Home cooking: New food market combines retail and housing

The Markthal Rotterdam, in the city’s Laurens quarter, comprises open air fresh food markets, food shops, supermarkets and restaurants on the lower levels, while above there are 102 apartments for rent and another 126 for sale.

The structure, designed by architecture studio MVRDV, is formed from a large arch, the interior of which is covered by a large digital print by local artists Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam. The artwork, created using Pixar Animation software, depicts photographic 3D images of fresh fruit, fish, bread and flowers. The centre of the artwork is left bare, allowing animated projections correlating to the different seasons to be displayed throughout the year.

The front and back sides of the structure are covered in a flexible suspended glass façade, allowing in enough natural light to comply with strict Dutch laws.

Other brands are also combining food and drink with unexpected sectors. Read how food and fashion were mixed together to promote a Swiss food hall.