Rotterdam is famous for its innovative architectural style and it definitely deserves its fame if we take into account its imposing skyscrapers, modern buildings and its uncommon and asymmetrical constructions.
In my opinion this unique architectural style involves a mixture between imagination and creativity. A walk among all these interesting buildings is indeed a wonderful experience, one that will fill you up with energy. When I think about my own experience in Rotterdam, the first thing that comes to my mind is an amazing complex of houses, called the Cube Houses.
Built by Piet Blom, between 1982 and 1984, these unique houses have a spectacular design and are definitely my favorite buildings in Rotterdam. The Cube Houses or Kubuswoningen are located on Overblaak Street, very close to the Blaak Metro station. There are 38 small cubes and two so called “super-cubes”, all attached to each other. Built on top of a pedestrian bridge, these dwellings have an interesting hexagonal structure that gives you the feeling of a tilted building.
Their exterior was embellished with zinc panels and double-glazed windows. If you look at them from the outside, the houses seem to be pretty small but they are actually built on three floors. The ground floor is actually a lobby, the first floor contains a living- room and an open kitchen, the second floor contains two bedrooms and a bathroom and the top floor can be used as an extra bedroom, a small garden or as a recreational area. The top floor has a pyramidal shape which offers you a great view over the city.
A few of these houses can be visited and this is an experience you shouldn’t miss. An option would be to stay at the Stayokay Hostel which is a complex of several Cube Houses. It will definitely be an interesting experience. Another option is the Show Cube, which is a kind of museum where you can admire the interior of the Cube Houses and a few exhibits related to the project itself. You might not know but this whole project is based on an abstract idea.It is said that Piet Blom tried to create a stone forest and this is why the houses look like trees.
Whether you love abstract art or not visiting the Cube Houses in Rotterdam will be an amazing and interesting experience.
