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Architecture · Roterdã, Holanda Meridional
Kubuswoningen
A group of tilted cube-shaped houses supported on pillars, designed by Piet Blom. One of them, the Kijk-Kubus, is a show-house museum and can be visited inside.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Kubuswoningen
The kubuswoningen, the cube houses, are 38 dwellings shaped like a cube tilted onto one corner and supported on a six-sided pillar. They were built between 1982 and 1984 on a walkway that crosses Blaak avenue, near the Oude Haven. The architect Piet Blom had produced a first version in Helmond, in the south of the country.
Blom's idea was to treat each house as a tree and the group as a forest, which gave the complex the nickname Blaakse Bos (Blaak forest). The space underneath the houses is left open for pedestrians, and the walkway links the centre to the old harbour area.
Inside, the houses have three levels, slanted walls and windows facing the sky and the street. The Kijk-Kubus is a furnished cube house open to visitors that shows what it's like to live with furniture that doesn't touch a straight wall.
The houses are real homes: interior visits are only possible at the Kijk-Kubus. From the outside you can walk along the walkway, look up at the cubes and photograph them with the Markthal in the background.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 20 minutes from the outside; 30 to 45 minutes including the visit to the Kijk-Kubus.
Best time
Any time of day for the walkway. The Kijk-Kubus has its own opening hours: check before you go.
How to get there
On top of Rotterdam Blaak station, next to the Markthal. From Rotterdam Centraal, take a train or metro to Blaak, or it's about a 20-minute walk.
Tip
The stairs in the Kijk-Kubus are narrow and steep; wear low-profile shoes. Take the classic photo from under the walkway, looking up at the yellow cubes.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Kubuswoningen
Can you go inside the cube houses?
Yes, at the Kijk-Kubus, a cube house converted into a house-museum. The others are private residences.
Who designed the cube houses?
The Dutch architect Piet Blom. The Roterdã complex was completed in 1984.
Is the visit suitable for people with mobility difficulties?
The Kijk-Kubus has steep, narrow stairs between floors. The exterior view and the walkway are more easily accessible.