New York-based architecture firm ODA has released new renderings for Kimpton Rotterdam, a 226-key hotel occupying the upper floors of a 58,000mē adaptive reuse project in the city’s former Central Post Office.

Located in the Coolsingel district, the iconic Postkantoor building is one of the only original structures still standing after Rotterdam Blitz, the aerial bombardment that levelled nearly all of its historic core in 1940. Each design element of the hotel has been inspired by its rich history, from the colour palettes to the furniture style. Guests and the public will walk through spaces influenced by embossing on an envelope, ink dried on heavy card stock, wax seals and the intimacy of a handwritten letter.

ODA aims to maintain and enhance the post office’s original construction, which dates back to 1916 and includes the 22.5-metre-high vaulted Great Hall. The space will become the public heart of the residential, retail and hospitality complex, which will be developed by Omnam Investment Group. It will be accessed by two existing street-level entrances and be lined with shops, galleries, restaurants and cafes.

Accessible from every side, this monument will, once again, serve as a point of engagement in the city centre, a link between Rotterdam Centraal, all the way to the bustling Markthal.
The hotel is planned to open in 2023