PHD Researcher Ana Pereira Roders / Arch. Andre Walraven / Trainee Josué Eliziário /arch. Isabel Valverde 29-6-2007 Daniël Tulp 0510902

Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................................ 1
Analysis ............................................................................................................................. 2
Documentary inventory ..................................................................................................... 2
Rules and regulations ..................................................................................................... 2
Analysis of pre-design .................................................................................................... 2
What is the essence of the building?.............................................................................. 2
Summary ................................................................................................................ 3
What is the essence of the relationship between the building and its surroundings?............. 4
Summary ................................................................................................................ 6
Other documents ........................................................................................................... 6
The building as a ruin .................................................................................................. 6
Ruins rehabilitated ...................................................................................................... 7
Curved glass .............................................................................................................. 7
Harbour rehabilitation.................................................................................................. 8
Parasite ..................................................................................................................... 8
Witte dame ................................................................................................................ 9
Oral inventory .................................................................................................................. 9
Physical inventory........................................................................................................... 10
Another silo ................................................................................................................ 10
Van Nelle factory ......................................................................................................... 10
Exterior research ......................................................................................................... 11
Synthesis ......................................................................................................................... 12
Environment survey ........................................................................................................ 12
Significance survey ......................................................................................................... 12
Conditional survey .......................................................................................................... 13
Simulation ........................................................................................................................ 14
Conceptional design ........................................................................................................ 14
Preliminary design .......................................................................................................... 26
Final design ................................................................................................................... 32
Evaluation ........................................................................................................................ 36
Environment assessment ................................................................................................. 36
Significance assessment .................................................................................................. 37
Condition assessment ..................................................................................................... 39
Design assessment ......................................................................................................... 40
Conclusion and recommendations........................................................................................ 41
List of sources................................................................................................................... 42
Literature ...................................................................................................................... 42
Internet sources ............................................................................................................. 42
Appendix.......................................................................................................................... 43
Planetarium Beijing......................................................................................................... 43
De baljurk ..................................................................................................................... 43
De baljurk ..................................................................................................................... 44
Millcity museum ............................................................................................................. 44
Las Palmas parasite ........................................................................................................ 49
Rijnhaven silo ................................................................................................................ 52
Van Nelle factory ............................................................................................................ 54
Exterior research south of the silo..................................................................................... 57
Free flight simulators ...................................................................................................... 59
Red, yellow, blue and black drawings ................................................................................ 62
Final drawings ................................................................................................................ 63
PhD researcher Ana Pereira Roders / Arch. Andre Walraven / trainee Josué Eliziário /Arch. Isabel Valverde 29-6-2007
Daniël Tulp 0510902 Page 0
Introduction
This report tries to show the most significant parts of my design process and design proposal but
will not list all design decisions as this would result in an excessive proportionate report.
It shows the design phase of my rehabilitation of the Maashaven silo Rotterdam which was
thoroughly analysed in the pre-design phase of the Re-architecture method by my colleagues and
me during the first block of this semester.
The Re-architecture method is a scientific working mythology for the rehabilitation of buildings and
is particularly useful when rehabilitating complex, monumental buildings such as the Maashaven
silo. More information can be found at www.re-architecture.eu.
This design is part of my master studies at the Technical University of Eindhoven and serves as my
second project at the department of Architectural Design and Engineering which I hope to
graduate from with listing in the Dutch register of architects.
Analysis
Documentary inventory
Rules and regulations
Only necessary regulations regarding my design proposal are discussed here.
The height of toilettes in existing buildings is regulated in section 4.7 of the building regulation of
The Netherlands paragraph 2 article 4.43:
Een toiletruimte als bedoeld in artikel 4.41, eerste tot en met derde lid, heeft een vloeroppervlakte van
ten minste 0,64 m² . De breedte van die vloeroppervlakte is ten minste 0,6 m en de hoogte daarboven is
ten minste 2 m.
In a new build building it has to be 2,3 m but in an existing building it can be 2 m.
Analysis of pre-design
To better understand and handle all the information of the pre-design phase, I have come up with
a number of questions which I kept in mind while reading all the reports from the pre-design
phase. The result of this research was sometimes partial and sometimes full answers to these
questions.
The main questions were:

What is the essence* of the building?
What is the essence* of the relationship between the building and its surroundings?
* In philosophy, essence is the attribute (or set of attributes) that make an object or substance
what it fundamentally is. The notion of essence has acquired many slightly but importantly
different shades of meaning throughout the history of philosophy; most of them derive from its
use in Aristotle and its evolution within the scholastic tradition.
What is the essence of the building?

In the oral inventory some information can be found that relates to this question.
“The inside was darker than you ever could imagine.” (page 71)
The source was a photographer that had been taking pictures of the Maashaven silo right after it
closed down.
“the silos represent the glorious history of the city as a leading port and centre of industry
and trade, which it still is nowadays.[…] The silos are a rough, industrial chunk of concrete
and steel, not a delicate piece of art.” (page 77, 78)
This was said by Herman Moscoviter, an author of books about the architecture and society of
Rotterdam.
The physical inventory also contains some information that is relevant for this question.
“The façades are dominated by regularity of the elements and openings.” (page 110)
“The charisma is in a certain degree determined by the industrial components in and on the
building.” (page 118)
In the significance survey a lot of information is available to answer this question.
“For the workers, the Maassilo represented a way of life and most probably of a strict
scheduled routine. Presently, the building serves as a venue for the Now & Wow. While
human activity is still restricted to the same floors and spaces, the Maassilo now operates
as a creative factory that is unrestricted by set parameters and guidelines.” (page 209)
“the entire existence of the Silo is based on the economy and use of the building.” (page
211)
“The building can be seen as a symbol for the flourishing economy for the city Rotterdam, a
symbol for the history and the present.” (page 211)
“The Maassilo gives an excellent overview of the development of grain storage and
processing technology over the first half of the 20th century.” (page 215)
“the exterior and form of the building conveys the activity inside the building.“ (page 216)
“the building was designed in the functional style. This approach allowed the building to
achieve optimal functional performance in which it has gained its immortal status” (page
216)
“The East-Northeast façade has a very characteristic and symbolic value that is
representable for this building.” (page 222)
“Mostly the technological advancements in use and construction of the building is

appreciated.” (page 228)
“In the façades, the patina (the natural change of appearance) can be found in the chaotic
shades the concrete has taken on during time. Pollutants, organics and weather influences
have changed the appearance of the building dramatically.” (page 231)
This information from the significance survey can be summarized as follows: The building has
changed a lot. In the past it was an economic centre, now it is almost anarchistic. The age of the
building can be seen because of the patina. The technological advancements and the historic value
are significant, it is a symbol for the economy of Rotterdam. The functionalistic style is profoundly
present in the design and the East-Northeast façade is representable for this.
The condition survey talks a lot about symmetry. The main point it makes is that the symmetry
does exist to a certain extend, but that this is mostly coincidental as it was a result of
functionalistic demands derived from either the construction or the grain transportation.
A couple of quotes from the survey are in itself interesting for the first question.
“The strategy used tries to emphasize the horizontality of the building” (page 265)
“in the North elevation, there is a ‘stranger’ (the electricity station)” (page 267)
Summary
The essence of the building surely consists of the industrial character of it. The functionalistic style,
its façades and other components make it a symbol for Rotterdams history as a port city and as a
city of hard working and proud labourers. The comment of mister Moscoviter about this is in my
eyes most striking: “The silos are a rough, industrial chunk of concrete and steel, not a delicate
piece of art.” (page 77, 78 of the oral inventory). Although the building does contain aesthetic
elements, in its essence it is not art.
What is the essence of the relationship between the building and its
surroundings?
In the documentary inventory few remarks are made that talk about this relationship.
“The whole town Katendrecht had to be demolished for the Maashaven.” (page 21)
This shows the way the city of Rotterdam deals with economy. They wanted to progress whatever
the cost, in this case the loss of a part of the city.
“In the study ‘Rotterdam water city 2035’ fifteen urban planners , water planners,
landscape architects and infrastructure designers held with the question how, in the future,
Rotterdam must deal with big amount of water that it holds. From this study, three part-
plans were made: river city, sailing city and canal city. The part-plans offer new ideas for
living by the water, in which housing is placed round the water.” (page 25)
This study is important for the design phase as it can help the relationship between the harbour
and its surrounding area.
The oral inventory had a lot more information regarding this question.
“From a friendly neighbourhood, where everybody knows each other, it turned in to an

unsafe area, where everybody is a stranger. […] there is no space for success.” (page 69)
This was said by a local bar owner who has lived there for a long time.
“the playgrounds have been taken away and you see less and less green in the
surroundings.” (page 70)
This was said by a 45 year old male social worker, he grew up in the area.
“the corner of the Maassilo, was always well visited, it was busy and enjoyable.” (page 70)
An interviewee at Rotterdam010 said this.
“Nowadays, the neighbourhood is being dominated by foreigners and unemployed people,

with the well known social problems as the result. With our society, we try to keep alive the
cosy, familiar feeling that was characteristic for this old harbour district.” (page 76)
This was said by a volunteer of the historical centre of Rotterdam.
“The entrance is not based on anything” (page 88)
As a visitor of the dance club, Daniël Brandon has some experience with the building. He is an
architectural student. His statement is a vital clue to the integration problems of the Maashaven
silo in the area.
From the first four quotes, the conclusion can be drawn that the social environment in the
neighbourhood of the Maashaven silo has changed over the years in a negative way for the area as
well as for the relationship with the building
The environment survey also had good information about the relationship of the building with its
surroundings.
“Due to the fact that the area was an industrial area before there is no historical green
structure. […]Nowadays there is almost no room for a green structure to develop.” (page
148)
“In the front of the silo there are five streets coming together, a strategic point. […]These
axes intersect nearby the Graansilo, creating a strategic place which mainly represents the
accessibility of the area.” (page 163)
“the harbour is strengthened with a line of characteristic industrial buildings which

represent the activities along the harbour and also emphasizing his existence.” (page 164)
“A clear edge in the area is the metro line. It really cuts the area around the Grain silo in
half. The metro line has a dominant place,” (page 165)
“Since 2004 the area of the Maashaven is dominated by the ‘Queen of the South’” (page
184)
“this element (the elevated metro line) seems to isolate and cover the urban crossing at the
graansilo” (page 184)
“On the other side and along the harbour there are also a couple of buildings which
correspond with the Maashaven silo itself” (page 184)
“At the moment the are (of the Maashaven) has become empty, passive, neglected and
isolated. In spite of the renovation of the districts, new elements have supported the
isolation of the harbour in its function, charisma and originality. Towards the Maashaven
silo thisactually means, the building has degraded in its function, dominance and looking.”
(page 185)
This information tells us that the silo is located on a very strategic point in the area and in a line of
industrial buildings that strengthen the characteristics of the industrial harbour activity. The metro
line is very dominant in the area. It is a clear edge and together with the strong axes, it divides
the area into parts. The area has a lack of green structure and there is not a lot room for it to be
developed. And the Maashaven silo has been degraded from a dominant building in the area to not
being that.
In the significance survey a lo of information about the building can be found but also about the
relationship between the building and its surroundings.
“The residences of the Tarwewijk neighbourhood have for its entire history been closely
associated with the Maassilo and its harbour activities.” (page 205)
“those who have no previous relationship with it see it as a disposable asset and an
opportunity for luxurious harbour front residences.” (page 208)
This is more information (see the analyses of the oral inventory) that the population of the
neighbourhood has changed from having a real connection with the silo, to not having this
connection.
This is also described on page 235 to 236 of the significance survey. Here the harmony of the
building in its surrounding is discussed. Another point that is made in this part of the survey is:
“The silo has very little to none similarity with its surrounding non-industrial buildings. In
height, scale, materials, transparency and function, it differs a great deal from the dwellings
in the area.”
And that the highest degree of harmony can be found between the building and the harbour, not
with other non-industrial buildings.
Summary
From all this a conclusion can be drawn, an answer to the question “What is the essence of the
relationship between the building and its surroundings?”
In the past, the building did have a significant relationship with its surroundings. Most people that
lived in the area worked either in or around the Maashaven silo. Nowadays most inhabitants of the
area have no connection or emotional bond with the building as they mostly consist of new
generations, foreigners or newly moved autochthones.
The Maashaven silo is located at a very strategic location. It used to attract a lot of activity, now it
is not so lively anymore. The building was dominant in this location, but isn’t anymore.
In the area, not much green can be found and there is not much room to develop a good
ecological structure.
The essence of the relationship of the building with its surroundings can for these reasons be
described as poor, isolated, degraded and uncharacteristic.
Other documents
To further study the questions as described on page 2, it is necessary to look a bit further then the
pre-design reports.
The building as a ruin

The essence of the building could be described as it being a relic of history, a ruin so to say. But
what makes up a ruin? Why are we attracted by (ancient) historical buildings?
To answer this I read the catalogue, of the Getty Research Institute for the history of art and the
Humanities, that accompanied the exhibition with the same title: Irresistible decay. The exhibition
was held from December 16th until February 22nd 1998.
The catalogue contains a number of essays which use certain art exhibited at the exhibition to
illustrate their statements.
In the first essay the title of the exhibition is explained. The phrase was first used Walter Benjamin
in his work ‘The origin of German tragic drama’:
“In the ruin, history has merged into the setting. And in this guise history does not assume
the form of the process of an eternal life so much as that of irresistible decay”
This allows us to look at historic buildings as ruins, although they do not all need to be in total
decay. Therefore, the Maashaven Silo qualifies as a ruin. The quote also illustrates the historic
value and why we are drawn to it. The following quote explains more:
“Ruins are emblematic of transience and of persistence over time”
Historic buildings, or ruins, are physical traces of the past that can be of significant value to
maintain.
“Ruins are often activated in a culture to perform certain social, political or aesthetical
functions, but they can never belong fully to the present without losing their status as
ruins”
This tells us that rehabilitation needs to be done consciously so the past values are not removed
(to much) as this might cause the total loss of the historic value and it becoming a present day
building. This also goes for additions. In order to maintain the essence of the building, one should
not add, modify or subtract to much.
Ruins rehabilitated
A good reference in the light of this approach of the Maashaven Silo as a ruin is the Millcity
museum in Minneapolis. This former flour milling and
storage facility was heavily damaged in a fire and the
rehabilitation could exploit this mortality of the building to
appeal to the historic feelings of its visitors as can be seen
on the image on the left.
What is also clearly visible about this image is the way

they make clear what is new and what isn’t. The glass,
transparent new addition contradicts with the remains of
the old factory and thus a certain hierarchy and separation
is created that increases the melancholic tension on site.
Curved glass
In the development of my design I came across the necessity of
learning more about curved glass. This lead me to read
Twist&Build creating non-orthogonal architecture by Karel
Vollers published by 010 publishers in 2001.
The book is the result of a study conducted by Karel Vollers

regarding twisted buildings as an expression of curved glass
structures.
They came up with a design for a curved façade out of

aluminium which looks like a double curved surface, but is in
fact only twisted, and can
therefore be described by
straight lines, as shown on
the left, allowing the
production process to be less
complex and to reduce the
production costs
dramatically.
A building that already has curved glass in use is the Planetarium of

Beijing (see image on the right). Here they used curved glass to
highlight the entrance of the otherwise box-shaped building. The effect
is very dramatic but the solution of the flat door is not something I find
attractive or a good solution.
Another project where a bend surface is used is the ‘Baljurk’ in Groningen
(The Netherlands) as can be seen in the image on the left. Literally
translated this means the ballroom gown, which is a reference to the shape
and materialisation.
The double façade is mate of perforated steel mounted on a structural

glazing like system (Spiderglass). This allows the structure to be perceived
as very light and allows the form to be whatever is wished for.
Harbour rehabilitation
In the process of my development I also searched for ways to use the harbour
for exhibitions, permanent or temporary. The Monolith by Jean Nouvel was an
inspiration in this process and should therefore be mentioned here.
The large and apparently solid cube of corroded steel stands in the lake of
Morat in Switzerland. The monolithic element is in deep contrast with its
surroundings but at the same time lays a connection between the city, where
other such elements were placed, and itself.
Parasite
In my development process I found myself dealing with parasitic building
volumes. To further understand the meaning of this I studied a parasite build not far from the
Maashaven Silo.
On the roof of the Las Palmas

building, also a monumental
industrial building, now housing a
photography museum, a volume
was build to accommodate the
needs for a development studio on
site for the rehabilitation of the Las
Palmas building.
The wooden and green painted

volume was very obvious from the
outside as an addition. It was build
on top an into the vertical
communication of the building
which it used for its entrance. It
was designed by Korteknie
Stuhlmacher architecten. Drawings
will be available in the appendix.
So a volume was added that used functionality, structural support and space of another building,
in the meantime adding value to the building itself.
After the Las Palmas building was rehabilitated, the volume was eventually removed and relocated.
Another source I used to learn more about parasitic buildings was a book by Korteknie
Stuhlmacher architecten titled ‘The city off small things’. Quote from the introduction: “It is a
record of the initial, conceptual phase of the project ‘Parasites – concepts for small-scale
interventions for the existing city fabric’, an architectural research and exhibition project initiated
and organised by Rien Korteknie and Mechtild Stuhlmacher”
It gives a definition of the word Parasite and explains that it is actually an acronym: Prototypes for
Advanced Ready-made Amphibious Small-scall Individual Temporary Ecological buildings.
“It stands for buildings that make ‘parasitic’ use of the existing infrastructure. On the other
hand the word ‘Para-sites’ describes all kinds of locations within the urban fabric that are
usually regarded as being (temporarily) unsuitable for permanent inhabitation. We find
Para-site locations not only on the physical edge of a city but also on figurative fringe areas
within the exiting city fabric such as industrial wasteland, the flat roofs of existing building
…”
This tells us they also consider non-places as being a para-site in the urban fabric, which includes
rooftops.
Witte dame
The ‘Witte dame’, or White Lady, is a converted factory of Philips
and is a very well known building in Eindhoven (The Netherlands).
What is most apparent about this rehabilitation is that is strives to
make a link between the area on the back of the building and the
road that runs in the front.
This is done by removing the interior floors and walls of a segment

of the building the same time creating an entrance to the different
functions inside the building and visually connecting them to the
pedestrian paths in the area, thus inviting people to go in to the
library for instance.
The historic look and feel of the building is maintained by leaving the façade mostly intact (apart
from the new entrance of the building).
Oral inventory
I did not find it necessary to do many additional oral inventories. I did however come across
something Hannah Frederiks said about a former employer of hers.
She had work 2 years at an architectural office in the Bacinol

building in Rotterdam. This is an old pharmaceutical building
which has been converted to a creative factory much like the
van Nelle, which I will comment on later, and the plans for the
office part of the Maashaven silo.
The building facilitates interaction between its users, being all

kinds of creative professionals, from artists to architects. But
she said:
“…people did tend to keep to themselves, although some degree
of interaction was present…”
“… it was nice to see what other people were creating…”
“New companies were getting more business because of the

network that was inside the complex.”
Physical inventory
We went back with a group to visit the Maashaven Silo for a second time. This time we had a more
direct approach to the building. We constantly tried to relate everything to the floor plan and also
had a look in the ground floor of the last
extension and other places that still
raised questions.
Another silo
We also went to the Rijnhaven silo. A
similar complex as the Maashaven but of
a later date and smaller. You can find
more photographs in the appendix.
What is most striking is the use of more

glass. The topfloor and the elevator
tower top are mostly transparent, which
is different from the Maashaven silo.
The Rijnhaven silo is still in use as a

grain silo. More photos can be found in
the appendix.
Van Nelle factory

The van Nelle factory has been converted into a creative
factory where many different creative professions are
placed in one complex so they may interact, learn and
work with each other.
The factory is in many ways different from the

Maashaven silo as it had the concept Air, Space and
Light when it was originally build. Such a concept is
very common nowadays therefore the conversion or
rehabilitation to be used in the modern day was less
difficult.
It also differs from the Maashaven silo with its interior

organisation. The horizontal direction dominates the building instead of the vertical direction which
is the case with the Maashaven silo.
There are also similarities like the columns with the metal rails in them. These rails were used to
mount machinery on and in the rehabilitated van Nelle factory they are used to mound the interior
walls. This allows for flexibility and reversibility, both good results.
The cafeteria is a place where the people who work in the building can meet and dine but also hold
presentations while other people maybe get interested. This way of facilitating interaction is
inspiring.
Exterior research
In the development of my rehabilitation proposal I found the need to further investigate the area
south of the Maashaven silo.
This research has resulted in good knowledge of the several barriers that can be found in this area.
A sketch of a section shows us the following (the Maashaven silo is located on the right side).
This can also be seen in the photograph

below taken from the elevated subway
station. More photographs concerning this
are can be found in the appendix.
Synthesis
Environment survey
It is clear that the building has a very dominant position and location within the area, although it
doesn’t connect enough with the environment. My research about the area on the south side of the
building suggests that an intervention here would dramatically improve the connection the building
has with its surroundings and will make it more accessible then it is at the moment.
This action will also allow me to place more vegetation in the area and reconnect the inhabitants
with the past glory of the building by giving it back to them.
Also the lack of integration from the harbour in the daily lives of the inhabitants or visitors calls for
attention. Perhaps an intervention as Jean Nouvel did in Switzerland could reconnect the harbour
to functions within the building. Perhaps an urban plan concerning this would increase this as well.
With regard to ‘The city of small things’ the walkway in front of the south façade, the shore of the
harbour and the roof can be considered para-sites. Non-places that serve only function but are not
a part of daily routine and lack any coherence to the surroundings.
Connecting this area with the building, and thus the inhabitants with the building will eventually
result in connecting the area with the city again as the building has such a strategic location.
Significance survey
Regarding the cultural values it was shown in the pre-design phase that the social value has a lot
of potential, but as it only speaks to a certain part of the inhabitants (the discotheque) it is lacking
connection with the inhabitants. This needs to be addressed.
The historic value is high, this means it is very significant for the building, but it doesn’t prevent
you from touching it. But as the book ‘Irresistible decay’ states “…they can never belong fully to
the present without losing their status as ruins.” So maintaining this value, even exploiting it, will
be a challenge and something that needs to be kept in mind constantly.
The economic value can be increased by choosing the right kind of functions for the building. This
also means that these functions must appeal to the inhabitants and get them to use the building
again. It could be an economic impulse for the economically dried out area.
Regarding the age value, it is very important to show the difference between the additions and the
remainings as being build in different ages. This will mean that we must use contemporary
materials, shapes, science and techniques in order not to harm the presence or the essence of the
building.
This means aesthetically there needs to be a difference also. As the current underlying concept of
form follows function is not the central theme in nowadays architecture. A modern approach is
therefore appropriate, but should be handled with care to make sure the aims stated about the
historical value are met.
Nowadays ecology is becoming more and more ideological and I firmly stand by these ideas. But to
not further complicate the design I’m making, and because of my personal interest of getting my
architecture listing, I will not integrate real ecological means into my design proposal.
The urban changes needed for reconnecting the building to the inhabitants, and the inhabitants to
the city will require tremendous political influence and policy. This will for sure increase the
political value of the area, but will not affect the building on the same level.
Conditional survey
The aims towards the condition of the building in the future can be derived from a combination of
the pre-design and my aims for this building. In order to establish the connection with the
surroundings it will need to provide modern convert and still remain part of the past. This will for
sure be a difficult aim, as this means the outside of the façades can’t be altered.
The changes made to the building will need to be reversible to a certain extend in order to
maintain the building as much as possible for future generations.
The building was a symbol for the economic power of Rotterdam, an icon of an era. It is one of my
goals to get this symbolic value, this iconic state for the city of Rotterdam back into the building.
Simulation
Conceptional design
My first aim was to reconnect the building to its surrounding and I intended to include the harbour
into this. One of the ideas to accomplish this was by making visual contact and direct access to the
harbour through the building from the area on the south of the building.
By cutting out he middle section, through the ‘explosive gap’ in the façade, would allow direct
access to he harbour where a floating garden and monolithic object could be placed in the water of
the harbour. The object would most likely be subtractions from the building and artwork from
artists working in the building.
A lot of subtractions would be needed for my second idea of placing the functions inside the silos
by cutting away pieces of walls, in order to allow people in the silos and therefore truly experience
the building and its former function.
The functions would include a movie theatre
which would probably look like something in
the sketch on the right. Notice that the silos
are still very much visible.
The sketch on the previous page shows the

functions inside the silo, the routing through
the building and the new ‘tunnel’ through the
building with one problem, wind.
I didn’t need to solve that problem though as

I decided against this solution. The problem
was that I would be demolishing to much. It
would be almost impossible to get the pieces
out of the building and into the harbour as a
whole, so the subtractions would certainly be irreversible.
Besides this, there could very well be better solution to show the silos to the public then cutting
away most of it. This action would also pull the building to close to the present as the priorities of
the buildings history would become dominated by the new functions. Another result from this
action would be that the dance club would not be able to function as it does now. As I find the way
it is now, a relatively good solution, this was not preferable.
My second idea to connect the building to its surroundings again was to tackle the problem of the
area on the south side of the building displayed below in plan and section before and after the
intervention.
The move of the road to the other side
of the of the tram rails will create a
square in front of the building with
direct access to the south façade where
commercial enterprises can be placed
that will serve the inhabitants of the
Tarwewijk.
It would also include the move of the

exit and entrance point of the subway
station. The dark gray areas indicate
where they are.
These actions will also allow me to

add more green to the neighbourhood
in the form of trees and flowerbeds
which the area desperately needs.
On the next page an impression of the

new situation is given.
As you can see this will also include the modification of the ‘explosion gap’ by adding floors into it
to create shopping space. In order to allow commercial enterprises on the ground floor of the last
extension of the building, the façade needs to be opened there. The façade consists of brickwork
with steel doors on some places.
By this time I had already decided to focus solely

on the south side of the building. The building is to
big and complex and the plans that are made for it
are not that bad being an dance club, creative
factory and office space.
This solved the problem of the connection with the

building and the area but did not solve the problem
with the building and the inhabitants of the area
and the city of Rotterdam.
In order to do this I decided to place a community

centre in the building. This would facilitate many
functions needed by the inhabitants like a place for
the youth to gather and spend their time,
education, sports and more.
My initial thoughts about this were to place it on

top of the roof, as a temporary solution to the
para-site located there as can be seen on the right.
It would be placed on an elevated square allowing the installations on the roof to operate and also
allowing space for sports like skating, basketball and soccer.
The sketch also shows my intentions of moving the entrance to the discotheque from the north
façade to the east façade. There is a corrugated plate of steel there that covers a damaged section
of the façade so by placing a new entrance there would not damage the façade but even increase
the value of it.
It also shows on the roof of the eleventh floor a field of small windmills. This was part of my
ecological intentions. But as said in my synthesis, this will not be included in the rest of my design
process.
On the tenth floor of the 1953 extension, a

restaurant would be placed which would, together
with the square on top of the seventh floor, create
the connection with the city of Rotterdam.
This design had a few disadvantages. The

community centre was not connecting to the area
where the community was located, it only
connected to the city. It also was located on a very
prominent location which could add more value to
a restaurant or café then to a community centre.
Therefore my next move was to switch the

locations and now place the café/ restaurant on the
roof of the seventh floor and besides that let it
extend over the roofline of the north façade in order to be visible from the harbour shore as is
shown on the right.
Now I only had one more connection to make,

the one between the big square in front of the
building and the one on top of it.
I had already placed commercial functions

inside the ‘explosion gap’ with of course some
kind of vertical communication.
This could allow
me to connect
the two squares
with each other.
But this volume

needed to be
something special if I wanted to reach my aim of restoring the
buildings iconic status. It also needed to be something completely
different then the building itself in order not to complete the façade.
The ‘explosion gap’ is very obvious in the façade and just closing it
would change the building to much and pulling it to close to the
present day.
It would need to be a separate volume that contradicted with the

building in every way. This results in demands for the materials,
shapes, science and techniques as stated in the synthesis. A parasite
would be a good word to describe it.
The materialisation was quite obvious. The building is solid, rough, heavy concrete. The material
should be light, smooth and transparent, so glass was the choice to be; glass with a construction
as light as possible.
The shape however was something different. I tried several possibilities.
Currently Straight inset Straight outset Straight edge Straight point
Curved cylinder Straight to cylinder Freeform Freeform outer shell
Eventually I chose a combination between the freeform, the straight inset and the straight edge.
The freeform creates the highest contrast in shape between the building and the added volume. I
did however not want the volume to extend outside the façade to further amplify the separation.
The addition of the edge serves that same purpose. The result can be seen in the sketch on the
next page.
This form flows like water from the rooftop and therefore also hints at he presence of the harbour.
The development of the curved shape was something new for me, but I knew it was possible with
3D studio VIZ so I tried a few possibilities displayed on the next page.
Eventually I chose to let the curves correspond with the floors inside, which can be seen here.
In this last image another change

in the design can be seen which
is best illustrated with the plan of
the ground floor.
Here you see I used the electricity house to accommodate my vertical communication, which
continued inside the silos in the back of the added floors. This totally obscured the connection
between two squares which was foremost the vertical communication.
My solution to this was to place the lifts on the outside of the newly added volume, protruding
through the curved surface and thus also being the means of entrance to the volume.
My last problem was to connect the square on top of the building to the volume. In order to find a
solution I worked in 3D studio but eventually reverted back to sketching in order to create the
connection.
Curved with open side
Curved but open, only a

roof, not a real
connection.
Thi
s is
an
org
ani
c
tra
nsi
tio
n
int
o
the
squ
are
This resembles the
thought of but to complex for its purpose falling water best
I eventually went with the first option but then with the side closed.
The creation of this curved glass surface also required some research.
Double curved Curved with one straight edge All straight edges
The last option can be achieved by twisting the glass panes as results from the research conducted
by Karel Vollers (see Documentary inventory, Other documents).
In the image on the right the benefit is explained

better. The shades of grey show which glass panes
are the same. The darkest are just normal flat
windowpanes, the others are twisted panes.
This square can be copied and placed next to itself,

mirrored which results in the beginning of a curved
surface as is
shown on the left.
This can be
copied again and
placed on top of
itself, mirrored.
Repeating this
process creates
an entire faced
with curves.
The major benefit

of this system is
the vast cost
reduction. Not
only can all panes be described by straight line, but they are also repeated throughout the façade.
To heighten the economic value and to attract more people to the centre, some more functions are
placed inside the 1953 extension. These are a free flight simulator and climbing centre. They will
be reachable through the tenth floor. The idea is depicted in the following sketches. More images
of free flight simulators can be found in the appendix.
The other part of the tenth floor will be reserved for the community centre with music studio space
in the silos below that.
Preliminary design
The drawings with the red, blue, yellow and blacks are in the appendix.
Below the subtracted, remaining and added materials are listed as the result of the tool on the re-
architecture website.
Subtractions
photo (0000)| Aa SBR lc SBR mc SBR rc BRE rating
(13.12)|(E0) 75 - -
(13.12)|(Yp1) 30 - -
(16.82)|(Gh2) 75 - -
(17.22)|(Hi2) 75 - -
(21.11)|(Ff1) 75 - -
(27.31)|(Gf2) 75 - - C
(31.31)|(Ro0) 75 - -
Remainings
(13.12)|(E0) 75 - -
(13.12)|(Eq4) 30 - -
(13.12)|(Ln0) 25 - -
(13.12)|(Yp1) 30 - -
(16.80)|(Gf2) 75 - -
(16.82)|(Gf2) 75 - -
(16.82)|(Gh2) 75 - -
(17.22)|(Gf2) 75 - -
(21.11)|(Ff1) 75 - -
(21.11)|(Gf2) 75 - -
(21.11)|(Gf4) 75 - -
(22.31)|(Xa1) 30 - -
(24.11)|(Xh2) 75 5/35 -
(24.12)|(Xi1) 10/40* 1/40 -
(27.31)|(Gf2) 75 - - C
(28.22)|(Gf2) 75 5/50 -
(31.31)|(Ro0) 75 - -
(31.31)|(Ro4) 60 - -
Additions
(13.12)|(E0) 75 - -
(13.12)|(Eq4) 30 - -
(16.82)|(Gh2) 75 - -
(21.11)|(Ff1) 75 - -
(21.11)|(Gf4) 75 - -
(22.31)|(Xa1) 30 - -
(23.41)|(Hf2) 75 - -
(23.91)|(Yt43) 10 - -
(24.11)|(Xh2) 75 5/35 -
(24.12)|(Xi1) 10/40* 1/40 -
(27.31)|(Gf2) 75 - - C
(28.22)|(Hh2) 75 5/35 -
(31.31)|(Ro5) 25 - -
(31.31)|(Ro8) 15 - -
(31.41)|(Xh46) 35 4/30 - B
(31.53)|(Xh44) 35 3 -
(37.31)|(Xn6) 20 - -
(42.22)|(Pq4) 40/60* 5/50 -
(45.32)|(Pq4) 30/60* 5/40 - A
(47.11)|(Ln61) 25 - -
There were some developments in the course of the preliminary design. One was the move of the
community centre to the added floors in the ‘explosion gap’. This will allow the people on the large
square in front of the south façade to have more interaction with and a better view of the centre
with a fitness facility, information centre, lectures and exhibitions.
The tenth floor which originally was reserved for the community centre is now the youth lounge
with a small bar and kitchen, pool tables, computers with internet access and access to the silos
underneath that serve as storage facility, dressing rooms and toilet facilities, music studios and
offices. The silos are connected through doors that are reused, cut out subtractions from the walls
weighing around 700 kg.
The climbing centre and free flight simulators now have emergency exits and better access though
an added floor 4 meters under the tenth floor.
In this stage I also fully developed the design of the top square and the lunch café that can be
found there. The square is situated 1950mm above the roof and thus connects perfectly with the
top floor in the ‘explosion gap’ and can be reached through this connection.
Final design
The final drawings can be found in the appendix.
These images represent the final design, but the 3D model never made it to full completion, so for
absolute knowledge of the design I should refer you to the drawings.
Evaluation
In the diagrams, the blue dotted line is the diagram as it was created in the pre-design phase. The
red line is the diagram for this evaluation stage.
Environment assessment
Significance assessment
Condition assessment
Design assessment
The environmental value appears to be off here. However value three means that it is improved
which is better then restored or maintained which are respectively rating 4 and 5.
Conclusion and recommendations
It can be concluded that my design proposal meets the aims I stated in the synthesis stage of this
phase. I have increased the social value, maintained the historic value, improved the
environmental value and succeeded in connecting the building with the area, the inhabitants with
the building, the building with the city and the inhabitants with the city.
The only thing that should be noted is that I did not thoroughly succeeded in creating a noticeable
connection between the large square and the square on the top of the building. The connection is
their, it is however not noticeable from the south side of the building.
Perhaps something like the sketch displayed here would have been better. I thought about this
however after my final presentation.
More research can be done into the application of glass curved walls. Also the connection between
two urban spaces without a visual connection is worth investigating more. Last but not least,
parasitic rehabilitation is also a field which could be beneficial to the build environment.
List of sources
Literature
Jodidio, P., Architecture now! 3, Taschen, Cologne, (unknown publishing date)
Korteknie, R. and Stuhlmacher, M., The city of small things, Stichting Parasite Foundation,
Rotterdam, 2001
Roth, M. S. (Lyons, C. and Merewether, C.), Irresistible Decay: Ruins reclaimed, Getty Research
Institute for the History of Art and the Humanities, Los Angelas, 1997
Vollers, K., Twist&Build creating non-orthogonal architecture, 010 Publishers, Rotterdam, 2001
Internet sources
www.aerodium.ca
http://www.aerodium.ca/specs.html
www.architectenweb.nl
http://www.architectenweb.nl/aweb/producten/product_detail.asp?productID=4687&categorie=79
&&iPID=2755
www.bodyflight.net
www.brs.nl
http://www.brs.nl/expertise.php?exp=3
www.buffalorising.com
http://www.buffalorising.com/story/grain_elevator_reuse_a_baltimo
http://www.buffalorising.com/story/grain_elevator_reuse_minneapol
http://buffalorising.com/entries/read/grain_elevator_reuse_a_sacrame
archrecord.construction.com
http://archrecord.construction.com/features/digital/archives/0506dignews-2.asp
www.elevator19.nl
www.indoorskydive.com
www.havenmuseum.nl
www.millcitymuseum.org
www.pilkington.com
www.saint-gobain-glass.com
http://www.saint-gobain-glass.com/nl/b01.asp?product_id=1200
architettura.supereva.com:
http://architettura.supereva.com/produzione/testi/20000430/index.htm
wikipedia.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_wind_tunnel
Appendix
Planetarium Beijing
De baljurk
Millcity museum
Las Palmas parasite
Rijnhaven silo
Van Nelle factory
Exterior research south of the silo
Free flight simulators
Red, yellow, blue and black drawings
Final drawings

PHD Researcher Ana Pereira Roders / Arch. Andre Walraven / Trainee Josué Eliziário /arch. Isabel Valverde 29-6-2007 Daniël Tulp 0510902

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Contents

The main questions were:

What is the essence of the building?

In the significance survey a lot of information is available to answer this question.

“Mostly the technological advancements in use and construction of the building is

“From a friendly neighbourhood, where everybody knows each other, it turned in to an

An interviewee at Rotterdam010 said this.

“Nowadays, the neighbourhood is being dominated by foreigners and unemployed people,

This was said by a volunteer of the historical centre of Rotterdam.

“The entrance is not based on anything” (page 88)

“the harbour is strengthened with a line of characteristic industrial buildings which

The building as a ruin

“Ruins are emblematic of transience and of persistence over time”

What is also clearly visible about this image is the way

The book is the result of a study conducted by Karel Vollers

They came up with a design for a curved façade out of

A building that already has curved glass in use is the Planetarium of

The double façade is mate of perforated steel mounted on a structural

On the roof of the Las Palmas

The wooden and green painted

This is done by removing the interior floors and walls of a segment

She had work 2 years at an architectural office in the Bacinol

The building facilitates interaction between its users, being all

“… it was nice to see what other people were creating…”

“New companies were getting more business because of the

What is most striking is the use of more

The Rijnhaven silo is still in use as a

Van Nelle factory

The factory is in many ways different from the

It also differs from the Maashaven silo with its interior

This can also be seen in the photograph

The sketch on the previous page shows the

I didn’t need to solve that problem though as

It would also include the move of the

These actions will also allow me to

On the next page an impression of the

By this time I had already decided to focus solely

This solved the problem of the connection with the

In order to do this I decided to place a community

My initial thoughts about this were to place it on

On the tenth floor of the 1953 extension, a

This design had a few disadvantages. The

Therefore my next move was to switch the

Now I only had one more connection to make,

I had already placed commercial functions

But this volume

It would need to be a separate volume that contradicted with the

The shape however was something different. I tried several possibilities.

Currently Straight inset Straight outset Straight edge Straight point

Curved cylinder Straight to cylinder Freeform Freeform outer shell

In this last image another change

Curved with open side

Curved but open, only a

In the image on the right the benefit is explained

This square can be copied and placed next to itself,

The major benefit

(24.12)|(Xi1) 10/40* 1/40 -

(24.12)|(Xi1) 10/40* 1/40 -

(45.32)|(Pq4) 30/60* 5/40 - A

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