Rotterdam Central District
Throngs of people come and go across the spacious, open square in front of Central Station. Visitors who stand still amidst the hustle and bustle and take a moment to look up will see a shield wall of impressive high-rise buildings: multinational corporations, international companies, hotels. The most prominent feature is the station itself, whose spectacular design has garnered quite a few architectural awards.
The area behind all those masculine towers is an entirely different scene. In recent years, architects, designers and other pioneers have adopted the area as their testing grounds, bringing an unparalleled new energy to the dynamic area. It started with a vacant office building, Het Schieblock, which was transformed by ZUS architects into a creative multi-tenant office building. The base of the building houses unusual cafés and restaurants, as well as Urban Guides, a company that provides inspiring architectural tours of the city. There is a lush vegetable garden on the roof, the Dakakker; lunch is served here several days a week made from ingredients from the building’s own rich harvest.
The Luchtsingel Promenade, another ZUS project, offers pedestrians a faster route towards Hofbogen, which is always a lively spot. The nightlife in Rotterdam Central District is edgy, adventurous and versatile. Go dancing at the Annabel pop venue and nightclub, grab a beer and bratwurst at the ever-popular Biergarten, or sip a stylish cocktail in the exclusive rooftop Suicide Club: the options are infinitely varied.
