Location: Rotterdam
Year: 2025-ongoing
Area: 2400 m2
Status: VO
Client: Municipality of Rotterdam
Team: Remko Remijnse, Agnese Argenti, Emanuele Saracino, Karsten Schep

The design is a pavilion-like residential-care building, The Green Harbor, situated in a sheltered, green environment. The concept seeks a balance between privacy and care, allowing residents to live as independently as possible. From the outside, the building appears robust and modest, while at its heart, around an inner garden, an open and interactive atmosphere emerges.

The site is divided into an active entrance zone on the west side and a quiet, green buffer on the other sides. The north and east sides have a smaller building footprint than the current school building, allowing more green space to be created. There are separate access gates for cars and pedestrians, with distinct entrances for staff and residents/visitors. Along the water on the south side, there is a partially paved outdoor area designed for lively interaction with the surroundings.

At the heart of the building lies a collective garden that seamlessly transitions from the surrounding greenery. This garden offers both interactive spaces and quiet corners, including a vegetable garden for daytime activities. Surrounding the garden are terraces: a covered terrace on the ground floor, an open terrace on the first floor, and several loggias integrated into the façade. The routing between living spaces, garden, and green buffer is designed to maximize both visual and physical connections.

The main volume consists of two storeys, with a smaller third volume on the southwest side acting as a visual anchor towards the water. The roof of this accent volume forms an overhang at the main entrance. The load-bearing structure consists of modular CLT units, clad in wood with a repetitive grid structure. Recessed parts of the façade emphasize entrances and the plinth. CLT provides a natural and warm appearance, in line with the “Natural Healing Environment.”

The spatial layout is organized around the inner garden, with dedicated zones for living, day activities, staff, and logistics. On the ground floor are the entrance hall, communal living/dining rooms, MIVA studios (accessible units), and service spaces. The first floor features loggias, a large balcony, and bright studios. The second floor is small-scale and intimate, with quiet living rooms and private studios. Everywhere, the relationship with greenery is clearly emphasized to enhance well-being and social interaction.