The Red Apple

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Photo © Robert t’Hart

Photo © Rob Hoekstra

Photo © Robert t’Hart

Architects: KCAP

Year: 2009

The Red Apple is a residential high-rise complex with shops, cafés and restaurants and business space that towers skyward at the head of Rotterdam’s Wijnhaven Island. The Wijnhaven Island forms a link between Rotterdam city centre and the River Maas. It is being redeveloped using a dynamic transformation model, which provides development guidelines that ensure a balance between new and existing construction as well as the preservation of fine views and sufficient incidence of daylight throughout the area. The Red Apple building stands in a visually prominent position: at the tip of the Wijnhaven Island, with water on three sides and views across the river and the ‘Old Harbour’.

The development consists of two major volumes – a tower of 124 meters height and a partly cantilevering block building, both connected by a plinth with public functions as integral part of the existing surroundings.

The program consits 231 apartments of 35.000 m2, 1.500 m2 retail and restaurants, 3.800 m2 offices and 340 parking places. All 231 apartments provide for panoramic views and the red bands of the façade accentuate the Red Apple in the skyline of Rotterdam.