Powerhouse Company International BV

Erasmus Pavilion

Erasmus Pavilion
© Christian van der Kooy

Erasmus Pavilion 

Powerhouse Company + DeZwarteHond

MANUFACTURERS
Jansen, Derako

AREA
1800 M²

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Rotterdam, The Netherlands

CATEGORY
Auditorium, Pavilion, Student Hall

The new Erasmus University Rotterdam Student Center is located at the heart of a new master plan for the University area.

Erasmus Pavilion
© Christian van der Kooy
Erasmus Pavilion
© Christian van der Kooy

Designed in combination with De Zwarte Hond, it is set to become a vibrant and central meeting point on the campus where research meets business and science meets culture.

Sustainability, usability, transparency, and intimacy are the main objectives for the design of the Student Center.

Erasmus Pavilion
© Christian van der Kooy
Erasmus Pavilion
© Rene de Wit

We approached the design with the idea of creating a building that can actively change its facade—not only to adapt to the weather and the cycle of seasons, but also to allow an adjustable level of intimacy inside, depending on the events.

Through opening or closing the dynamic lamellae, users can determine how much daylight comes in. This leads to a reduction of the energy consumption, but it also enables one to adjust the level of openness of the building.

Erasmus Pavilion
© Christian van der Kooy
Erasmus Pavilion
© Christian van der Kooy

The curved lines of the lamellae that sweep across the four facades are based on the path of the sun and moderate the amount of natural light and heat according to the sun orientations.

The appearance of the building continuously changes depending on the events inside the building and the weather outside the building. It is animated by the vibrant rhythm of the Student Center’s life, making it visible from the surrounding public spaces.

Erasmus Pavilion
© Christian van der Kooy
Erasmus Pavilion
© Christian van der Kooy

The facade and its mobile aluminum louvers combined with the wooden interior ceiling, creates a dynamic spatial experience.

On a gray winter Monday morning the Student Center can be made into an intimate, warm indoor space; while on a warm summer Friday evening it can be turned into an open and vibrant space.

The transparency of the building is preserved by positioning all “dark space” programs that require an absence of daylight in the core of the building.

This “logistical core” efficiently serves the publicly accessible spaces distributed around it. On top of this logistical core we placed a multipurpose auditorium that offers room for lectures, performances, and debates.

Erasmus Pavilion
© Rene de Wit
Erasmus Pavilion
© Rene de Wit

This distribution of functions creates high flexibility in use, which was essential for the feasibility of this project.

To lower the energetic impact of the building, various technical measures have been implemented. A compact building volume, the positioning of the mass in the center core, the natural ventilation, and flexible zoning transform this transparent building into a low- consumption landmark.

Erasmus Pavilion
© Christian van der Kooy
Erasmus Pavilion
© Christian van der Kooy
Erasmus Pavilion
© Christian van der Kooy


Erasmus Pavilion
Section


Erasmus Pavilion
Ground Floor Plan
Erasmus Pavilion
First / Second Floor Plan


Erasmus Pavilion
Site Plan

Powerhouse Company International BV
T +31 10 4046789
Powerhouse Company International BV
Antoine Platekade 1000, 3072 ME Rotterdam, Netherlands