Since 2021, a role model office building has been floating in Rotterdam's old industrial port: the Floating Office Rotterdam (FOR) by the Dutch architectural firm Powerhouse Company. As the largest floating company building in the world, it defies the consequences of climate change by adapting to rising sea levels, for example. In this way, it reflects the values of its user, the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA). The non-governmental organization has set itself the task of advancing solutions for adaptation to climate change worldwide. 

The Rijnhaven in Rotterdam is to be transformed into a lively second city center with a city park by 2024. The Floating Office Rotterdam (FOR) is making a contribution to this. Covering 3,600 square meters, it offers space for new workplaces, a public restaurant and a harbor swimming pool. In addition to the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), the architectural firm Powerhouse Company and the RED Company as project developer, among others, have also moved into their own office spaces in the FOR.

The client wanted to create a building that reflected the values of the Global Center on Adaptation, which is based in the Netherlands. The architects were able to meet this concern with the idea of a floating office landscape – which is not tied to any location: they designed a climate-resistant wooden house that generates more energy than it needs itself and that achieves a negative CO2 balance due to the emission-friendly choice of materials. The building rests on a series of floating concrete pontoons and can be dismantled at any time and rebuilt or recycled elsewhere.  

The basis of this forward-looking design is the energy concept: it combines high-tech solutions – such as the water cooling system and solar collectors – with low-tech structural measures, such as a pitched roof with a large roof overhang and cantilevered balconies to provide shade. The floating foundation of 15 concrete pontoons acts as an in-house heat exchange system, which is fed with water from the harbour basin. A photovoltaic system on the south side of the roof turns the floating office into an energy-positive building, while the green roof on the north side ensures biodiversity.  

The three-storey building is CO2-negative thanks to the modular and largely prefabricated timber construction. This is based on a regular grid of 6 x 6 metres and consists of mighty laminated beams with stiffening cross-laminated timber ceilings and walls. 

The figures speak for themselves: With the efficient energy concept, FOR generates an average of 154 Mwh of electricity annually – enough to supply about 54 households with electricity for a year. In addition, the determined energy efficiency value is E/E = -0.12. This negative value shows that more energy is generated over the year than is needed for heating, cooling and ventilation. As a result, the building received the highest level of certification on the scale of the BREEAM sustainability certificate. 

The FOR is probably not only the largest company building on the water, but the floating house is also really fun: Swimming a lap in the natural pool during your lunch break is just as possible as enjoying a relaxed lunch or After-Work drink on the sun deck. During the work itself, all rooms offer unrestricted views of the water and some of them can be opened up over a large area with bi-folding doors: this creates a relaxing working atmosphere and promotes creativity.