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A mesmerizing array of sights and fragrances unfolds at the entrance to Markthal Rotterdam, the first indoor food
market in the Netherlands. The horseshoe-shaped food empire lies in the Soho of Rotterdam, a hotspot for hip bars
and boutiques. Under a futuristic dome decorated with 3D images of food, visitors can go one-stop shopping for fresh
organic produce from more than 100 stalls, or grab a bite at any of the dozens of specialty eateries.
The project is a hybrid of new urban planning. Under
the same roof one will find a cooking school, gourmet
boutiques, a supermarket, and apartments. Rotterdam is
the first city in the world to offer residential space above
a market, with over 200 apartments housed in the arch
itself. The car park is the largest in downtown Rotterdam,
with underground parking space for 1,200 vehicles.
Spacious elevators and escalators smoothly transport
shoppers straight from the basement to the market hall,
providing an unhurried start to their shopping day.
Seeing is believing
The market’s logistical hub lies on the lower ground floor,
with ultra-modern refrigeration, storage and preparation
areas contained in a dispatch center served by six KONE
freight elevators that transport products up to the hall in
a matter of minutes. KONE elevators and escalators play
a critical role moving both people and goods quickly and
smoothly.
“We are proud to have been involved in this unique
visual landmark for Rotterdam. The building has a very
unique shape and volume which has received a great
deal of media attention worldwide,” says
Thomas de
Gruijter
, KONE Sales Manager for Major Projects.
Demonstrating the added value of KONE solutions was
a key factor to winning the prestigious contract. “We
invited the developer on a sightseeing tour of our recent
major projects in Rotterdam. Provast’s decision was easy
after seeing our solutions in the city’s newest skyscrapers:
the Maastoren, Montevideo and New Orleans,” adds de
Gruijter.
Critical timing
Working on such a complex multifunctional building in
the busy heart of Rotterdam was a challenge, especially
with numerous teams working on site simultaneously,
notes KONE Project Manager
Raymond Jansen
. An
extensive logistical plan was required to make sure that
all material arrived on site just in time.
“We worked with two different constructors during the
build, one handling the construction from below ground
to floor level, as the subterranean levels are constructed
from special underwater concrete. We faced challenges
getting our materials into the shafts because of the very
narrow corridors in the basement, but there were no
problems that couldn’t be solved quickly,” concludes
Jansen.