Flour Factory
The Flour Factory (Meelfabriek) in Katendrecht is a key piece of Rotterdam’s industrial past. Originally used for the processing and storage of flour and grain, the complex played a vital role in supplying food to the rapidly growing urban population during the 20th century. With its raw concrete structure, steel frames, and functional design, the building is a textbook example of early modern industrial architecture.
The factory was part of the larger network of port-related industries that once dominated Katendrecht, contributing to the area's identity as a working-class harbor district. After falling into disuse, the building stood dormant for many years—until its potential was rediscovered as part of Katendrecht’s urban revitalization.
The current transformation of the Flour Factory is being led by Heijmans in collaboration with Studio Donna van Milligen Bielke, a Dutch architect known for her thoughtful approach to adaptive reuse. Her work emphasizes layering, subtle contrasts between old and new, and an architectural language that respects the building’s original character while adding new life and function.
The renovation focuses on preserving the factory’s raw, industrial aesthetics—exposed brick, concrete beams, and high ceilings—while adapting it for mixed-use programming, including creative workspaces, hospitality, and cultural functions. The project is part of a broader effort to give new meaning to Rotterdam’s industrial heritage by integrating it into the city’s contemporary cultural and social fabric.
The factory was part of the larger network of port-related industries that once dominated Katendrecht, contributing to the area's identity as a working-class harbor district. After falling into disuse, the building stood dormant for many years—until its potential was rediscovered as part of Katendrecht’s urban revitalization.
The current transformation of the Flour Factory is being led by Heijmans in collaboration with Studio Donna van Milligen Bielke, a Dutch architect known for her thoughtful approach to adaptive reuse. Her work emphasizes layering, subtle contrasts between old and new, and an architectural language that respects the building’s original character while adding new life and function.
The renovation focuses on preserving the factory’s raw, industrial aesthetics—exposed brick, concrete beams, and high ceilings—while adapting it for mixed-use programming, including creative workspaces, hospitality, and cultural functions. The project is part of a broader effort to give new meaning to Rotterdam’s industrial heritage by integrating it into the city’s contemporary cultural and social fabric.