Hefkwartier
Rotterdam

Hefkwartier keeps young families in Rotterdam

On the south bank of Rotterdam’s New Meuse River, on the site of the former Oranjeboom brewery, a new urban district is being created: the Hefkwartier. It’s an attractive area for young families who want to stay in the city. INBO designed the urban plan and the 300 new dwellings.

‘In the Hefkwartier there’s room for people to meet, even if they live outside the district.’

Helen Zhang
architect

The robust architecture matches the scale of the environment. The most striking features are the lively residential bases. ‘We gave the ground-level houses “Delftse Stoepen”. They form buffer zones with distinct types of paving between the houses and the street. Residents can place their own benches and plants in front of their houses. In the summer, everyone also sits outside. We designed a child-friendly inner area with low-traffic residential streets and a playground in the centre. The social concept provides space for people to meet, even if they live outside the district,’ says Helen Zhang, architect at INBO.

All of the waterfront apartments have views of the Rotterdam skyline, and the ground-floor apartments are directly on the quay. A slender tower with only two apartments per floor will constitute the corner. The quay will be attractively landscaped, with lots of trees and plants.

Construction of the Hefkwartier began in 2016, with 22 ground-level houses. The realization is now in its final stage and the last element, the corner tower, is expected to be completed in 2024.