The first indoor market designed by MVRDV and Provast, in The Netherlands will open its doors in Rotterdam in October 2014: Markthal Rotterdam.
The Market Hall is a sustainable combination of food, leisure, living and parking, fully integrated to celebrate and enhance the synergetic possibilities of the different functions. A secure, covered square emerges beneath an arc, conceived as an inversion of a typical market square and its surrounding buildings. During the day it serves as central market hall, after hours the hall becomes an enormous, covered, well lit public space.
New laws in the Netherlands require covered areas for traditional open air meat and fish markets due to new hygienic constraints. The Market Hall is part of the new inner city heart of the Laurens Quarter, the pre-war centre of Rotterdam.
Descripción del proyecto por MVRDV
MVRDV posed the questions 'can we use this operation to evolve the market typology as well as densify the the city centre?' and 'Can we increase quality as well as density of programming?'
Location.
The Markthal will be built in the middle of the lively Laurens district, the area around the Meent, Hoogstraat, Pannekoekstraat, Delftsevaart and the Grotekerkplein. It is right in the middle of Rotterdam, walking distance from Blaak station.
With a library, an outdoor market, two public schools and the distinctive stilt houses just around the corner, it is an extremely attractive area for residents, entrepreneurs and visitors. There is a direct train connection to the central train stations of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Hague and Leiden from Blaak station (train, tram and metro).
Easy parking in the centre of Rotterdam will be possible in the Markthal car park. The car park will be directly below the hall, around the corner from the Koopgoot and the Hoogstraat. It will have 1,200 parking spaces and luxury toilets. Large lifts and escalators will take you straight to the market hall from the basement.
Architecture.
A spectacular horse shoe-shaped arch will rise from the Binnenrotte just a five minute walk from the Koopgoot, in the up-and-coming Laurens district.
The market hall has 96 fresh produce units that are 20 m², 15 food shops, and 8 restaurants.
Above the floor, there are 10 storeys with 228 unique apartments for sale or hire; under the floor, there is a supermarket, a closed-off logistical heart for entrepreneurs, and underneath that some 1,200 parking places. In the lower ground floor lies the logistical heart of Markthal Rotterdam. An ultra-modern despatch centre, with refrigeration, storage and preparation areas.
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Design.
A spectacular design from the Rotterdam architectural firm MVRDV. Together with property developer ProVast, architect Winy Maas successfully combined all the functions of the Markthal without them getting in each other's way.
A forty-metre high arch made of natural stone with windows with apartments along both sides of the arch (7.8 metres). Half of the apartments overlook the market. Sealed end façades prevent the wind and cold from getting in. Inside the arch, panes of glass are suspended between a framework of steel cables.
Horn of Plenty.
The inside of the arched hall will be the canvas of an impressive 11,000 m2 piece of art. The artwork is by Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam and consists of larger-than-life images of fresh produce which will be sold in the Markthal. It is the largest artwork in the Netherlands.
Housing.
102 apartments to buy varying from 80 to 140 m2, 24 penthouses varying from 140 to 300 m2 and 102 apartments to rent.
The apartments follow strict Dutch laws regarding natural day-light: all rooms that require natural light are situated on the outside. Kitchens, dining rooms and storage are positioned at the market side, establishing a connection to the market. The front and backside are covered with a flexible suspended glass façade, allowing for maximum transparency and a minimum of structure, which will be the largest of its kind in Europe.
