Rotterdam

A few pictures from Rotterdam, where my cousin lives near the city centre. I was quite impressed by Rotterdam. It seems to have undergone a lot of urban renewal, and offers a good quality of life. Unlike Amsterdam, Rotterdam carries no weight of architectural history as it was bombed out in WWII. So architects have had free rein with their imaginations.

The entrance of the modern central station, which I had not used before.

The Markthal is a horseshoe shaped building containing residences and offices. On the ground level is an open air market with produce and food stalls. Glass facades at both ends of the horseshoe admit light but not the cold, allowing al fresco shopping in all weathers.

The interior of the horseshoe is covered by a painting by Arno Coenen. A secular Sistine Chapel if you like.

Markthal is only a year old so novel not just to me but many Dutch too.

Nearby are the Cube Houses almost 40 years old but which I had not seen before. One of the owners decided to turn his house into a show cube and make a living out of charging entrance of curious visitors.