Description

The Riva Tower is an office building in the Paleiskwartier district of Den Bosch, often hailed as the “Grand Dame” of the area. Its design gracefully bridges the northern section, home to the Palace of Justice and predominantly offices, with the southern part, where apartments dominate the skyline. Positioned directly opposite the serene stretch of water, the building becomes a striking landmark on the north side. To the north, its facade echoes the gentle curve of the Malmberg building, creating a welcoming plaza at the main entrance.

The tower’s droplet shape allows space to flow effortlessly around it, forging a natural connection between the city’s districts, with its height never imposing as a barrier. On the southern side, the structure soars to its peak, ending in a sharp point that draws the eye, accentuating its verticality along the length of the central water axis. The softly curving side walls are crafted from polished prefabricated concrete panels, featuring deep recesses and parapets that subtly fold inward. This detail amplifies the vertical rhythm of the facade. By incorporating profiles every 1.80 meters, the seams—disguised within the same rhythm—give the impression that the building is sculpted from a single, monolithic material.

At the building’s ends, dramatic two-story overhangs extend outward. These solid concrete floors are given texture underneath by visible wooden slats, lending a tactile warmth to the concrete. Above the overhangs, an aluminum curtain wall with vertical fin-like profiles rises in harmony with the building’s flowing form.The building’s signature green hue is the result of a meticulous concrete composition, enriched with pigments and enhanced by porphyry granules, which create its distinctive polished finish.