Urban landscape | Science Tower Rotterdam

Science Tower Rotterdam is one of the three monumental Marconi towers built in 1975, by SOM, a well-known American architecture firm. The tower houses offices of a wide variety of science companies. We made a design to transform the underused plinth of the Rotterdam Science Tower and the neglected area around the three iconic buildings into inviting spaces. The outdated plinth is transformed into a welcoming lobby, hosting a variety of hospitality functions.

The design for the plinth is a dialogue with existing high-quality elements. We opposed the travertine-clad walls and floors with stark contrasts. We added dark ceilings and floors to create zones for diverse functions, such as a coffee bar, a restaurant area, event space and seating arrangements. Lush green softens the existing stone landscape. We revealed the beautiful in situ concrete ceiling after decades of concealment behind a false ceiling.

The strong grid structure of the building inspired us to design large modular furniture items that are easy to disassemble to create a modern, flexible layout.

We proposed to emphasize the relation between the towers to create a new urban square which would benefit all three buildings. Furthermore, this restored unity emphasizes the role of the buildings as a gate to their surroundings: the developing areas of the M4H district in Rotterdam.

We designed a permeable area in between the buildings that is inviting for visitors. To enhance this effect we also moved the building's entrance to the eastern facade, facing the other towers. Here again we build on existing quality. Our proposal is based upon the grid that was the starting point of SOMs original design. A paved square connects the buildings, whose grid structure matches the rhythm of the facade and occasionally dissolves to allow for plants and trees.