The Old Harbor with architect Piet Blom's 'Blaaktoren', nicknamed 'Het Potlood' (The Pencil) and 'Witte Huis' (White House), one of the few buildings which survived the war. The center of Rotterdam was razed to the ground by German bombs on May 14, 1940. Tragic though the air raid was, it provided modern architects with a rare opportunity to realize their daring designs.

Piet Blom's 'Cube Houses' and 'Blaaktoren', nicknamed 'Het Potlood' (The Pencil). The center of Rotterdam was razed to the ground by German bombs on May 14, 1940. Tragic though the air raid was, it provided modern architects with a rare opportunity to realize their daring designs.

Piet Blom's 'Cube Houses'. The center of Rotterdam was razed to the ground by German bombs on May 14, 1940. Tragic though the air raid was, it provided modern architects with a rare opportunity to realize their daring designs.

Piet Blom's 'Cube Houses'. The center of Rotterdam was razed to the ground by German bombs on May 14, 1940. Tragic though the air raid was, it provided modern architects with a rare opportunity to realize their daring designs.

Red roofs at the Hofdijk. The zigzag pattern echoes traditional Dutch architecture. The center of Rotterdam was razed to the ground by German bombs on May 14, 1940. Tragic though the air raid was, it provided modern architects with a rare opportunity to realize their daring designs.

Sun-collector houses. The center of Rotterdam was razed to the ground by German bombs on May 14, 1940. Tragic though the air raid was, it provided modern architects with a rare opportunity to realize their daring designs.

Piet Blom's 'Cube Houses'. The center of Rotterdam was razed to the ground by German bombs on May 14, 1940. Tragic though the air raid was, it provided modern architects with a rare opportunity to realize their daring designs.

The interior of one of Piet Blom's 'Cube Houses'. The center of Rotterdam was razed to the ground by German bombs on May 14, 1940. Tragic though the air raid was, it provided modern architects with a rare opportunity to realize their daring designs.

Nature - 2nd prize