The Zuidplein Theater 'Kunstenpand' in the Hart van Zuid is the lively heart for art and culture in Rotterdam South that should inspire and connect all residents. It is the new home for Theatre Zuidplein, Rotterdam Library and various cultural functions. It is an important part of the 'Hart van Zuid' plan, the metamorphosis around Ahoy and Zuidplein. The unique aluminium façade cladding was designed by architect De Zwarte Hond. Metadecor then engineered, produced and assembled it.

A puzzle of triangles

For this beautiful building, Metadecor realised an aluminum façade cladding of MD Designperforation with an open character, which gives a very nice street view.
"We worked together with De Zwarte Hond for the design," says Edwin Wesselink, project leader at Metadecor. “Together we finalised the design and Metadecor has elaborated this into a feasible 3D design that fitted seamlessly with the contractor's BIM model. We invest a lot of time in the preparation of each project, including this project. Our clients experience this as very positive and this results in fewer assembly hours. ”

The façade design consists of small triangles that fit together like a puzzle, which in turn form larger triangles, spirals and circles. All this leads to an interplay of shapes that are partly visible from afar and partly from close up. Wesselink: “All panels are unique and the biggest challenge was to install them in the right place. It is a beautiful and artful project to participate in and fits in well with what Metadecor can do.”

The façade cladding appears repetitive at first glance, but in reality, there are numerous exceptions. This is particularly true at the corners and where the cladding meets various canopies. Connecting the curved sections at the corners proved to be a technical challenge. A complex substructure was used in these areas.

Canopy lighting and water drainage

The canopies are fully clad with perforated panels. Originally, a metal covering was also planned for the top side of the canopies. However, due to the complex junctions and the very limited installation space, this solution proved less than ideal. As a result, Metadecor, in consultation with the architect, opted for a traditional roof build-up using timber and a waterproof membrane.

It was coordinated with the steel supplier that the supporting structure would be installed with a slope, enabling Metadecor to integrate a gutter on the voile side. This gutter could then be connected to the planned downpipe concealed within the columns. Since the column at the library corner does not continue down to ground level, Metadecor had to construct the entire corner canopy with a dual slope. Thanks to close coordination with the steel supplier, this was successfully achieved. This was particularly impressive given the limited thickness of the canopy. The result was a sleek visual appearance for the architect, and a practical, workable system for Metadecor.

We attached the façade cladding by means of a back construction with visible MD Verti and blind MD Resto fixings. The awning cover consists of MD Flack anodised aluminium plates.