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MVRDV tops the Hague's grotius towers with stepping bamboo terraces

2022-08-03

The Grotius Towers, which add 655 new apartments to The Hague's downtown, were finished by MVRDV. The towers, which are formally referred to as The Roofs, are instantly recognisable by their "crowns" of stepping terraces and rise 120 and 100 metres (393 and 328 feet) respectively. 114 of the total apartments in the two buildings are intended for social rent, while 295 are intended for the mid-market rental market.

In order to create a new stacking landscape, the design team permits the towers to asymmetrically "crumble" near their peaks. From every angle, the finished structure appears to subtly shapeshift, adding an arresting feature to the city's skyline.

The Central Business District of the Dutch city is where MVRDV's Grotius Towers are located. The team emphasises that because of the intricate city grid, "every square metre has to be used strategically." Thus, the ingenious design of the two footprints preserves the through-streets while simultaneously generating new public spaces. The buildings have a "anthracite grey" finish at street level that progressively changes to beige above, until the "crumbling" terraces break up the soft colour with their striking bamboo composite cladding.

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