mei architects and planners completes coolsingel mcdonald's in rotterdam

mei architects and planners completes coolsingel mcdonald’s in rotterdam
all images courtesy of jeroen musch

the ‘coolsingel mcdonald’s’ in rotterdam, the netherlands is a revitalization of what had once been voted the ugliest structure in the city. obviously, the accolade was unwanted for both mcdonald’s and locals, which resulted in a refreshed designed being commissioned to firm mei architects and planners.

front façade 

the building is located amongst a range of historical buildings. in order to maximize exposure to the various sites, mei carefully articulated the building volume. as a result, it has a compact form with  glazed façades 360 degrees around. the ‘coolsingel mcdonald’s’ has a fully transparent lobby — entrances on three sides — and both indoor (2nd floor) and outdoor seating areas.

entrances are located on three sides of the glass form 

gold anodized aluminum is used heavily throughout, chosen in part because its long-endurance and vandal-proof qualities. since mcdonald’s is a 24 hour restaurant in rotterdam, after-dark appearance was just as considered as daytime. at night, the building glows, with light pouring out of an outer screen perforated with heart-shaped openings. kitchen and service counter are located on the ground level, and a single steel spiral staircase leads upwards to the indoor dining area.

wall with crowd photo taken along coolsingel 

nighttime illumination 

interior 

furniture elements 

glazed façades emphasize views of surrounding historical buildings 

staircase detail 

surrounding area 
image by frank hanswijk

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edited by: nick brink | designboom