1:300 competition model of the Water Towers: layered towers shading from burgundy to off-white on two white bases

Water Towers

Project
Water Towers
Architect
MVRDV Architects
Collaborators
Andriana Vasilatou
Location
Rotterdam, NL
Materials
Cast Acrylic, MDF wood and mixed media
Competition Model
1:300

The Water Towers competition was an opportunity to integrate key design principles central to MVRDV's architecture, including innovative concepts, smart construction methods, parametric design and model making. This complex project transitions from a commercial plinth into a semi-public square, from which six towers ascend to varying heights, reaching towards the sky. Crossed by a large canal, the towers share a cohesive aesthetic while each housing its own distinct program.

model created during a tenure at MVRDV. Ownership credited to the firm.

  • View up between the towers from the courtyard 1/4
  • Close-up of the stacked slabs curving around the turquoise water 2/4
  • Three towers rising from the plinth, burgundy at the base to off-white at the top 3/4
  • The towers and the courtyard with its water features 4/4

In a competition model, it's essential to showcase the core concepts of the proposal, highlight its key selling points and stand out from the competitors through both design and execution. For this model, we emphasized the craftsmanship of traditional model-making techniques, using high-quality materials to reflect the proposal’s elegance. We integrated parametric technology in both the design and fabrication processes, allowing us to quickly update the model and incorporate smaller details such as planters and water features, achieving an accurate representation of the proposed architecture. With the site model being at location, the focus was on the proposed building mass.

Both halves of the model side by side, divided by the canal

We accentuated the design's elegance with a gradient colour scheme. The transition from burgundy and pink at the solid, robust base floors (commercial and public) and off-white are to intentionally make a distinction between the solid, strong base floors (commercial, public) to off-white at the airy, almost sky-blending top floors (housing and private). This coherent colour palette was crucial for aligning the model with accompanying renderings, diagrams, and drawings, ensuring a unified presentation of the design and a vital chance for the team to find solutions together.

  • A first study model of the towers in yellow card 1/6
  • Study models of the towers and the plinth on cork boards 2/6
  • Spray paints lined up for the gradient colour scheme 3/6
  • Laying out the painted slabs in their gradient on the workbench 4/6
  • The painted slabs sorted by tower and floor 5/6
  • One half of the model assembled on the workbench 6/6
The top of the tower with its shifted floors