The Municipality of Rotterdam is selling the former municipal office at Westersingel 18-20 to FULLHOUSE. The consortium, which includes the project developer, won the tender with the plan “De Herwaert” and will redevelop this location. The plan includes housing, facilities, and a beautiful garden. A pedestrian connection will improve access to the adjacent neighborhood park.

Public Sales Procedure

For the redevelopment of the municipal building, the Municipality of Rotterdam organized a public sales procedure. In addition to a market-based price, the quality of the development plan for the building and its surroundings was a decisive factor in the selection process. Fakton and Ooms Makelaars guided the municipality through the selection procedure. ECHO Urban Design, Kraaijvanger Architects, and Studio RAP are also part of the consortium as designers.

Housing and Facilities

The consortium is transforming the building into 30 residences, 540 m² of office space, and 580 m² of workshop space, which will house the ceramics workshop of De Makerij. The ground floor of De Herwaert will be vibrant and transparent, featuring “the living room” with office space in the back and a spacious lobby entrance for the residences.

From the second to the fourth floor, there will be 22 mid-range owner-occupied apartments and 8 higher-end owner-occupied apartments.

Alderman Zeegers: “With this transformation, we are adding housing while also fulfilling a long-held desire: creating a new, socially safe connection between the city center and the Oude Westen neighborhood. The green Herwaert Garden and the passage to the neighborhood park will make the city both literally and figuratively more accessible to residents and visitors. And, of course, it’s wonderful that we’re preserving existing structures and reusing materials; new construction and sustainability go hand in hand here, serving as an inspiration for future urban developments.”

Alderman Simons: “We must cherish Rotterdammers who master a craft and create beautiful things with their hands. That’s why I’m delighted that this redevelopment, in addition to providing housing and office space, will also offer a workspace for true artisans. This will be a place to live, work, and learn right in the heart of the city.”

Transformation with Westersingel Passage

With the realization of De Herwaert, a new passage will be created at Westersingel 19, providing access to the neighborhood park Het Oude Westen, located directly behind it. The passage will stand out through the use of extensive glass and 3D-printed ceramic tiles, inviting visitors to explore the ceramics workshop of De Makerij.

Path to Wijkpark Oude Westen

The plan fulfills a long-held desire to create an additional pedestrian connection from the city center through the Wijkpark to the Oude Westen neighborhood. Currently, pedestrians are limited to the busy West Kruiskade and Nieuwe Binnenweg, as there are no throughways in the 450-meter-long urban façade. The De Herwaert plan breaks through this barrier with an appealing and socially safe passage. The path through the Herwaert Garden links the green Westersingel to the Wijkpark, improving access to nature in the city center for residents and visitors. This connection will activate the park more and increase social oversight.

Green Herwaert Garden

The collective backyard, characterized by its lush planting and trees, enhances the ecological structure. A transparent pavilion will be located in the garden, offering an additional entrance to the basement of the main building where De Makerij will host ceramics workshops and courses, as well as display products.

The garden features lush greenery, height differences, and a pond for water storage. Green roofs on the pavilion and main building serve as “stepping stones” of greenery, aiming to attract birds, bees, and other insects.

Sustainability

The plan preserves the structure of Westersingel 18 and 20. The wooden structure of Westersingel 19 will be replaced with a new construction. Materials from the demolished building will be reused elsewhere in the project. Over the coming months, the consortium will develop the proposal into a final design. Construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026.

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