and out. It is important for the building’s appearance that the darker mirrored glass in the windows is replaced with lightly-tinted transparent glass. Donner bookshop, which began to use part of the bank building as an anti-squatter measure after its new beginning, has signed a rental contract for 3,900 m2. Donner will remain open during the renovation, although the shop will have to ‘make room’ internally. ABN Amro will be returning to its former Rotterdam head office with a reduced staff, which means that it will take up 5,600 m2 in offices and customer-facing space. RESIDENTIAL TOWER Under the management of Syntrus Achmea RE&F, the ugly office block with the reddish- brown glass frontages above the bank and retail block will be transformed into a residential tower. Using an OMA design, the tower will be totally stripped and given a brand-new façade. 103 apartments will be available to rent for between €1,200 and €1,600, according to Vester. “Significant rents, but for apartments of this size in the heart of the city centre they are in line with the market.” SHOPS Attracting the popular clothing store Primark laid the foundation for the retail programme. Primark will take advantage of 12,000 m2 of retail space as a flagship store, now also the largest European branch of the popular Irish retail chain. The shop will extend from the Jungerhans building on the Binnenwegplein to the retail area by the Beurstraverse, which means it will take up all the space behind the ABN Amro building. The Jungerhans building is being renovated and the shops by the Beurstraverse are being extended and renovated. This applies to all Lijnbaan shops in this large block behind the bank. The former H.H. de Klerk building, on the corner of Binnenwegplein and Lijnbaan, is the only building that is not part of the project. BOOST FOR LIJNBAAN The existing Lijnbaan shops in the Forum block are participating fully in the renovation efforts. “With completely new façades and awnings, we are giving the whole block a boost,” says Vester. It will have a modern, fresh appearance.” A small The ugly office block is giving way to a modern residential tower with 103 spacious apartments.