David van Weeghel
Heritage & Architecture
Maassilo Rotterdam: A sturdy place for experiment
One hundred and twenty meters wide and fifty meters high: the Maassilo stands as a giant physical testament to the former industrial dynamic of the Rotterdam harbour. Once a place where grain was stored and protected, the abandoned Maassilo now conceils a grid of empty silos. Interventions to its sturdy concrete structure are extremely difficult.
This project challenges the sturdiness of the Maassilo by introducing a highly dynamic function: a night club. The 21st-century club, with a typical lifespan of five to ten years, stands in sharp contrast to the indestructible concrete grid. In order to bridge this gap, the design comprises multliple layers of permanence. With future flexibility in mind, a range of spatial experiences is irreversibly cut out of the silos. Laid bare by straight cuts, the rigid silo grid is used to trigger disruptive use. Industrial order challenged by high-power expression.