In the Dutch city of Rotterdam, an apartment complex of over 90 metres long was built. Despite the imposing length, the building at the Koningslaan doesn’t look long or monotone, thanks to a clever design by architect firm ZAAK VAN NN. A smart combination of different materials, including Rockpanel Colours cladding, creates a beautiful and powerful result.
Apartment block clad with Rockpanel Colours
The residential building is constructed from a prefabricated concrete shell with a timber-frame facade, finished with brick slips. The facades have large cantilevered balconies, placed in a switching pattern and interspersed with large glass openings. In addition,
over 1,400 square meters of Rockpanel Colours facade boards were used. Architect Niels de Vries explains: “Next to the brick slips and the glass, we needed a third material to provide enough contrast. That’s why we used anthracite Rockpanel Colours cladding for the entrance in the middle of the building, which goes all the way up. These facade panels were then extended over the entire sixth floor, connecting the two wings of the building.”
Powerful appearance thanks to simple interventions
“Basically, all the interventions we used are quite simple in itself: connected balconies, masonry parts interspersed with a lot of glass and Rockpanel Colours facade boards. But once it’s all brought together, the building as a whole becomes very powerful and interesting to look at.”
Before mounting, the Rockpanel boards received a false vertical joint, De Vries adds. “This addition really finishes it all off beautifully. What otherwise would have become a very massive-looking anthracite surface, now gives the facade an admirable, luxurious look. Just adding this simple false vertical joint creates a beautiful interplay of lines elevates the facade to a whole new level.”
