Haka

ICON OF SUSTAINABILITY WILL BECOME FIRST STEP IN ROTTERDAM'S DOCKLANDS REDEVELOPMENT

Rotterdam is building up a reputation as a strong inspiring city on the waterfront. The next few years, the Fruitports are being transformed into an attractive environment for living, working and recreation.

At the entrance of this exiting development proudly stands the striking HAKA building. Built in 1935, it was originally the headquarters of the co-operative Haka trade association, an association representing the interests of port workers. Besides being their head-office, it was also the center for the assembly, packaging and shipping of items purchased jointly such as grain, seeds and coffee. Together with the famous Van Nelle Factory this building is an important monument of the architecture of the Modern Movement.

After years of (partial) vacancy - with many plans for reuse but no concrete action - in the summer of 2009 Walas Concepts was invited by the owner Vestia/Estrade to develop a concept for this remarkable building. The main user of this redevelopment will be the Rotterdam Climate Campus (RCC) or Rotterdam's Clean Tech Delta. Following the theme of sustainability a concept had to be developed offering room for offices, research and a place for, facilities to transfer knowledge. Many users will use the Haka-building together to work at new insights for sustainability and clean tech. Haka offers a living lab.

Based on this theme and the characteristics of the building we proposed three spheres: work - brains - brand.

The work sphere is composed of regular office functions for participating. This is most suitable in the old part of the office building.

The brains sphere: experimenting and research, using the former storage-area, because of its larger floor areas and limited daylight.

And the brand-area, to accommodate events and knowledge-transfer, located on the ground floor and very top floors. Synergy between all the users of the building is a crucial factor for the ultimate success.

Walas Concepts will remain to be involved to work at the development of the concept and the methods. Its partner Urban Breezz and the owner Vestia Rotterdam Noord will take care of the operations. See www.hakagebouw.nl .

Through its operations and its concept the Haka Building will become an important impulse for the real estate value of this iconic building and it will become an "icon of Sustainability", an important first step in the redevelopment of the Fruitport area.

Go to site hakagebouw.nl