De Touwdraaier
De Touwdraaier ("the Rope Spinner") is a residential ensemble in Vlissingen, on the historic Touwslagerij (ropewalk) site along the canal in the Scheldekwartier. Designed by Studio RAP, its architecture and nautical detailing refer to the city's maritime heritage.
The development
The ensemble holds 47 apartments across six housing types, from compact two-room apartments to penthouses with 360-degree views; 26% are affordable homes. The mix is intended to welcome a broad range of residents and support social cohesion in the neighbourhood. At its heart is a shared courtyard garden, set above the underground parking and planted for biodiversity. Communal features include a shared living room overlooking the canal and generous outdoor galleries that encourage interaction between residents.
Ceramic rope ornaments
A defining corner of the building carries a façade of 3D-printed ceramic rope ornaments, made from circular clay. These offer a contemporary, tactile reference to Vlissingen's rope-making history, blending the site's tradition with current fabrication techniques.
Sustainability
Sustainability runs through the plan. All homes reach at least an A+++ energy label, using heat pumps, solar panels, and aquifer thermal energy storage. Circular and biobased materials, including hemp insulation and recycled brick, contribute to a 97% material reuse rate. Rainwater is captured and reused for irrigation, reducing water use by more than 50%.
The development
The ensemble holds 47 apartments across six housing types, from compact two-room apartments to penthouses with 360-degree views; 26% are affordable homes. The mix is intended to welcome a broad range of residents and support social cohesion in the neighbourhood. At its heart is a shared courtyard garden, set above the underground parking and planted for biodiversity. Communal features include a shared living room overlooking the canal and generous outdoor galleries that encourage interaction between residents.
Ceramic rope ornaments
A defining corner of the building carries a façade of 3D-printed ceramic rope ornaments, made from circular clay. These offer a contemporary, tactile reference to Vlissingen's rope-making history, blending the site's tradition with current fabrication techniques.
Sustainability
Sustainability runs through the plan. All homes reach at least an A+++ energy label, using heat pumps, solar panels, and aquifer thermal energy storage. Circular and biobased materials, including hemp insulation and recycled brick, contribute to a 97% material reuse rate. Rainwater is captured and reused for irrigation, reducing water use by more than 50%.
About Studio RAP
Studio RAP is a Rotterdam-based team of architects that combines architecture with in-house manufacturing and craftsmanship, bringing bespoke detail back into architectural design. De Touwdraaier is one expression of that approach.
Location: Vlissingen (NL)
Developer: FULLHOUSE
Architect: Studio RAP
Architecture, urban & landscape design: ECHO Urban Design
Structural architecture: Klunder Architecten Consultants: Van Rossum, DGM, SkaaL, Alba Concepts, GEP Water
Studio RAP is a Rotterdam-based team of architects that combines architecture with in-house manufacturing and craftsmanship, bringing bespoke detail back into architectural design. De Touwdraaier is one expression of that approach.
Location: Vlissingen (NL)
Developer: FULLHOUSE
Architect: Studio RAP
Architecture, urban & landscape design: ECHO Urban Design
Structural architecture: Klunder Architecten Consultants: Van Rossum, DGM, SkaaL, Alba Concepts, GEP Water
