Rotterdam's first wooden building, Sawa, is an excellent example of experimental sustainable building. Unlike concrete, which involves massive CO2 emissions, wooden structures are known to store CO2. The Fenix 1 building can also be seen as sustainable, because new homes have been built on top of an existing listed warehouse.

Any new building should have the potential to be in use for a very long time. The Groot Handelsgebouw is a good example of that approach. You will spot this famous building immediately as you leave Rotterdam Centraal station. It is not just the splendid details of the façade which make this a magnificent building; it has also been put to good use as a multi-company premises for more than 50 years. The building also provides facilities for shopping or dining thanks to the businesses which skirt its ground floor. These also stimulate an attractive streetscape.