relight my fire
research
small hotel in the center of rotterdam
professors: serge schoemaker and corine erades
A small hotel in the center of Rotterdam, an oasis of peace in the city, a kind of holiday home. The starting point was the yali, a wooden house from the Turkish Ottoman tradition. Built along the Bosporus with cumba’s (oriel windows) that offer sweeping views.
witte de withstraat, rotterdam
The street, built in 1871, is known for its many night and hospitality venues, cultural institutions and galleries. The challenge is to design a small, characterful hotel in this urban context. A modern, cozy hotel with bar and restaurant is going to be located between existing buildings from different time periods on a relatively small plot.
The starting point is a building made from wood with characteristics from the Turkish Ottoman tradition, called yalis. Wooden summer houses built by the dignitaries on the Bosporus with cumba’s (oriel windows), offering sweeping views. Translated to here and now, Rotterdam, Witte de Withstraat, 2008. Wood with the atmosphere of light, peace and warmth. An oasis in the city, a kind of holiday home.
The hotel is comfortable, honest, light and simple, without excessive extras. Four star rating, meant for the national and international tourist, but also for business visitors that are looking for a personal, characteristic, friendly and small hotel in the center of Rotterdam.
The ground floor is the location of the café De Witte Aap. On the fourth floor is a restaurant that overlooks the entire city.
Vertically laminated composite columns carry the facades of Stellacwood; modified spruce with type two durability. Over the course of time, it will age but not require additional maintenance.
Thermal glass is placed between the horizontal slats. In some places it can be tilted to let in fresh air. In the evening when the lights go on the hotel transforms into a shining lantern. An object that will contribute to more liveliness. The building is completely freestanding to maximize the effects of this radiation of light.
2008
