Rotterdam already has a fine collection of high-rise buildings, with a particular concentration at Wilhelminapier, home to some of the city’s most recognisable skyscrapers. The Sax is a quirky addition to this group, a silver-coloured building comprising two residential towers: the 180-metre, 55-storey “Havana” and 82-metre, 26-storey “Philadelphia”. These are bridged by a golden beam with six floors of residential units and a roof terrace at a height of 100 metres, accessible to all residents of The Sax. The building’s distinctive saxophone-inspired silhouette, along with the façade design that undulates as it approaches the top of the towers, illustrates the jazzy character of Rotterdam. The building blends with its surroundings, and from different angles, light falling on the façade creates a constantly changing effect, enhanced by the interplay of bay windows and undulating balconies.

The Sax aims to be a vertical residential neighbourhood, a community with shared amenities and outdoor spaces. Residents will soon be able to meet each other in several places: from shared living rooms to the communal roof terrace atop the golden beam connecting the two towers, which offers spectacular views of the adjacent Rijnhaven harbour. A transparent plinth rises nine meters high at the corners of the building to bring vibrancy to the base of the towers. While the lower floors leave space for the new trees on Antoine Platekade, further up the façade, the balconies become increasingly deep and incorporate bay windows, allowing residents to enjoy the beautiful views and to step outside their homes to socialise with the neighbours. Starting at the level of the golden beam, the balconies of the taller tower appear to undulate, giving the tower a swinging rhythm and creating a variety of balcony sizes.