Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen) | Rotterdam

The Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen) are a set of innovative residential buildings located at Overblaak 70, in the Kolk district of Rotterdam. Designed by architect Piet Blom, the development represents the concept of "living as an urban roof."

Visual Characteristics

The complex consists of 38 small cubes and two "super-cubes," all tilted at a 45-degree angle and perched atop hexagonal pylons. The exterior is characterized by bright yellow wooden panels and grey zinc roofs. Blom’s intention was for each house to represent a tree, and the entire complex to represent a "forest." The interior floors are divided into three levels: the "street house" (kitchen/living), the "heaven house" (bedrooms), and the "leaf tip" (a sunroom/top floor with 360-degree views).

Location & Access Logistics

The houses are located directly adjacent to the Rotterdam Blaak station.

Public Transport: Reachable via Metro lines A, B, and C, and Trams 21 and 24 at the Blaak hub.

Pedestrian Access: The houses function as a pedestrian bridge over the busy Blaak street, connecting the Oude Haven (Old Harbour) to the city center.

Parking: No direct on-site parking for visitors. Use the underground Markthal parking garage or the Oude Haven parking lot.

Historical & Ecological Origin

Construction took place between 1982 and 1984. The project was part of the city's post-war reconstruction effort to bridge a major traffic artery. Blom based the design on his earlier experimental cube houses in Helmond (1974). The structure utilizes a wood-skeleton construction with rock wool insulation, mounted on concrete pillars.

Key Highlights & Activities

Kijk-Kubus (Show Cube): Because residents were frequently disturbed by curious tourists, one cube was converted into a museum. It is fully furnished to demonstrate how one manages 100 square meters of living space with slanted walls.

Stayokay Hostel: One of the "super-cubes" houses a large hostel, allowing visitors to stay overnight in the tilted architecture.

Art Cube: A space dedicated to art installations and rotating creative workshops.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The ground-level pylons house small retail businesses, architecture offices, and boutiques. Public restrooms are available at the nearby Markthal or within the hostel for guests. 5G signal is strong throughout the complex. The site is not fully wheelchair accessible due to steep, narrow wooden staircases inside the houses, though the exterior pedestrian walkways are accessible via elevators from street level.

Best Time to Visit

Museum Hours: Generally 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily.

Photography: The late afternoon provides dramatic shadows between the tilted cubes. The courtyard (the "forest floor") offers unique upward-facing geometric perspectives.

Crowd Density: High on weekends due to the proximity of the Markthal and the outdoor Binnenrotte market.

Facts & Legends

A structural oddity is that approximately one-quarter of the floor space in a Cube House is unusable due to the acute angles of the walls and ceilings. A common local legend suggests the houses cause vertigo for residents; however, the floors are perfectly horizontal, only the walls and windows are angled.

Nearby Landmarks

Markthal – 0.1km West

Rotterdam Blaak Station – 0.1km West

Old Harbour (Oude Haven) – 0.1km East

The White House (Witte Huis) – 0.2km Southeast

Laurenskerk – 0.3km Northwest