Construction has officially begun on The Sax, a striking new residential development designed by MVRDV on Rotterdam’s Wilhelminapier. The milestone was marked on 28 October 2025 with a ceremony attended by the City of Rotterdam, developers BPD and Synchroon, and Dutch Secretary-General of Housing and Spatial Planning Chris Kuijpers, along with the architecture firm.
The Sax will comprise two interconnected towers—the 180-meter “Havana” and 82-meter “Philadelphia”—joined by a golden beam containing six floors of housing and a communal roof terrace. The project will deliver 916 apartments, with 50 percent of the project as affordable rentals, alongside shared amenities, retail, and leisure spaces, establishing a vertical neighborhood within one of Rotterdam’s densest districts.
Characterized by its saxophone-inspired silhouette, The Sax features undulating façades, shimmering metallic finishes, and deep balconies that animate the skyline as light shifts throughout the day. The transparent base will enliven the street level with shops, restaurants, and a collective mobility hub accommodating 1,800 bicycles and 330 automated car spaces, the first of its kind in the Netherlands.
Rendering of The Sax, Rotterdam designed by MVRDV. Image copyright MVRDV.
Developed by BPD and Synchroon, financed by Achmea Real Estate and NLV on behalf of PME and PMT pension funds, and built by BAM Bouw en Techniek, The Sax is expected to be completed in 2030, marking the final addition to the southern edge of Wilhelminapier and a new architectural landmark for Rotterdam’s skyline.
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