Wholesale Building (or Groothandelsgebouw0

H. A. Maaskant, W. van Tijen
1945-52




This huge building (a vast block--220 x 84 x 43 meters) was begun soon after World War II to relocate the wholesalers who had lost their buildings during the bombings of 1940. This multiple-occupancy building at that time was the largest building in the Netherlands. It is located across from Centraal Station. The Architectural Guide to Rotterdam says that "much thought has been given to modelling the facades so that the building with its repetition of cladding units does not appear unduly monolithic" (32). There are rooftop canteens, a common terrace, and a pavilion above the main entrance serving as a cinema.

The main entrance--facing the station plaza



Works Cited or Consulted: Groenendijk, Paul and Piet Vollaard. Architecture Guide to the Netherlands 1900-2000. Rotterdam: Uitgeverij, 2006.
Groenendijk, Paul and Piet Vollaard. Architecture Guide to Rotterdam. Rotterdam: Uitgeverij, 2007.
Groenendijk, Paul and Piet Vollaard. Guide to Contemporary Architecture in the Netherlands. Rotterdam: Uitgeverij, 2004.



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© 2016 Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site) and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.