Powerhouse Company

Powerhouse Company is based in Rotterdam, in the renovated Westerlaantoren building, which is splendidly located beside the Maas and Het Park. Exuding a business-like elegance, the office boasts views of the city on all four sides. Design, engineering, building management and service: wide-ranging areas of expertise are a hallmark of Powerhouse Company. This runs counter to today’s trend towards specialization. Before the crisis, explains Nanne de Ru (1976), architects could afford to offer just concept and design phases. They competed on expertise, not on price, since fees were standardized. But all this changed after 2000. “A sound understanding of the world of money is absolutely essential. Otherwise you haven’t a chance.” [︎︎︎ interview]