Calypso

The Calypso building is located in the center of Rotterdam on the Westersingel canal. Designed by the English architect William Alsop, it was completed in 2013. Its unique shapes and red and orange colors make it hard to miss.

The building stands 71 meters tall with 22 floors, including 407 apartments, offices, shops, and a parking area. There are 48 rental apartments, as well as short-stay and luxurious owner-occupied apartments within the building. All the rental apartments have a luxurious interior design.

The Story of Calypso

The Calypso residential building and the Pauluskerk (St. Paul’s Church) stand where the Rijnhotel, the old Calypso cinema, and the initial Pauluskerk were erected after World War II (1950-1960). This area marked the dividing line between the war-ravaged part and the untouched section of the city.

The Calypso Theater in Rotterdam opened its doors in the spring of 1969. Before it became a cinema, the building served as a youth center and a gymnasium, which later transformed into theater room 1 with 564 seats.

In 1975 and 1976, the cinema expanded with two additional screens. Theater room 2 had 313 seats, and theater room 3 had 81 seats.

Calypso was the first theater in Rotterdam to feature Dolby Stereo sound and the innovative Philips windless projection system. Since them the operator no longer needed to change the film reels.

The Calypso Theater was the inaugural participant in the Rotterdam Film Festival, established in 1972. During the festival’s inaugural year, the Calypso Theater and ‘t Venster attracted over 5,000 visitors. Since then, the festival has grown to become the Netherlands’ largest cinematic event.

The municipality of Rotterdam acquired the Calypso Theater in 1999, and the building underwent reconstruction for various celebrations surrounding Rotterdam as the European Capital of Culture in 2001. From 2004 until its demolition in 2007, the Calypso was repurposed as a leisure venue called Hyper Hyper. After the cinema closed and the Pauluskerk transformed into a refuge for the homeless and drug-addicted, demolition and new construction became the sole alternatives.

The Pauluskerk remains part of the architectural complex. This church was erected on its former grounds, featuring a steel structure and a copper-clad exterior that distinguishes it from the rest of the complex. The bell from the old church has been reinstated on the façade.

The Pauluskerk no longer provides overnight shelter for the homeless and drug-addicted, but they are welcome during the day for various activities.

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