Construction SAWA begins
Nov. 22, 2022
From left to right: Eric Dijkhuizen (Garden on the Pier), Freek Boeijen (Focus Real Estate), Jos Melchers (Municipality of Rotterdam), Robert Winkel (Nice Developers + Mei architects and planners), Mark Compeer (Nice Developers), Bianca Seekles (ERA Contour), Jeroen Heijdra (ERA Contour) Wim Verschoor (ERA Contour), Ron Zwinkels-Machielsen (resident SAWA) - Photographer: © Jerry Lampen
Construction of SAWA - the very first 50-meter-high circular wooden residential building in the Netherlands - has begun. At a festive gathering on November 18, the symbolic starting signal was given for the construction of this iconic residential building on Rotterdam's Lloydpier. A resident of SAWA, the municipality of Rotterdam, the developers from Nice Developers and ERA Contour, Mei architects & planners and the investor Focus Real Estate together filled a special SAWA planter with a selection of plants that will eventually have a place on the building's green terraces. This planter was handed over to Garden on the Pier, a green neighborhood initiative right next to the construction site. They will manage the planter until SAWA is completed. This is expected to be at the end of 2024.
Including for residents and birds, butterflies and bees
In SAWA there will be 50 medium rental homes, 20 free sector rental homes and 39 owner-occupied homes. All new residents will soon live in a sustainable wooden building full of greenery. No less than 700 linear meters of planters with 19 different types of plants will soon be found in the facades and on the deck of SAWA. As well as a multitude of habitats for birds, butterflies and bees. Thanks to this flora and fauna, SAWA strengthens biodiversity and connects to the existing ecological structure of the area. Especially in the urban and largely stone environment of the Lloydkwartier, SAWA is thus of added value for the entire neighborhood.
Chantal Zeegers, Alderman for Climate, Building and Housing:
In a few years, Rotterdam's first wooden residential tower with lots of greenery will stand on the Loydpier. SAWA is the proof that it is possible to build a sustainable building with affordable housing that is also circular. This has simply not been done before in this city.
Building in wood in a unique way
SAWA is made 90 percent of CLT (cross laminated timber). The use of concrete is kept to a minimum. This is special because concrete is normally poured on CLT floors, but not in SAWA. "On the CLT floors in SAWA, we use dry ballast, so the building is fully circular and therefore detachable. That is unique for a wooden building 50 meters high," explains Robert Winkel of Nice Developers and Mei architects & planners.
"SAWA is a particularly innovative project. Because SAWA is built of wood, it does not emit any CO2 out, but rather stores CO. With the construction of SAWA alone, 5,000 tons of CO2 stored. In doing so, we are making a huge contribution the reduction of CO2 and thus to combating climate change,"
director at ERA Contour, Jeroen Heijdra
The CLT parts are delivered largely prefabricated and then assembled at the construction site. This ensures fewer operations on the construction site itself, resulting in little inconvenience and clean construction.
For 1 SAWA tree, 4 come back
"The wood for SAWA comes from sustainably managed forests in Germany. In the forest, mature trees are selected for felling and only these trees are removed. The forest and on-site biodiversity are thus preserved. For every tree needed to build SAWA, four different species of trees are planted back," says Mark Compeer of Nice Developers.
Award-winning project
Even before SAWA is in place, the project wins several prestigious international architecture awards. 'This international appreciation strengthens our team that we really are working on something special,' said Robert Winkel. 'The conviction and decisiveness to not only design but also realize a revolutionary concept like SAWA is fueled by the ambition to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions, strengthening biodiversity, achieving (inter)national climate goals and at the same time creating affordable housing. With SAWA we are developing a new icon for the city of Rotterdam. An example for future generations of builders and developers'.
Cooperating partners
Nice Developers and TBI company ERA Contour are developing SAWA. ERA Contour is also responsible for the construction of SAWA. Mei architects and planners was commissioned to design this apartment building. Focus Real Estate is the investor of the rental apartments.
For more information about SAWA or homes still for sale in the project, visit www.woneninsawa.nl.
Press photo: ©JerryLamps
Impressions: ©Image Factory + ©Mei architects and planners
Video: AMMO
