# Inside-Out Apartments The Schiecentrale 4B Tower Boasts Protruding Closets on the Outside By Meghan Young | Published 2013-11-08 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/schiecentrale-4b-tower References: [psfk](http://www.psfk.com/2013/11/exterior-closet-building.html) & [mei-arch.nl](http://www.mei-arch.nl/meiarchitecten/meiarchitecten_release-1.7.8/MainView.html) The Schiecentrale 4B Tower is a unique complex that could be considered inside-out, in a way. Basically, it sports closets on the outside as though they were [barnacles on a boat](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dutch-barnhouse), rock or even whale. Designed by Mei Architecten en Stedenbouwers, the Schiecentrale 4B Tower is a multi-use building based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It will be home to [offices, a supermarket, gym, apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/schieblocks), and combined live-work spaces that cater to many needs. Built on a power plant turned audio-visual production center, the tower's defining feature are the ten [outer closets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/apt-drawers), which have been built out of a synthetic material with a UV-resistant coating. The Schiecentrale 4B Tower reaches 11 storeys high and is quite impressive. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.8/10 - Popularity: 16% | Activity: 1% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/architecture) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Outside-in Architecture:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Architects can explore incorporating exterior elements, such as closets, into building designs to create unique and visually appealing structures. - **Multi-use Buildings:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developers can capitalize on the trend of creating versatile spaces that cater to different needs, such as combining residential, commercial, and recreational areas within a single building. - **Synthetic Materials in Construction:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Construction companies can explore the use of synthetic materials with advanced coatings, like UV-resistant coatings, to enhance durability and design possibilities in building projects. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Architecture:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Architects can leverage the idea of outside-in architecture to create distinctive and visually striking buildings that redefine traditional design principles. - **Real Estate:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Real estate developers can capitalize on the trend of multi-use buildings to maximize space utilization and cater to the evolving needs of urban dwellers. - **Construction:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Construction companies can explore the use of synthetic materials in building projects to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and aesthetic possibilities in modern architecture. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Box-Like Innovative Apartment Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/innovative-apartment-design.md) - [Urban Skyline-View Apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/apartment-with-a-view.md) - [Cleverly Designed Micro Apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cabanon.md) - [CD-Centric Apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/apartment-nube.md) - [Multifunctional Angled Apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vertikal-nydalen.md) - [Sculptural Inverted Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-house-with-an-inverted-roof.md) - [Smartly Designed Compact Apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/compact-apartments2.md) - [Layered Office Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/schieblocks.md) - [Apartment-Inspired Drawer Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/apt-drawers.md)