Markthal (market hall),
design: MVRDV
Markthal, the first covered market hall in the Netherlands, opened in 2014, offering a wide range of food products from different parts of the world. Its concept draws on Rotterdam's port history, emphasizing the city's connection to international trade. The design was the responsibility of the MVRDV studio, which in 2004 won a competition organized by the Rotterdam authorities for the project.
Market Hall (Markthal) in Rotterdam - the building is located in the historic Laurenskwartier district
Photo by Ossip van Duivenbode © MVRDV 2018
Laurenskwartier revitalization
and history of the Markthal area
Markthal is located in the historic Laurenskwartier neighborhood, which is currently undergoing revitalization as part of the city's plans to revitalize this part of the city. The building is located on Binnenrotte, the largest square in the city center, near the bustling Blask Street. This is the site of a former embankment along the Rotte River, which was rerouted in the late 19th century. As a result, the ground at the site remained unstable and damp, requiring special protective measures during construction.
The Market Hall (Markthal) in Rotterdam
Photo by Daria Scagliola, Stijn Brakkee © MVRDV 2018
Market hall in the heart of Rotterdam
The city's goal was to create a space that would complement the existing open-air market with a functional shopping area that complies with tightening European regulations, allowing the sale of fresh and chilled food under controlled conditions. The second objective of the project was to increase the population of the city center, helping to revitalize this part of Rotterdam and develop local services.
The Market Hall (Markthal) in Rotterdam
Photo by Ossip van Duivenbode © MVRDV 2018
innovative design:
inspiration and technical solutions
Construction of the building, which draws inspiration from marketplaces in Stockholm, Barcelona and Valencia, took five years. The building has a rectangular plan, and its facades at the shorter sides are characterized by an arched structure 40 meters high, resembling a horseshoe shape. This form serves as a canopy for the city market located inside.
Market Hall (Markthal) in Rotterdam - cross section
© MVRDV 2018
A cable mesh - the largest of its kind in Europe -was used on the side elevations to provide protection from rain and wind while remaining transparent. The mesh is based on a tennis racket-like structure, where steel cables hold the glass panels. The building's exterior facade is clad in gray natural stone, which harmonizes with the hall's floor and the surrounding public space.
Market Hall (Markthal) in Rotterdam - the side facades have been glazed with cable mesh
© MVRDV 2018
The largest mural in the Netherlands
The stone accentuates the colorful interior of the hall, which houses the largest artwork in the Netherlands - the "Horn of Plenty" mural by Rotterdam artists Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam, covering an area of 11,000 m². The painting depicts enlarged fruits, vegetables and flowers, which are reminiscent of 17th-century Dutch still lifes. To achieve high resolution, Pixar Animation software was used to create the mural. Printed on perforated aluminum panels, the mural is mounted on acoustic panels to help reduce noise in the space.
The artwork evokes the illusion of lying on one's back in a meadow and looking up through Markthal, directly toward the sky. The sun in the center of the painting represents a horn of plenty from which fresh produce falls to the ground
- MVRDV architects emphasize
Market Hall (Markthal) in Rotterdam - inside is the largest mural in the Netherlands
Photo by Daria Scagliola, Stijn Brakkee © MVRDV 2018
Markthal's hybrid character
- the combination of residential functions,
office and retail
Markthal is a building that combines the functions of a market hall, residential and office. The MVRDV studio emphasizes that it is the first project of its kind to be a "hybrid building." More than two hundred apartments are located within the arc of the building, stretching from the third to the eleventh floor. The apartments were designed in accordance with strict Dutch standards for access to natural light. Rooms requiring daylight are located on the outside of the building, while kitchens, dining rooms and utility rooms are situated on the hall side, providing direct access to the market. Windows facing the market are triple-glazed to reduce noise and odor penetration. Each apartment offers a view of the Maas River or the nearby St. Laurens Church.
The Market Hall (Markthal) in Rotterdam
Photo by Daria Scagliola, Stijn Brakkee © MVRDV 2018
The initial design called for the construction of two parallel residential blocks with a market hall between them. However, the project team recognized that traditional trade fair halls in southern Europe are often characterized by dark, enclosed spaces that do not integrate with their surroundings. As a counterpoint to this, the Rotterdam hall was intended to be an open space that encourages visitors while supporting the development of the Laurenskwartier district and the eastern part of the city center.
The Market Hall (Markthal) in Rotterdam
Photo by Daria Scagliola, Stijn Brakkee © MVRDV 2018
the whole world under one roof
The hall features 96 trading units, stacked lengthwise, with an average area of 20 m² and a width of 9 meters. The stalls, as well as the surrounding restaurants and grocery stores, offer a wide selection of products in different price ranges. Some units feature glass roofs, while others have rooftop terraces. A supermarket is located on level -1. The hall includes four underground parking levels that can accommodate 1,200 vehicles. Blaak Street, located just in front of the building, serves as an important transportation hub that connects trains, subways, buses and streetcars.
The Market Hall (Markthal) in Rotterdam
Photo by Daria Scagliola, Stijn Brakkee © MVRDV 2018
sustainability
and ecology in the design
The building is connected to the city's heating system and a thermal energy storage system located beneath its surface. This system will also provide heating and cooling for several nearby buildings. The hall is naturally ventilated - fresh air flows in under the glass facade, rises upward, and then escapes through ventilation shafts in the roof. It is a thermal system that works without the need for additional installations. The building has received a BREEAM certification, which is rare for commercial buildings. The project worked with environmentalists, who suggested improving the ecological value of the location. Thanks to their suggestions, shelters for bats and swifts were created in the building's facades.
Market Hall (Markthal) in Rotterdam - second floor plan
© MVRDV 2018
During the day, the hall serves as a market, and in the evenings it becomes a lively place with restaurants located on the second floor. The building's distinctive form and colorful interiors make Markthal an eye-catcher. The uniqueness of the project is not only due to its shape and scale, but above all to the innovative combination of various functions. The building, which combines apartments, a fresh food market, grocery stores, restaurants, a supermarket and underground parking, is a solution unique only to Rotterdam.
Compiled by Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of MVRDV studio.
