Opening Red Apple Marina

Irma van Oort, partner and architect at KCAP, explains in a conversation with Vastgoedjournaal the challenges of high-rise. She knows very well that a project is only successful if people can take possession of it. So that is all about creating collectivity and a sense of belonging while paying attention to the context. ‘In essence, building is about creating living conditions for people,’ she says. High-rise is becoming more and more attractive to accommodate the rising demand for additional homes in The Netherlands. As a typology, it faces particular challenges. Mixed programming of the plinth zones, good connection to public spaces, and integrating green on the street and building level are critical aspects of building high. It has to be combined with creating common areas and facilities, places where residents can meet and do things together. Several projects of KCAP serve as examples, one of them HS Kwartier The Hague, where the office is involved as urban designer and architect, including the transformation of the Stationspostgebouw into PostNL Headquarter. Furthermore, the transformation of the area around station Hollands Spoor, that KCAP is working on in cooperation with developers SENS and LIFE grants another crucial aspect for urban densification through high-rise: good accessibility and proximity to public transport hubs. As Irma van Oort says: "A building design never stands alone but reflects its surroundings. For us, this integral approach to building and its environment is an important part of the transition to a sustainable, future-proof city." Please find here the full interview in Dutch.   Photography: Carence Korzelius  

Amsterdam is facing the challenge to add 50.000 new homes by 2025. To preserve valuable landscape, the only solution is to densify within the city and industrial area's. As one of the speakers In the panel debate, organised by Pakhuis De Zwijger, Jeroen Dirckx shared the experience of KCAP on this subject. KCAP's urban plan for Wijnhaveneiland was amongst the projects that were discussed.  Recently, KCAP evaluated its Wijnhaveneiland project in Rotterdam. For over 20 years, a highly effective set of urban planning rules have been triggering a qualitative and incremental inner city densification process. Slender residential towers are added to the former monofunctional office district, transforming it into a lively mixed urban district with more facilities, retail and cultural program. The transformation is still ongoing with new towers in planning.  When completed, the density of Wijnhaveneiland will have tripled, and more importantly, the project will have made a major contribution to the cities goal to attract more residents to the center. 

Last Sunday, the Red Apple Marina was officially opened as part of the first Wijnhaven Festival in Rotterdam. The Red Apple Marina is an initiative of Wijnhavenisland inhabitants and entrepreneurs with the aim to bring more life to the area. The marina is meant for boats and small yachts. View on the facebook page of Red Apple Marina photographs and a short film of the official opening with alderman Ronald Schneider.

KCAP is one of a range of Dutch architects published in 'Discover Benelux', a special of the Business Inflight & Members magazine of among others British Airways, Swiss Air and the business lounges of KLM and Air France. Click here for the online version. (KCAP on p. 36)  

Yesterday, KCAP's ibis hotel in Rotterdam's Wijnhaveneiland has been officially and above all spectacularly openend with a show by Flyboatteam on the river. The hotel is already operational since August 2014 and marks a major step in KCAP's urban transformation of the post-war office environment Wijnhaveneiland into a new vivid city quarter. The hotel, together with Dock21 and the Red Apple, complete the block at the tip of Wijnhaveneiland.

Today, the new ibis hotel Rotterdam City Centre on Rotterdam's Wijnhaveneiland will be officially opened. KCAP is responsible for the design of the hotel and the adjacent Dock21 apartment building. The ensemble has been developed and realised by J.P. van Eesteren. The hotel is operational since August 2014 and marks a major step in the urban transformation of the post-war office environment into a new vivid city quarter. The ensemble, together with Dock21 and the Red Apple, also designed by KCAP, complete the block at the tip of Wijnhaveneiland.

The new ibis Rotterdam City Centre hotel and DOCK21 apartment building on Rotterdam's Wijnhaveneiland are well on their way to completion in the summer. The scaffolding of the facades in the interior courtyard have been removed and up from Saturday, February 8th, a show apartment of DOCK21 will be furnished and open to the public. Click here for opening times to view the apartment. The hotel and apartment building complete together with KCAP's Red Apple the block at the tip of Wijnhaveneiland.

ArchitectuurNL #07 interviewed Han van den Born about living in the Red Apple in the monthly column about an architect's home. [[file:architectuurnl07]]

The construction of the new ibis hotel and Dock21 apartment building at Wijnhaveneiland, next to the Red Apple has reached its highest point. Yesterday, the official ceremony was celebrated. Completion of the 139 bedroom hotel and apartment building with 21 units is expected in the summer of 2014. Click here to follow the building progress via webcam.

Today, the Rotterdam edition of the free Metro paper publishes an interview with Han van den Born about living in KCAP's Red Apple building. [[file:0135metro]]

On April 22nd, Dutch minister Stef Blok visited together with BNA various architects and architecture projects, among which The Red Apple in Rotterdam. Some pictures are published now on Flickr. Take a look!

The Gouden Piramide ('Golden Pyramid') is a state prize awarded each year for excellence in commissioning work in architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, infrastructure and physical planning. Every building client in the Netherlands is eligible for the award. The prize is open to municipalities, private individuals, companies, organisations, specialised building clients etc. The theme for 2013 is “area development" and received 53 submissions. A minimum of three and maximum of five clients will be announced by the end of April 2013. KCAP is involved in 3 submitted projects: - Noorderhaven Zutphen / De Mars- Laakhavens Den Haag - Rotterdam centre as City Lounge

The 2013 Archipendium 365 day tear off calendar 'architecture' is released with KCAP's Red Apple on July 24th. Check out the official website.

KCAP's Red Apple is one of 24 nominated projects in this year's edition of the Rotterdam Architecture Award with as topic 'housing'. Cast your vote here for the audience award!

Hans Werlemann's art work 'Neutrino 2011' of KCAP's Red Apple is included in the Grote Rotterdamse Kunstkalender 2013 and is one of 365 unique art works presented in the second edition of the calendar. Click here for more information on the calendar.

The contract for the realisation of the new Ibis hotel on Rotterdam's Wijnhaveneiland has been signed by Accor Hotels and J.P. van Eesteren. The ensemble consists of 139 hotelrooms, commercial spaces and 21 apartments. The hotel and appartment building forms together with the Red Apple, also a design by KCAP, the block at the tip of Wijnhaveneiland with views to the old harbour.

Book 'The Red Apple and Wijnhaveneiland' sold out but available on google books. Click here.