Beurstraverse in Rotterdam (built in 1996) informally named Koopgoot (Shopper Gutter) by Rotterdam citizens, was developed by Multi Vastgoed and is owned by CBRE GI. A retail led mixed-use project in the heart of Rotterdam, Beurstraverse is conceptualized as a shopping street. The city center of Rotterdam used to be split in two parts by a busy arterial road – Coolsingel – running northsouth. The consequence was that Rotterdam had two innercity retail halves, with limited communication between the two. For decades, there have been discussions about how to solve this problem – as a tunnel or a bridge were not preferred.
The solution was found in creating a two-level shopping street, of which the lower level would run underneath Coolsingel and connect directly with Rotterdam’s main underground station. The lower street, of which the façade was designed by Jerde, was brought to life with retail units, and the department stores and main fashion stores around got entrances on both the lower and the upper street level. In total, around a 60,000 sq m GLA retail space was added to the city center.
The scheme opened in 1996 and truly became part of Rotterdam’s prime pitch, which it still is to this day. There was also an indoor gallery, which was less successful, and converted into a flagship store space. Beurstraverse was extended by a later development, FORUM Rotterdam, also by Multi, after the former ABN AMRO Bank premises became available for redevelopment. Incorporated were a flagship bookstore, a Primark, gastronomy, offices and 103 apartments. A total GLA commercial (retail and offices) space of 64,000 sq m strengthened the area as a landmark in the city center. FORUM was opened in 2020. Some buildings as well as Coolsingel in the surroundings have been upgraded, and CBRE GI plans to make some changes in the connections between the scheme and the surrounding streets in combination with a refurbishment.
Elektrownia Powiśle in Warsaw (built in 2020): The center is a repurposing of an old municipal electricity plant near the Vistula, built in 1904. After the successful repurpose redevelopment by Tristan and White Star, it opened in 2020. Incorporated are a nice urban quarter consisting of renovated historic buildings with many references to the former functions, as well as new buildings with a contemporary design. The shopping center offers a highquality public space with a nice mix of usage: 90 shops, 40 F&B and restaurants, including a food hall, as well as three office buildings and 90 apartments. Elektrownia Powiśle functions as a lively urban quarter because of the balanced mix of functions and counts as a place to be. The project triggered substantial upgrading in the surrounding neighborhoods.
