PEÑA Architecture

Mini Mall

Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture

AREA
2606.0 m2

YEAR
2011

LOCATION
The netherlands

CATEGORY
Refurbishment, retail

Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture

Text description provided by architect.

Early 20th century in the northern part of Rotterdam, through the middle of 19th-century city suburbs and the nearby polder landscape, the Hofplein viaduct was built.

Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture

This 1.9 km long viaduct forms the start of the Hofplein line route, a 28.5 kilometre railway line linking Rotterdam with The Hague and Scheveningen.

The building of the Hofplein viaduct was a spectacular breakthrough in the development of railway viaduct construction.

Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture

Never before had an elevated railway been built that consisted only of reinforced concrete, and that with a span of 1.9 km. National recognition followed in 2002 when the whole Hofplein viaduct was declared a National Monument.

In 2008, the development started with the first seven arches of the monument with the aim to give the environment a neighborhood quality boost The first seven of the monumental Hofplein Station is transformed into small shopping mall, a new creative hot spot in Rotterdam with its own character.

Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture

The Mini Mall accommodate special hospitality, retail original formulas from independent designers, innovative arts events & festivals and art initiatives, with the aim to house a healthy and vibrant mix of creativity and commercialism.

A special quality that’s added to the national monument is the public area (courtyard) through the arches where all the activities of individual entrepreneurs meet.

Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture

So the monument was broken up from the street and made accessible to the public. Temporary events and pop-up formulas constitute the unifying factor within the Mini Mall and creating every time a new reality to be experienced.

In this area the entrepreneurs have also a storefront besides the storefront on the street but both of them are executed in Oregon Pine.

Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture

The shopping windows ad daylight and transparency to the courtyard and brings out the activity between the shops and visitors.

The courtyard is not just designed to make the building accessible but also adds a new route to the area.

Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture

People no longer need to go around the building but can use the courtyard to cross to the other side of the building.

The Mini Mall also provides access to the largest open-air ground in the heart of Rotterdam.

Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture

The roof (4000 sqm open air place) is during the summer the place for music, theater, film, dance and good food with the city as a backdrop.

Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture


Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture
Mini Mall
© Courtesy of peña architecture


Mini Mall
Sections


Mini Mall
Plan
Mini Mall
Color Plan

PEÑA Architecture
T +31 6 24576187
PEÑA Architecture
Goudsesingel 10, 3011 KA Rotterdam, Netherlands