Rotterdam’s pixel cloud—OMA stacking glass blocks until the old city hall looks newly invented.
Building complex in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Featured in Rem Koolhaas's definitive monograph, S,M,L,XL.
Visitor Guide
Walk through the public passage and look for the seam between old and new; if you can join an open tour, do—it changes the reading completely.
From Coolsingel, late afternoon for reflections across the ‘glass pixels’; night shots emphasize the stacked silhouette.
Public passage is accessible; interior tours are only offered a few times a year (e.g., Architecture Day/World Port Days) via local tour organizers.
The ‘pixels’ aren’t random: they’re a negotiation between heritage lines, new program, and daylight—discrete units that let the mass step and breathe.
45–90 min
Design & Structure
Designed as a field of repeated modules (‘pixels’) coordinated digitally; prefabrication-friendly facade units and detailed junctions allow the stepped volumetric logic.
Glass-heavy envelope over a steel/concrete structure; materiality is about making mass read as atmosphere.
Engineering challenge is stacking/stepping volumes while maintaining structural continuity and watertight performance at countless edges.
See Together
Buildings that pair well with Timmerhuis — they're nearby or share a compelling architectural conversation.
More by Rem Koolhaas
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Kunsthal
Guggenheim Hermitage Museum
Seattle Central Library
Leeum Museum of Art
Seoul National University Museum of Art
Garage Museum of Contemporary Art
Nearby in Rotterdam
Kunsthal
De Rotterdam
KPN Tower
World Port Center
Euromast
Willemsbrug
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Timmerhuis?+
Timmerhuis was designed by Rem Koolhaas and completed in 2015. It is located in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Where is Timmerhuis located?+
Timmerhuis is located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Its coordinates are 51.9226°, 4.4813°.
When was Timmerhuis built?+
Timmerhuis was completed in 2015. It was designed by Rem Koolhaas.
Can I visit Timmerhuis?+
Timmerhuis is a real building in Rotterdam that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.