The Kralingen Mountain project, also being called the Rotterdam Mountain project started in 2009 and headed by MVRDV has entered a feasibility study phase and moved one step closer to realization.
The Kralingen Mountain project is a vision for an area on the north side of Rotterdam, NL. Kralingen is the name of the neighborhood that the project area is in. The mountain is the focus of the project; the massive hill that will cover the 1.7km of motorway and rail that slices through the center of the project are and the necessary space MVRDV and the other Kralingen Mountain associates had to create to effectively develop the area and leave the vital traffic artery undisturbed.
High income residential neighborhoods and parks will be built on top of the hill, offering residents and parkgoers views of the area surrounding the development, characterized by expansive green space and meandering Rotte River.
MVRDV and its client, Blauwhoed have great expectations for the development. In a press release regarding the move into the feasibility stage on MVRDV’s website, they said “an area of 166 hectare urban wasteland will be transformed for housing and nature. 4500 homes can be constructed on site…” MVRDV estimates the residential projects would create 3.6 million m2 of housing space. This would be a huge economic, social, and aesthetic boost to the area that is currently only used for various production assets and industry.
The area will not be entirely re-characterizing the as residential and recreational, MVRDV and company have incorporated two designated areas for office high-rises and other areas for “services, offices, sports and public facilities”. The interior of the Mountain will also be used to house a large light industrial program and a rail station to provide easy transportation access to residents.
Plans for construction and further design are not yet underway, although the entire project is said by creators to be entirely privately funded and feasible. Although this works in the city of Rotterdam’s favor, attracting the major investments needed to fund the Kralingen Mountain project may take considerable time, and persuasion.
