Rotterdam, The Netherlands

The vision for the Codrico Terrain transforms the former industrial land – a listed heritage site– into a new and spectacular thriving city center. With the much-loved Codrico Factory at the heart of our concept, we celebrate its industrial heritage as an icon of the heyday of Rotterdam’s innercity harbors.

The Codrico Factory and its ‘green cube’ forms the heart of the plans for the project, titled the ‘Codrico Trrain.’

The Codrico Factory, a site of national heritage and a listed monument, is a significant marker of Dutch heritage within the Rotterdam Harbor. through relocating the factory’s industrial activities, the site at Katendrecht will be unlocked for redevelopment. with space for approximately 1,500 new rental and owner-occupied homes, including 50% homes in the affordable segment, the site will comprise offices, shops, restaurants, and cultural functions.

The masterplan comprises an ensemble of existing structures and new buildings designed by firms such as Mecanoo and SHoP architects. Those include a building on the quay, a structure on the field next to the factory, and the renovation of the monumental factory.

Working closely with the municipality of Rotterdam and an exciting group of architects – Mecanoo, SHoP Architects, Office Winhov and Crimson Architectural Historians – we created a unique masterplan, an ensemble of old and new.

The idea was to breathe life back into the harbor by activating the waterfront with new public space and extraordinary architecture.

The masterplan’s 220-meter-tall (722 ft) residential tower was designed by New York-based SHoP architects, while the redevelopment of the national monumental factory was designed by Office Winhov. through close collaboration with the architectural historians of crimson historians & urbanists, the factory will be completely renovated, and the large silos will be rebuilt as homes. the outdoor space, parks and quays are a design by DELVA Landscape Architecture & Urbanism.

Now, Rotterdammers will be able to stroll along the entire harbor basin, completing the loop around the Rijnhaven.

The Codrico Terrain will be an iconic ensemble containing a tower, a building on the quay, a striking building on the field next to the factory, and the monumental factory itself. The quays will be activated with floating parks on both the Wilhelminapier side and the Codrico Terrain side.

Additionally, Powerhouse Company designed the building on the quay with a variation of forms and volumes that directly reference the industrial architecture of the Codrico Complex. the ‘Fonda’, the residential complex with its organic form on the site adjacent to the factory, is also a Powerhouse Company design.

The Codrico site forms the soul of Katendrecht and has inspired us enormously. It’s great that this unique area is finally becoming publicly accessible.

Nanne de Ru, The Powerhouse Company in Rotterdam

Architects: Powerhouse Company, Shop Architects, Office Winhov, and Mecanoo
Architecture Historian Consultants: Crimson Architectural Historians
Landscape Architects: DELVA Landscape Architecture & Urbanism
Developer: RED Company
Client: Municipality of Rotterdam
Images: Courtesy of Atchain Codrico Factory by Powerhouse Company