A sensational new building is coming to Rotterdam: among the finalists are MVRDV, Heatherwick Studio and Mecanoo

Looking at the first renderings of Shift Landmark, planned for the southern part of Rotterdam, it’s hard to believe that any of these proposals might truly be built. The five finalists — Ecosistema Urbano, Heatherwick Studio, Mecanoo, MVRDV and Office for Political Innovation — have unveiled visions that feel almost cinematic: elevated walkways, organic geometries, waterfalls, and massive inhabitable rock formations seamlessly woven into the urban fabric. Yet few cities could provide a more fitting backdrop. Rotterdam is effectively an open-air museum of contemporary architecture, home to bold landmarks such as the Markthal and the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen by MVRDV, the iconic Cube Houses by Piet Blom, and SAWA, widely regarded as the most sustainable timber residential building in the Netherlands.

Shift Landmark will take shape in Waterkant, a new district overlooking the Nieuwe Maas that is set to undergo a profound transformation in the coming years. The waterfront masterplan — designed by Effekt, OMA and LOLA Landscape Architects — is already under development, redefining the relationship between the city and the river.

The initiative stems from a competition launched by Shift, a steward-owned company committed to advancing “living circular” — a model that reframes sustainability not as collective sacrifice, but as a more evolved and desirable way of living. As founder and CEO Don Ritzen puts it: “People don’t change because they’re told to. They change when they experience that life can genuinely be better.” The idea is to create a network of landmarks around the world capable of triggering that shift in perspective — beginning in the Netherlands. “We chose Rotterdam for the Shift Landmark, because it is a city of doers. This is a place where audacious architecture can take root.”

Spanning between 25,000 and 30,000 square meters, the complex will feature a 10,000-square-meter immersive experience dedicated to sustainability and circularity, alongside a hotel, a conference center with meeting facilities for businesses and organizations, and a food court centered on sustainable cuisine. The goal is to weave together culture, hospitality and enterprise — turning environmentally conscious choices into part of everyday life.

While still at concept stage, the shortlisted proposals already promise highly theatrical spaces — with sustainability embedded not only in their programming, but in their construction and long-term operation. Ecosistema Urbano’s proposal, titled "A Living Landmark", envisions a building enveloped in greenery, with cantilevered volumes and interconnected public spaces designed to strengthen ties between local communities and ecological systems.

Heatherwick Studio explores its signature sculptural language, imagining a porous structure whose interior is partially revealed from the outside, blurring the boundary between public and private realms. Mecanoo — long active in Rotterdam with projects such as the Montevideo Tower and the refurbishment of the World Port Centre — proposes an interplay of volumes anchored by a spherical element reminiscent of the work of Oscar Niemeyer. At ground level, the building curves upward to form a public grandstand that doubles as a sweeping roof. Office for Political Innovation takes a more conceptual approach, conceiving the building as a place where climate change is collectively perceived and interpreted. The design features a slender outer structure encasing a denser core — a traversable cross-section of a world in flux. Perhaps the boldest — and arguably the most challenging to realize — is MVRDV’s proposal. Deeply rooted in Rotterdam both culturally and professionally, the studio imagines a structure that pushes parametric architecture to its limits: carved into rock and cloaked in lush vegetation, as though it were a natural extension of the riverbanks.

The winning design will be announced in spring 2026. Whether any of these ambitious visions will ultimately be built remains to be seen. But if successful, Shift Landmark could become more than just another striking addition to Rotterdam’s skyline — it could serve as a cultural catalyst, transforming climate urgency into a tangible, lived experience, and redefining how architecture engages with sustainability.