The architectural design for the new GDF SUEZ power plants in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and Wilhelmshaven, Germany, reflects the fact that these are the most modern power plants of their kind. 

The architecture succeeds in organizing the immense diversity of functions of the plant, while taking the urban context and the human scale into account.

The spatial quality of the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam is predominately determined by large-scale industrial buildings and a skyline dominated by enormous tanks, hoisting cranes and chimneys. The main volume of the new power plant will be 110 meters in height, with a chimney extending to 120 meters.

For the Rotterdam plant we chose an expressive blue color scheme in the facades in order to let it stand out in its backdrop of grey. For the Wilhelmshaven power plant, white color patterns in the facade symbolize purity, which in turn express the modern technical performance of the power plant within the wide landscape of Wilhelmshaven.

In terms of sustainability we developed proposals for reduction of light during nighttime (In cooperation with Har Hollands, lighting architect) and the design of a low-energy (50% reduction) service building.

ClientGDF SUEZPeriod2008-2011
LocationRotterdam, the NetherlandsServicesArchitecture
Scopetwo coal-fired power plantsTeamRoel Brouwers