Agence Ontwerp Reorganizes 1958 Rotterdam Flat Around 8-Meter Storage Wall
Rotterdam practice agence ontwerp completed Bentinck, a renovation of a 90 sqm gallery-flat from 1958 designed by Harry Nefkens. The project, located on the 7th floor of a building that had been overlooked by the market, uses an 8-meter mur utile (storage wall) to absorb furniture needs and redistributes the plan to increase walking distances between rooms, making the space feel larger. The strategy prioritizes views and openness over conventional circulation efficiency. Materials include exposed concrete, plywood, and reused joinery from the original kitchen and bathroom. The apartment's double-loaded typology with free facades allowed total interior reconfiguration. The project was completed in 2025.
Key facts
- Bentinck is the debut project of agence ontwerp, a newly founded Rotterdam practice.
- The apartment is a 90 sqm (969 sq ft) gallery-flat built in 1958, designed by Harry Nefkens.
- The renovation centers on an 8-meter (26 ft) storage wall called a mur utile.
- The design increases walking distances between rooms to make the apartment feel larger.
- The building's double-loaded typology with free facades allowed complete interior reconfiguration.
- Materials include exposed concrete, plywood, and reused joinery from the original bathroom and kitchen.
- The project is located in Rotterdam, Netherlands, completed in 2025.
- The apartment was previously overlooked by the market in favor of older neighboring buildings.
Entities
Artists
- Harry Nefkens
Institutions
- agence ontwerp
Locations
- Rotterdam
- Netherlands