Kubuswoningen

One of Rotterdam’s most popular attractions is the Kubuswoningen (Cubic Houses complex).

Designed by architect Piet Blom and constructed between 1982 and 1984, the Kubuswoningen represents a unique housing concept. The complex is also known as Blaakse Bos.

These buildings stand out with their distinct cube shape. Each cube features three levels, including a kitchen and living room on one floor, bedrooms on another, and a conservatory on the top floor.

The original plan from 1977 included 55 houses, but not all of them were realized. The complex now consists of 38 small cubes and two larger ones, all interconnected.

Piet Blom drew inspiration from Le Corbusier, who emphasized the importance of public spaces. Blom’s idea was to elevate the houses on poles, creating a small village within the city. The houses do not have gardens, and the space beneath the poles remains accessible to the public.

The architect is said to have taken inspiration from Florence’s Ponte Vecchio, where shops were built on a bridge with a pathway above, allowing the wealthy members of the Medici family to move between palaces without interacting with ordinary people.

One of the larger cubes houses a Stayokay hostel, while the other serves as housing and support for former prisoners.

Today, one of the Cube Houses is furnished as a museum. In the Kijk-kubus, you can get a sense of what it’s like to live in a building like this. The Kijk-kubus is minimally furnished, but it’s worth a visit.

The museum house is open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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