Floating Office Rotterdam - a unique office building with green roof

In Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the largest floating office building in the world has been developed, complete with a Sempergreen green roof. Architectural firm Powerhouse Company has created the design for the Floating Office Rotterdam (FOR). This unique office will be part of a new floating park in the Rijnhaven port in Rotterdam, and is an inspiring example of today’s sustainable technological innovations and circular building opportunities. 

The pitched roof of this building has been suited with solar panels on the south-facing side. On the north side, a Sempergreen green roof of 900 m² has been installed. This green roof doesn’t only consist of Sedum vegetation, but also includes almost 2,000 herb plants with various blooming periods and colours. Besides creating a cooling effect for the building's interior, the green roof also positively affects the local biodiversity in the city of Rotterdam. 

Green roof offers shelter and cooling 

The gable roof creates shade and a cooler space on warm summer days. This isn’t only pleasant for the people using the space, but also positively affects the temperature in the city. Thanks to the relatively lower temperatures, the green roof also increases the solar panel efficiency. Furthermore, green roofs function as a sound barrier. Plants absorb ambient sound and create a quieter environment, in- and outside of the building. Finally, the greenery creates a safe haven for birds and insects in the city. Increasing biodiversity and supporting bee populations are important characteristics of green roofs. 

Solar panels have been installed on the south side of the roof, the north side features a green roof, photo DVP

BREEAM Excellent certified and 100% circular

Floating Office Rotterdam has been certified with the BREEAM Excellent sustainability certificate and has also received the ‘Consciously Building’ certificate. It mostly consist of timber and is completely dismountable and re-usable, making it 100% circular. The use of a wooden structure drastically decreased the ecological footprint of the project. The building is completely energy neutral, and generates the energy it needs to cool and to heat its interior by itself. To accomplish this, the floating office makes use of the water in the port to cool, using a water-based heat exchange system. 

Rotterdam Rijnhaven ideal location for climate center GCA

One of the organisations that moved into the FOR is the climate institute Global Center on Adaptation (GCA). The institute is looking for solutions worldwide to accelerate our adaptation to climate change. The unique FOR in the Rijnhaven port is thus an inspiring working environment for this think tank. 

“Climate change is an issue today, but also in the future. Countries, regions and the private sector will have to adapt to climate change. The floating office is an example of this.” - Patrick Verkooijen, CEO Global Center on Adaptation

The FOR is being anchored in the Rijnhaven, photo Shelley Gonsalves

Project details:

Design: Architectural firm Powerhouse Company
Construction: FOR BUILDING VOF, a collaboration between Vallei Bouw en Bouwbedrijf Osnabrugge
Green roof installation: MASTUM

The Rijnhaven of the future, visual Barcode Architects