Cube House, Modernist residential complex in Oude Haven, Netherlands
Cube House is a museum in Rotterdam, Netherlands, located inside one of the tilted residential cubes and showing visitors how life works in these unusual spaces. The building is part of a cluster of 38 small and two large cubes that stand on pylons above Blaak metro station, notable for their walls tilted at 54.7 degrees.
Architect Piet Blom developed the concept of cube houses starting in 1972 for Helmond, before receiving the commission for Rotterdam in 1977. Construction in the harbor district began in 1982 and was completed in 1984, after the city urgently needed new housing following the 1940 bombings.
These tilted homes are known locally as Kubuswoningen and stand as a response to the question of how to live densely in a city center. The forest metaphor, with each cube as a tree, still shapes the identity of the area and residents see the cluster as a symbol of shared living.
The museum is accessed via a narrow staircase and displays furniture adapted to the slanted walls, along with rooms where ceiling height can be quite low. Visitors should be aware that the tight steps and unusual layout require some care when moving around.
About a quarter of the living space in each cube is unusable due to the slanted ceilings, which pushes residents to find creative solutions for storage and furniture placement. Some use the top points of the cubes as small indoor gardens or extra work areas.
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