Groothandelsgebouw
Encyclopedia
The Groothandelsgebouw (meaning Wholesale Building or Offices) is an extensive building and monument in the center of Rotterdam
, Netherlands
next to the Central Station of the city. Completed in 1953 it is one of the first major buildings built after the bombing of Rotterdam in the Second World War.
Because during the war much business was lost, there were early plans for new office space. The idea for a new building came from a wholesaler Frits Pot who realized that a rather large building would be smaller than tens of buildings of separate wholesalers. During Christmas 1944 he made a sketch and on May 4, 1945 it was discussed in the Chamber of Commerce. Together with architect Hugh Maaskant
and (later Director) G. Thurmer he made study trip to America in 1947.
The final building fitted exactly in the vision of Rotterdam and the post-war reconstruction of the city. he Wholesale House was an innovative project for that time: the very large building was designed not only by many companies, but included a complete route through the building. During the construction phase in 1951 a grand cafe-restaurant, conference center etc. was installed. The building itself was completed in 1953.
Characteristic of this building is a constant grid of concrete columns in which the building rests. Heart to heart distance of the columns is 6.72 meters. The columns are octagonal. Supporting the outer walls are approximately 65 inches, the inner columns are about 85 centimeters.
The building has 5 entrances, marked with the letters A through E. The main entrance is located at the A station 45. The inputs D and E (sometimes called the back) are on Conrad Street. The building also lies on Weena Street.
Exceptions to the constant grid of the wholesale building are the spaces created by the oblique lines of the building. These (imaginary) lines are about the length of the A wing and the imaginary line from input to C from D.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
next to the Central Station of the city. Completed in 1953 it is one of the first major buildings built after the bombing of Rotterdam in the Second World War.
Because during the war much business was lost, there were early plans for new office space. The idea for a new building came from a wholesaler Frits Pot who realized that a rather large building would be smaller than tens of buildings of separate wholesalers. During Christmas 1944 he made a sketch and on May 4, 1945 it was discussed in the Chamber of Commerce. Together with architect Hugh Maaskant
Hugh Maaskant
Huig Aart Maaskant was a Dutch architect. He designed a number of notable buildings in Rotterdam, his home city, and in Amsterdam, notably the Groothandelsgebouw in Rotterdam in 1951 and the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel in 1958....
and (later Director) G. Thurmer he made study trip to America in 1947.
The final building fitted exactly in the vision of Rotterdam and the post-war reconstruction of the city. he Wholesale House was an innovative project for that time: the very large building was designed not only by many companies, but included a complete route through the building. During the construction phase in 1951 a grand cafe-restaurant, conference center etc. was installed. The building itself was completed in 1953.
Characteristic of this building is a constant grid of concrete columns in which the building rests. Heart to heart distance of the columns is 6.72 meters. The columns are octagonal. Supporting the outer walls are approximately 65 inches, the inner columns are about 85 centimeters.
The building has 5 entrances, marked with the letters A through E. The main entrance is located at the A station 45. The inputs D and E (sometimes called the back) are on Conrad Street. The building also lies on Weena Street.
Exceptions to the constant grid of the wholesale building are the spaces created by the oblique lines of the building. These (imaginary) lines are about the length of the A wing and the imaginary line from input to C from D.