Wood residential building SAWA in Rotterdam, The Netherlands by Architecture Masterprize

Article source: Architecture Masterprize

Two celebrations for the pioneering SAWA project in one week. At the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the founders of SAWA – Robert Winkel and Mark Compeer of Mei architects and planners and Nice Developers – were proud to be presented with the 8th architectural award for SAWA for best Conceptual Architecture in America’s prestigious Architecture MasterPrize competition. In the same week, during a festive ceremony, the symbolic starting signal is given for the construction of this very first circular wooden residential building of 50 meters high in the Netherlands. With this, the project team proves that SAWA is more than a groundbreaking and award-winning concept, but also a viable and practical reality.

Image Courtesy © Mei architects and planners

• Architects: Architecture Masterprize
• Project: Wood residential building SAWA
• Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
• Photography: Mei architects and planners

Image Courtesy © Mei architects and planners

Architecture Masterprize

The annual Architecture MasterPrize (AMP) celebrates the very best in design excellence and innovation from the worlds of Architectural, Interior, and Landscape Design. The awards program is dedicated to showcasing and promoting exceptional talent, and the value of the art and science of architecture in enriching our lives. The winners were selected by an international jury of renowned architects, academics and industry experts.

In addition to their visually striking designs, the judges were impressed with the way the award-winning entries demonstrated an amazing balance of form and function:

“The capabilities demonstrated by this year’s entries are sure to inspire the next generation of architects. Their work today will resonate into the future, as the works also reflect an increasingly important focus on sustainability.”

Even before SAWA is actually built, the project wins eight prestigious international architecture awards. ‘This international appreciation strengthens our team that we are in fact working on something exceptional,‘ says Robert Winkel. ‘The conviction and decisiveness to not only design but also realize a revolutionary concept like SAWA is fueled by the ambition to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions, strengthening biodiversity, achieving (inter)national climate goals and at the same time creating affordable housing. With SAWA we are developing a new icon for the city of Rotterdam. An example for future generations of builders and developers.’

Image Courtesy © Mei architects and planners

Image Courtesy © Mei architects and planners

SAWA breaks ground

During the festive event, future residents of SAWA, the Municipality of Rotterdam, the developers from Nice Developers and ERA Contour, Mei architects and planners and the investor Focus Real Estate together filled a special SAWA planter with a selection of plants that will eventually be given a place on the building’s green terraces.

Councillor Chantal Zeegers (Climate, Construction and Housing) is excited that this development is taking place right in Rotterdam:

“In a few years, Rotterdam’s first wooden residential tower with lots of greenery will be built on the Lloyd Pier. SAWA is the absolute proof that it is possible to realize a sustainable building with affordable housing that is also constructed in a truly circular way. This is something that has simply never been done before in this city.”

Building in wood in a unique way

More than 90 percent of SAWA’s main load-bearing structure is made of CLT (cross laminated timber). The use of concrete is kept to a minimum. This is special because concrete is normally poured on CLT floors, but not in SAWA.

Image Courtesy © Beeldenfabriek

Image Courtesy © Beeldenfabriek

‘On the CLT floors in SAWA, we use dry ballast, so the building is fully circular and therefore demountable. That is unique for a wooden building 50 meters high,’ explains Robert Winkel of Nice Developers and Mei architects and planners.

Inclusive for residents and birds, butterflies and bees

SAWA will offer 50 mid-rent homes, 20 free sector rental homes and 39 owner-occupied homes. All new residents will soon live in a sustainable wooden building full of greenery with no less than 600 linear meters of planters with more than 20 different types of plants. As well as a multitude of nesting boxes and shelters for birds, butterflies and bees. Thanks to this flora and fauna, SAWA enhances biodiversity and connects to the existing ecological structure of the area. Particularly in the urban and largely stone environment of the Lloydkwartier site, SAWA adds value to the entire neighborhood.

Collaborative partners

Nice Developers is the initiator of SAWA and is developing the project together with TBI company ERA Contour. Mei architects and planners is responsible for the design of the building. ERA Contour is the contractor for SAWA. Focus Real Estate is the investor of the rental apartments.

Image Courtesy © Beeldenfabriek

Image Courtesy © Mei architects and planners

Image Courtesy © Mei architects and planners

Image Courtesy © Mei architects and planners

Tags: Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Categories: Apartments, Building, House, Housing Development, Residential

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