Rotterdam's 50-Metre Timber Tower Sawa Named the Netherlands' Best Building of 2026

2026-06-05 green

Rotterdam, Friday, 5 June 2026.
Built from 75% wood and recycled materials, Rotterdam’s Sawa tower just proved that sustainable high-rise housing is no longer a concept — it’s a reality.

A Unanimous Verdict at the Heart of Amsterdam

On Wednesday, 4 June 2026, jury chairperson Winnie Sorgdrager — a former Dutch Minister of Justice — stood at the podium inside the Centrale Markthal in Amsterdam and made it official: the Sawa residential building on the Lloydpier in Rotterdam had been unanimously named the BNA Beste Gebouw van het Jaar 2026 — the Best Building of the Year 2026 — the most prestigious architecture award in the Netherlands [1][2][3]. The prize is awarded annually by the Branchevereniging Nederlandse Architectenbureaus (BNA), the Dutch association of architecture firms, and is given to buildings that demonstrate proven added value for users, clients, and society at large [3][6]. Sawa was selected from a total of 79 submissions and eight nominations [8], succeeding the Nationaal Holocaustmuseum in Amsterdam, which claimed the title in 2025 [1][3].

Who Built Sawa — and Where

Sawa was designed by Rotterdam-based architectural firm Mei architects and planners, and developed jointly by NICE Developers and ERA Contour [1][2][3][4][6][7]. According to De Volkskrant, NICE Developers was founded in 2019 by architect Robert Winkel and project manager Mark Compeer, with the express ambition of realising nature-inclusive timber construction [2]. The Volkskrant further identifies NICE Developers as a sister company of Mei architects and planners [4]. Sawa is described as the first completed project for the NICE Developers and ERA Contour partnership [1][6]. The building stands on the Lloydpier in Rotterdam, a waterfront location in the Dutch port city [2][3][4].

The Numbers Behind the Structure

At 50 metres tall, Sawa is a striking presence on Rotterdam’s Lloydpier [2]. The building contains 109 apartments, combining middle-rental and owner-occupied units [2][8]. What sets it apart structurally is its material composition: 75% of the building is constructed from wood and recycled materials [1][2][3][4][6][7]. The timber load-bearing structure was assembled using a silent electric construction crane — a detail that underscores the project’s broader commitment to reducing environmental disruption during the build itself [1]. The building is also energy-neutral, with solar panels installed on the roof [1][8]. Sawa is assembled in a demountable, screwed-together construction method, reinforcing its circular credentials [8].

Biodiversity Built Into the Blueprint

Sustainability at Sawa is not limited to materials and energy. The building integrates 140 nesting boxes directly into its facades, while balustrades double as planters [1][2][4][6][7][8]. A green public square has been laid out at the front of the building, accessible to all residents of the surrounding neighborhood [1]. During the building’s development phase, the project team converted a former café in the area into an information point to actively involve local residents in the construction process — an approach that reflects the developers’ philosophy of community-embedded building [6][8]. By late May 2026, with residents already settled into their homes, communications agency De Wijde Blik visited the building and noted the transformation from architectural concept to lived-in community [5].

A Turning Point for the Dutch Construction Sector

For Sorgdrager and the jury, Sawa is far more than a well-executed building — it represents a pivotal shift in how the Netherlands must approach construction if it is to meet its climate commitments. “The jury sees the building as a serious and important experiment in timber construction and entrepreneurship, with exemplary value; a turning point in the city,” Sorgdrager stated at the award ceremony [4][6][7]. She was direct about the structural challenge facing the industry: “To meet climate targets, the construction sector must move from a linear to a circular approach, using reusable materials such as wood” [1][4][6]. The jury also highlighted the collaborative nature of the achievement: “This project shows that it is possible to build truly sustainable buildings when developer, architect and contractor each give the maximum from their role. It points the way to a future in which we learn from each other and make room for experiment and innovation” [3][6][7].

Recognition Beyond the BNA Prize

The BNA award is the latest in a series of accolades for Sawa. Prior to June 2026, the building had already won the Nationale Houtbouwprijs 2025 (National Timber Construction Prize 2025) and featured on the cover of the Jaarboek Architectuur, the annual architecture yearbook [1][2]. It also holds nominations for both the Rotterdam Architectuurprijs and the national renovation prize, the Gulden Feniks [1][2]. The building was formally opened by Queen Máxima on 18 November [alert! ‘The source states 18 November as the opening date but does not specify the year explicitly in context; based on available source information this is understood to refer to November 2025’] [3]. The developers have stated their intention to reinvest the profits from the Sawa project directly into future building projects, applying the lessons learned about sustainable timber construction [2][8].

The Other Winners: Public Prize and Honorable Mention

While Sawa claimed the jury prize, the 2026 public vote told its own story. The Publieksprijs — the People’s Choice Award — went to the new-build Schoonhovens College in Schoonhoven, a secondary school for practical education in the South Holland province [1][2][3][4][6][7][8]. The school was designed by Geurst & Schulze architecten on behalf of the municipality of Krimpenerwaard, and is constructed from yellow bricks, timber, and polished concrete [3][4]. An honorable mention from the professional jury was awarded to Station Wildeman in Amsterdam Osdorp, designed by BETA office for architecture and the city on behalf of Stichting Samenwonen-Samenleven and the municipality of Amsterdam [6][7][8]. Station Wildeman occupies a preserved Post-65 building and functions as a community platform offering homework classes, life coaching, language courses, and guidance into the ICT and sustainability sectors [7].

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