Lijnbaan Flats

The Lijnbaan flats in Rotterdam are part of the iconic Lijnbaan project, which opened in 1953 as the world's first car-free shopping area.

Designed by the architectural firm Van den Broek and Bakema, the flats are an important part of the city's post-World War II reconstruction period. They were intended to combine modern and comfortable living with proximity to the new city center.

The Lijnbaan flats were designed with a functional style, characteristic of postwar architecture. They have flat roofs, open galleries, and large windows for plenty of light. The green interior courtyards and balconies provide a sense of space and connection to the outside world, which was new and progressive for the time.

The project was part of the larger urban plan for the center of Rotterdam, which focused on efficient use of space and the separation of functions such as living, working, and shopping.

A fun fact about the Lijnbaan flats is that when they were built, they were considered very luxurious, with amenities such as built-in bathrooms, stainless steel countertops, and even a house phone. For the time, these were modern gadgets that made these homes distinctive.