Rotterdam Loft

Project - Rotterdam Loft
Year - 2022-2023
Client - Private
Location - Rotterdam
Surface - 273 m2
Photography - MWA Hart Nibbrig (@mwahartnibbrig)
Construction Partners - Structural engineer: Harder Constructie Advies,
Contractor: Kempeneers BV
Kumiki team - Kevin Veenhuizen, Tuana Bukem Yildiz (@kumiki.architecture)
Rotterdam Loft is a play of rigorous but thoughtful interventions resulting in light and open spaces. These are dynamically connected in a way that suits the clients' family life. The original elements that were present in the townhouse have been respected and complemented with contemporary materials and forms.
The crux of this project lies in upgrading the existing to create future value.
The townhouse consists of two attached dwellings divided into a bell floor and a basement. The entrance staircase led upward, with a barely passable basement space below. The first intervention is to reverse the direction of the stairs, no longer up but down. The result is that upon entry and subsequent descent, a connection with the garden is immediately made.
The second intervention aimed to transform all spaces into full-fledged living floors. Thus, the foundation floor was renewed, the upper floor was locally raised and the load-bearing walls were strategically broken through.
As a final intervention, a void was created at the rear with lots of glass so that light and air enter deep into the loft. As many materials as possible were carefully removed during the renovation and then given a new place in the interior.