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Katshoek

Katshoek on Heer Bokelweg in Rotterdam was designed by Hugh Maaskant and completed in 1969. The building was originally conceived as a multi-tenant commercial complex for offices and light industry.

Compared with many of Maaskant’s more expressive buildings, Katshoek has a remarkably flat and controlled façade. Horizontal bands and large structural proportions create a strong sense of order, while the robust concrete structure provides considerable flexibility.

The building forms part of a larger post-war ensemble together with the Akragon building and the Grafisch Lyceum. Its scale was designed to respond to the broad Heer Bokelweg and the infrastructure of the rapidly developing northern part of Rotterdam.

One of the building’s most significant qualities is its generous structural grid. The large spans and robust construction allow the building to accommodate substantial changes in use without requiring the original structure to be replaced.

Katshoek is currently being transformed into a residential complex. The transformation retains key elements of Maaskant’s design while introducing housing, makerspaces, hospitality and bicycle facilities. The project demonstrates how post-war architecture can be adapted rather than demolished.

The transformation reinforces the building’s original qualities while giving it a new role within Rotterdam’s changing urban landscape.