Zuid Multi-Tenant Building

After the success of the two multi-tenant buildings on Oostzeedijk and Goudsesingel and the Groothandelsgebouw, Rotterdam-South now acquired its very own multi-tenant building. It was of course also designed by architect Hugh Maaskant. The earlier buildings were the work of the architecture firm Van Tijen and Maaskant, with Maaskant gradually playing an increasingly influential role.

The building is the final piece of the zone bordered by Vaanweg, Zuidplein and Dordtsestraatweg, containing garages, commercial structures and schools. The building is favourably situated close to the Maas Tunnel and the roads to Dordrecht and the western docklands, and also close to public transport stops. With a facade 130 metres long and 30 metres tall, the building closes off Zuidplein to the south.

The first multi-tenant buildings were an initiative from the Industry Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce. This building in Rotterdam-South was commissioned by a large private contractor called the Construction and Management Firm v.h. C. Gestel. The building contains the same elements as the other multi-tenant developments: a combination of shops, commercial spaces, storage units, a central hall, a shared canteen and a service street running through the middle of the building. It still offered the advantages of shared facilities. In the architectural detailing, Maaskant moved away from the use of concrete components, as the largely glazed facades demonstrate. The horizontal lines of the concrete slab floors do, however, determine the appearance.

With a total volume of 120,000 m³, the building is significantly larger than the Industriegebouw Goudsesingel (78,440 m³) but smaller than the Groothandelsgebouw (440,180 m³).

Construction started on 15 July 1957 and the official opening took place on 15 October 1960.

The building consists of an elongated block along the Zuidplein side and three separate wings. Running between them is the service street. Connecting the volumes for pedestrians and vehicles are galleries that widen into full platforms at the three points of vertical circulation. There are six lifts for goods and services. Fire regulations ensured that all office facades were fitted with narrow balconies. The three wings have escape staircases in their south facades.

Beneath the entire complex lies a basement with the heating installation, a car park for 160 vehicles, and a bike shed with about 800 places. That shed was also designed as a shelter for Civil Protection, a voluntary rescue service. The ground floor contains 19 retail units with commercial spaces, two kiosks and a large central entrance hall. At the north-west corner is Café-Restaurant Rustburcht, which is still run by the first owner, the Veelenturf family. The owner of this venue also leased the canteen on the first floor. That can also double as a reception room; there is a spacious foyer, changing rooms and a large stage. The reception room can be reached from the main entrance. The canteen has a capacity of 450 people and is clearly legible on the front facade.

The six standard floors contain a total of 89 individual commercial units that can be used as offices, showrooms or workshops. The top floor of the elongated block contains 15 dwellings. Twelve service homes are reserved for staff of companies based in the complex and three dwellings are for caretakers.

The building is still in use as a multi-tenant building and houses a wide variety of tenants: the Zuidplein health centre, architects, architectural historians, accountancy firms, various trade unions and cargo consultants. The building has been a municipal monument since 2021.