Wood is on its way to sustainably transforming Europe’s construction industry. More and more cities are using this renewable building material to meet the challenges of climate change, housing space shortages, and resource conservation. The Valckensteyn project in Rotterdam, which was completed in 2025, is a striking example that demonstrates that multi-story timber construction and affordable housing are a good match. The twelve-story, 40-m-high building is considered the Netherlands’ largest social housing structure built in wood. It has a total of 82 rental apartments and was commissioned by the housing association Woonstad Rotterdam. General contractor Waal was responsible for the construction together with Linkwood.
Simple elegance: In Rotterdam, Valckensteyn’s 12-story timber structure combines sustainable construction with social responsibility. The façade underscores the building’s natural aesthetics and sustainability © Sebastian van Damme
The design was the brainchild of Powerhouse Company. The award-winning architecture and design firm, which is headquartered in Rotterdam and has branch offices in Munich, Oslo, and Nairobi, boasts an interdisciplinary team of over 100 specialists. Led by founder Nanne de Ru and partners such as Stefan Prins, Sander Apperlo, and Johanne Borthne, Powerhouse Company pursues an integrative design approach that combines aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability. The firm has received particular attention for its innovative projects such as the Floating Office Rotterdam, a carbon-neutral, energy-positive office building in Rotterdam’s Rijnhaven harbor. This project was carried out in collaboration with the Global Center on Adaptation and serves as a prime example of sustainable and future-proof building.
Responsible architecture
The interior apartment partition walls were prefabricated © Sebastian van Damme
The Valckensteyn project required an architectural firm capable of balancing both innovative ways of building and social responsibility. Powerhouse Company met these requirements: “Our idea for a wooden residential building was transformed into an integrative design that combines sustainability, living comfort, and a connection to nature,” Robbert Groeneveld, Senior Project Manager at Woonstad Rotterdam, explains.
Valckensteyn is located in the traditional post-war district of Pendrecht, where a residential block of the same name was built already back in the 1970s. With its staggered cubic design, the new building references its predecessor and Lotte Stam-Beese’s open, green-oriented development plan, while setting a strong architectural tone for a new building culture. The main structure of the building is made almost entirely of wood: Around 1,500 m³ of cross-laminated timber and 250 m³ of glue-laminated timber from binderholz were installed in addition to 61 prefabricated apartment partition walls from the new b_solution production line, an individually configurable modular construction solution for multi-story residential buildings. These elements were manufactured with high precision, covered with insulation material and plasterboard, and already equipped with electrical wiring and fire-safe sockets. This high degree of prefabrication enabled short construction times and high precision. For binderholz, Valckensteyn represents a milestone: It underscores the company’s role as a complete supplier for large-scale timber construction and demonstrates the practical suitability of industrially prefabricated timber systems.
A lightweight timber structure
The back of the building serves as functional access point © Sebastian van Damme
Eleven of the twelve floors are built entirely in wood. Only the ground floor, elevator shaft, and stairwell are made of concrete. Thanks to the lightweight timber structure, it was possible to build on the foundations of the previous building, thereby saving resources and minimizing the carbon footprint. Adhesives were not used, so the building can be dismantled, if necessary – which is in line with the principles of a circular economy. Visible CLT surfaces and exposed glulam beams create a warm, high-quality living atmosphere in the interior, while the light brown and anthracite-colored façade, made of fiber cement panels, elegantly complements the timber structure. According to the client, the Powerhouse team sensitively incorporated the Pendrecht neighborhood’s post-war history, and the characteristic staggered cubic design of the previous building, while developing, at the same time, a forward-looking, circular residential building. The entrance area is designed as a spacious lobby and is connected to the bicycle storage room. The housing units feature floor-to-ceiling windows, and the open balconies, with visible cross-laminated timber elements, enable spontaneous social interactions and expansive views.
Spacious balconies for a connection with nature
The entrance area, with its travertine slabs, is reminiscent of post-war architecture and blends in harmoniously with the cityscape © Sebastian van Damme
The quality of living also contributes to the attractiveness of affordable housing: All apartments feature spacious balconies, measuring almost 14 m² and almost two meters in depth, which considerably expands the living space. The ensemble is complemented by a park-like garden with biodiversity features such as nesting boxes for birds and bats, which also offers residents a connection to nature. “Valckensteyn proves that affordable housing and sustainable construction can go hand in hand. We are creating apartments that are not only affordable but also offer a high level of comfort and sophisticated architecture,” Stefan Prins, partner architect at Powerhouse, explains.
A thoroughly green project
The old building wasn’t exactly a looker. A residential high-rise of the same name was already located here in 1971, intended to address the housing shortage at the time © Rotterdam City Archive
From the balconies, residents are treated to expansive views of the greenery in the evening sun that offer peace and relaxation in the midst of an urban environment. The garden was lovingly designed by LAP Landscape & Urban Design: A variety of plantings provide color, structure, and a high level of biodiversity throughout the entire year, so that bees, butterflies, and other insects can populate the neighborhood.
Even the parking lot adheres to this ecological principle: It is designed as a “green carpet” with cement-free paving stones that absorb and filter rainwater, thereby protecting the soil and improving the microclimate. Small seating areas, winding paths, and flowerbeds create an inviting atmosphere for neighbors to meet, while natural design elements such as hedges, perennials, and grasses transform the entire neighborhood into a vibrant ecosystem.
Valckensteyn was built in the traditional Pendrecht district, one of Rotterdam’s post-war neighborhoods © Rotterdam City Archive
“Our nature-oriented design enhances the quality of life for residents, which they can enjoy from their spacious balconies,” project architect Daphne Delissen explains. The outdoor area becomes something of an extended living room that harmoniously combines nature, community, and sustainability. Thus, Valckensteyn not only offers affordable housing but also creates a holistic living environment that combines urban living with nature-based recreation – in the spirit of its former urban planner, Lotte Stam-Beese.
Today, Pendrecht is a vibrant neighborhood that reflects both the challenges and successes of post-war urban planning. It remains a valuable legacy of modern urban development and a testament to the visions and aspirations of its planners.
The future lies in timber construction
The Valckenstyn project fits perfectly into the area south of the city and exemplifies how architectural sophistication, social responsibility, and technological innovation go hand in hand in modern timber construction. With this flagship residential building, Rotterdam is sending a clear message not only in the Netherlands, but throughout Europe: The future of affordable housing lies in timber construction.
Friday, Dec. 5, 2025
11:40 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Block C
