MVRDV Wins Shift Competition with Bioutopia Rotterdam Rocks!

The Shift International Architecture Competition has been won by MVRDV, a Rotterdam-based architectural firm, with their proposal titled Rotterdam Rocks!. This innovative bioutopia features seven enormous stacked rocks along the Maas River. Spanning 30,000 square meters, this eco-friendly landmark will house a 200-room hotel, exhibition areas, a food court, conference spaces, and an immersive art venue known as The Elysium. Its porous facades, adorned with soil and vegetation, promote biodiversity, while a meandering public path leads to a terrace with stunning views. Launched in 2025, the competition aimed to create a new wonder to motivate climate action, with judges including Aric Chen and Ben van Berkel. MVRDV is set to enter a pre-design phase, engaging the public in fall 2026, as Shift plans for Rotterdam Rocks! to be the first of many climate-centric landmarks worldwide.