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The Red Apple residential development

This is a project by KCAP Architects&Planners and it is located at Rotterdam, Netherlands. There are six images for The Red Apple residential development.

: © Rob 't Hart

Project images

Designer's statement

The Red Apple stands in a visually prominent spot: at the tip of the Wijnhaven Island, with water on three sides and views across the River Maas and the Oude Haven (‘Old Harbour’). The existing block structure is retained to a height of 21 metres and integrates a number of the old office buildings into the new structures, in line with the stipulations of the dynamic transformation model. The south-west corner of the site is occupied by a slender tower that reaches a height of 125 metres and is clad in red aluminium plating. The ground-floor entrance is a spacious glazed lobby with lifts. On the floors above there are live/work loft spaces, while above the 21-metre level there are apartments of various sizes and four penthouses. Since all the apartments are diagonally oriented, the views are optimal.

The converging lines of Wijnhaven Island meet at The Red Apple, outlining a five-sided volume, part of which extends beyond the substructure as a cantilever. In this section of the development, apartments of various size are situated around an atrium, which is also the point of orientation for circulation routes. Thanks to large apertures in the facade, this atrium offers a stunning vista across the city. The apartments in this volume are also designed on the diagonal, so they all enjoy extraordinary views. This volume is also clad in coloured aluminium panels, but because of its large expanses of fenestration it has a distinctly transparent character.

The Red Apple is a collaboration between KCAP and interior designer Jan des Bouvrie. The building and its environs were designed for the modern urbanite who has a flexible lifestyle that closely interweaves living, working and relaxing. It therefore offers a wide selection of live/work lofts and apartments in a diversity of types and dimensions. The surroundings exude an intimate urban character thanks to the shops, cafés and restaurants that are set behind street-level facades of wood and glass. There are wooden jetties and terraces ranged along the pedestrianized streets, and two new footbridges improve access to the area. A new arcade traverses The Red Apple complex, substantially expanding the area of public space.

Project details:

Client: PWS,Woningstichting, Rotterdam
Architect: KCAP Architects&Planners, Rotterdam with Jan des Bouvrie (life style concept)
Description: Masterplan and supervision of redevelopment of a former pier, including the design of a residential and an office tower
Location: Wijnhaven Island: Wijnbrugstraat, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Time frame: 2002-2009
Contractor: Bouwcombinatie Heijmerink / JP van Eesteren (TBI bouw), Rotterdam
Consultants: Structural engineering: Corsmit Consulting Engineers, Rijswijk, building services: ENVO, Rotterdam, building physics: Peutz S&W consultancy, Vlissingen, fire safety: DGMR engineering consultants, Arnhem