Valkenstein Project: Sustainable Collective Wooden Housing

Innovation in Collective Wooden Construction

Collective wooden residential projects represent an advanced step in sustainable architecture, allowing a combination of environmental efficiency and practical housing solutions. An example of this is the Valkenstein project in Rotterdam, which was recently delivered and stands as one of the city’s first collective residential buildings fully designed using wood.

This type of project goes beyond focusing solely on form and material; it also reflects the role of architecture in addressing social issues. In this case, the building provides 82 rental units at affordable prices, contributing to the need for accessible housing in neighborhoods redeveloped after the war.

The Value of Experimental Projects in Modern Cities

Collective wooden buildings offer an opportunity to explore sustainable and replicable construction techniques, while considering cost and construction time efficiency. They also provide a model that can be applied in urban neighborhood planning, balancing environmental and social requirements.

A person walking past a large mature tree with the Valckensteyn timber building in the background. — The architectural design respects the existing landscape, preserving mature trees and creating a harmonious urban-nature balance. (Image © Sebastian van Damme)

Low-angle view of the Valckensteyn building featuring the external steel staircase and the contrast between wood panels and stone cladding. — A detailed look at the vertical circulation and the material transition from the travertine ground floor to the upper timber levels. (Image © Sebastian van Damme)

Urban Renewal in Historic Neighborhoods

Sustainable construction plays a pivotal role in redeveloping historic neighborhoods, achieving a balance between preserving architectural identity and meeting modern needs. The Valkenstein project serves as an example of how urban innovation can be integrated within a historical context, as the building is located on the southern edge of Rotterdam in the Bendrecht district, a site that previously hosted a well-known building of the same name.

Continuity of Place and Architectural History

The previous building was designed by architect Cranendonck and shaped the streetscape of Bendrecht from 1971 until 2012. It featured two terraced wings rising to 10 and 14 floors, effectively contributing to addressing the severe housing shortage after the war. This history reflects architecture’s capacity to respond to social and economic needs in post-conflict periods.

Sustainable Construction as a Tool for Urban Development

Replacing the old building with a modern project based on collective wooden construction demonstrates how a sustainable approach can enhance urban neighborhoods while preserving the area’s historic character. Additionally, this type of project provides a model for developing affordable housing units within a changing urban context, contributing to urban development projects.

Site plan drawing of the Valckensteyn project in Rotterdam, showing the building footprint and surrounding green spaces. — The site plan illustrates the staggered placement of the building within the green fabric of the Pendrecht neighborhood.

Terraced Design and Architectural Massing

Innovation in the new building is evident through its terraced massing, which contributes to creating a visually harmonious gradient with the surrounding environment. This approach demonstrates architecture’s ability to adapt to the existing urban context while achieving an appealing and balanced visual effect.

Harmony with the Urban Fabric

The building is closely connected to the historical context of the Bendrecht district, whose architectural foundations were laid by Lott Stam-Bies. The taller and shorter buildings are carefully arranged around communal green outdoor spaces, giving the neighborhood an open and spacious character. This approach reflects the importance of integrating new constructions within the existing urban fabric while enhancing public and green spaces to meet residents’ social needs.

Close-up of the CLT timber beams and balcony structure of Valckensteyn, with lush green trees in the foreground. — Close-up detail of the Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) beams, showcasing the natural texture and sustainable construction of the balconies. (Image © Sebastian van Damme)

Sustainable Wooden Construction

The Valkenstein building reflects modern architecture’s focus on sustainability, with its primary structure entirely made of cross-laminated timber (CLT), except for the ground floor and the cores of elevators and staircases. This type of construction balances strength, durability, and environmental efficiency, making it a practical model for sustainable residential buildings.

Material Efficiency and Design Innovation

The CLT elements within the building were carefully optimized, including precise panel thicknesses to minimize waste and maximize material use. The design combines artistic innovation, elegance, and economic efficiency, enabling the creation of a cost-effective residential building that sustainably serves the mid-range rental sector.

Impact of Sustainable Construction on Housing

The Valkenstein project demonstrates how collective wooden construction concepts can support urban sustainability while providing practical, eco-friendly housing solutions. It also highlights the importance of combining smart design with material efficiency to achieve positive social and environmental impacts in modern cities.

Exploded axonometric diagram of the Valckensteyn building showing the CLT structure, elevator core, and ground floor. — Technical diagram showing the modular CLT structure surrounding the concrete core and the stone-clad plinth.

Integration with the Surrounding Environment

The environmental impact of the Valkenstein project extends beyond the building itself, as it is surrounded by a large green garden designed to evoke the character of public parks, enhancing interaction between residents and nature. This layout provides open outdoor spaces that support social activity and residents’ well-being.

Maximizing Open Spaces

The west-facing balconies are designed to offer expansive views and create a direct visual connection with the surrounding natural environment. This approach reflects an architectural understanding of the importance of natural light and ventilation, while also enhancing the quality of life within the building.

Supporting Biodiversity in Urban Design

The design incorporates elements that promote biodiversity, such as integrated bird and bat nesting boxes within the building façade. This initiative demonstrates how urban architecture can contribute to preserving local ecosystems, making residential projects more sustainable and inclusive.

Perspective view from a high-floor balcony of Valckensteyn looking towards a dense green forest area. — Residents enjoy direct visual connections to nature through west-facing balconies that overlook the surrounding parkland. (Image © Sebastian van Damme)

Building Materials and Connection to History

The building’s base is clad in travertine, a material commonly used in the post-war period that serves as a visual element linking the structure to the neighborhood’s history. The use of this material reflects how modern architecture can respect historical context while offering contemporary solutions.

Balancing Form and Function

At the upper levels, demountable panels made of light brown and anthracite fiber cement highlight the wooden structure visually while supporting long-term maintenance of the building. This approach demonstrates how materials can be carefully selected to achieve a balance between aesthetics and functionality.

Enhancing Sustainability and Circularity

The combination of different materials contributes to the building’s sustainable and circular identity, allowing for reuse, ongoing maintenance, and waste reduction. This approach serves as a practical example of how circular construction principles can be integrated into modern urban projects.

View of the Valckensteyn building reflected in a nearby water canal, framed by willow trees. — The building’s sustainable profile is mirrored in the local water features, emphasizing its role in urban biodiversity. (Image © Sebastian van Damme)

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

While the Valkenstein project represents a clear step toward exploring collective wooden construction and urban sustainability, certain considerations should be taken into account in practical architectural analysis. On the positive side, the project provides a practical model for applying cross-laminated timber (CLT) in multi-story residential buildings, with design elements that support open spaces and biodiversity, reflecting the design’s limited capacity to interact with the surrounding environment.

However, the project raises questions regarding its replicability and practical application in diverse urban contexts. For instance, although the wooden structure achieves environmental efficiency, challenges related to long-term maintenance, fire resistance, and cost management may pose constraints when attempting to generalize the model to other projects or denser areas. Additionally, the strong focus on visual form and architectural terracing may sometimes reduce design flexibility in terms of unit layout or adjusting interior spaces to meet different population needs.

Furthermore, consideration should be given to how such projects can be integrated more effectively within the existing urban fabric, so that their impact extends beyond the building itself and contributes to improving surrounding infrastructure and community services. This project can serve as a case study, particularly regarding sustainable design and environmental integration, with an emphasis on developing evaluation tools for the performance of wooden buildings in major urban cities before wider adoption.