Casanova Building / Barcode Architects

Connection with the city centre
Part of the collection of high-rise buildings in Wigenhafen, Casanova is a striking example of the new generation of towers in Rotterdam. Its triangular size, recognizable from all sides, gives new impetus to the Wijnhaven area, which is transforming from an anonymous office district into a lively part of the city centre. By activating the Wijnhaven corner, a new enhanced connection is created between Oude Haven and Markthal, via Leuvehaven and Witte de Withstraat to the Museumpark. The CasaNova entrance lobby extends through the entire depth of the building, from Wijnhaven to Wijnstraat. This new crossing creates movement and activity on both streets and provides residents with full access from both sides of the city through a unique “entrance lobby.”

Sculpture on the base
CasaNova’s distinctive form is a creative response to KCAP’s urban plan, which stipulates that for every square meter of land, 22 cubic meters of building can be returned. The choice was made to cut the volume at the bottom and add volume at the top, so that it looks balanced on the pedestal, like a statue. The slim volume creates ideal sight lines and daylight into the surrounding buildings, and space for a 1,600 square meter roof garden where residents of Casanova and The Muse can meet each other. By placing the roof garden on the fifth level instead of the roof of the tower, the garden is also connected to the ground level.

The unusual shape of the apartments gives stunning 300 degree views of the city, creating a very special living experience. At the corners of the triangle are spacious 15 square meter terraces, designed as an outdoor living room, all exposed to the morning and evening sun. The triangular shape with a south-facing tip allows for optimal sun exposure.

Facade sculpting
The idea of ​​tower sculpture is also reflected in the design of the facade. Hand-cut panels of natural reddish-brown stone give the tower an artisanal, warm character. As the light changes, the strong relief in the stone gives the building a constantly new look. Towards the top of the tower, the panels become wider and wider, with smoothly polished flatness. The facade design shifts slightly towards the top of the building.

Share together
There have been significant discussions about disruptive behavior and loneliness in skyscrapers, as well as the question of who users of skyscrapers are and are likely to be. In response, we focused heavily on common areas and meeting spaces beyond the lobby or elevator. Programmatically, the two towers share the same base and offer the convenience of city living. The two hundred residents of the two towers share a 1,600 square meter roof terrace with a communal garden, a kitchen, guest hotel rooms, co-working spaces, meeting rooms, a fitness area and a parcel service room.

Casual encounters
Informal encounters and the casual conversations that come with them are essential to the sense of community, safety and social cohesion in the Tower. An important design intervention was to make a cut between the parking lot and the residences. For many residents, parking is their daily entryway; You can walk from the car park to Casanova through an attractive lobby with a view onto the roof terrace, and meet your neighbors before boarding the elevator.

Casanova, along with The Muse, is an example of a network city, a city where buildings and communities are intelligently connected. It’s no longer 2D, it’s 3D.