Interviews with inhabitants of the Cooltower
The rooftop garden opened this spring with a big celebration. It’s wonderful to meet up with your neighbors in the green oasis within the city. The garden is 120 meters long, providing either a shady spot or a sun-drenched corner—something for everyone at any time of day. Of course, the plants still need to grow, and two more buildings are being constructed nearby, but at nearly 2000 square meters, the garden is large enough to be a city oasis for the Cooltoren residents.
Joke, living on the 10th floor with her husband, is part of the garden committee. She speaks enthusiastically about their new three-room apartment. They are thrilled to live in the city again with all its hustle and bustle. Their view faces northeast, with the Leuvehaven spreading before them like a valley. There are only two spots where you can briefly see cars passing. It’s a beautiful contrast: on one side, the tranquil panorama from their apartment, and on the other, the lively city when you step outside. Joke and her husband have purchased almost all-new furniture for their home. The TV stands on elegant legs in front of the window, turning the view into an evening ‘Fernsehen’ (television). The apartment functions perfectly, even when the grandchildren are over. Joke is sometimes asked by other residents for interior design advice. Every time she returns home, she feels even more grateful for their apartment. The windows do need cleaning more often than in a regular house, but the view must be kept as majestic as only a high-rise can offer.
The concierges in the foyer are the icing on the cake of comfort. They add an extra sense of coming home and security. One of the men is retired and spends a few hours a day in the lobby. Soon, a beautiful reception desk will be installed between the columns. The hall is spacious and filled with natural light, making it a pleasant place to be. It’s busy during the day, and there’s always something happening, ensuring plenty of social interaction. Some encounters even led to the creation of the ‘clean-up crew.’ On Saturday mornings, more than ten tower residents gather to clean the sidewalks around the tower. It almost feels like a village. In the countryside, they call this ‘noaberschap’ (neighborliness); it’s time to come up with a Rotterdam version.
We visit a double apartment in the middle section of the tower, located on the north side. Elly and Bert, the residents, chose this location specifically, as they prefer less direct sunlight and find the view more enjoyable when illuminated by indirect light. On the balcony, however, there’s always sun—first on the east side from sunrise, and by noon, the west-facing side also catches the sun, lasting until sunset. At 70 meters high, there’s no other high-rise blocking the view. In the distance, the Euromast towers in the pink evening light.
Bert is rightly proud of the interior. A lot of attention was given to the furniture, but especially to the quality of the built-in cabinets. There is a long ‘service corridor’ lined with functional closets, all made from real wood. The northeast corner houses the living room, while the northwest corner is the spacious bedroom with an oval bathtub in the corner, offering a stunning view—like the penthouses in New York overlooking Central Park in interior design magazines. This apartment offers a 370-degree view because the balconies wrap around the entire floor.
At this height, it can get quite windy on the balconies. You have to be cautious when buying outdoor furniture—a few extra kilos won’t hurt. The 75-square-meter balconies serve their purpose: an extension of the apartment, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing access. It’s like having a giant veranda 70 meters above the ground.
On one of the top floors, the views are naturally breathtaking. Floor-to-ceiling windows maximize this. Even though he’s not always there, Erwin enjoys it, too. The glass railings on the many balconies enhance the effect. Erwin owns an entire floor, using half as his home and the other half as his workspace. The upper levels of the tower have a sleek steel structure along the façade, creating a spectacular play of light that changes from hour to hour. The apartment is enormous, yet the view always keeps you grounded in the present moment. Various app groups have formed in the Cooltoren. The residents know how to find each other, forming a community while maintaining their privacy. On average, the residents rate living in the Cooltoren as a solid 8. We hope they’ll stay for a long time, creating a stable and secure living environment while taking care of their beloved Cooltoren.
