Cube Houses, Rotterdam

One of the most strange sight in Rotterdam is row of Cubic houses on concrete columns. These unconventional looking cube houses near the city centre were designed by architect Piet Blom in the 1980s. The columns are hollow and act as storage space. The cubes are interconnected by common passageway. There are 38 small cube houses and two community centres in larger cubes known as 'super-cubes'.

Each house with an area of about 100 square metres, has three floors, living room and kitchen on first floor, two bed rooms and bath on second and terrace on topmost floor which is sometimes used as a garden. There has been some criticism also about waste of about 25% space because of angled walls.

Because of strange shapes the residents were frequently disturbed by tourists till one enterprising owner converted a house in a fully furnished "show cube" and is reportedly making money by offering tours to visitors.

Image from Panoramio is by Pasjoesja

Image from Panoramio is by RuiFarinha

Here is inside view of the "show cube"

Image from Panoramio is by Diego Compán Vázquez

The aerial view is equally fantastic.

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More info:  Official Website