Market Hall in Rotterdam, Netherlands

© Tetra Images/Offset

Market Hall in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Modern urban development spawned the concept of mixing retail, office, and residential uses. The Rotterdam-based architectural firm MVRDV decided to go wild with the idea, and built the Market Hall (Markthal in Dutch) in Rotterdam. The horseshoe-shaped arch contains apartments and offices, while the space under the arch houses a multi-level shopping centre. The walls and ceiling of the open arch host a huge mural depicting fruit, flowers, and even insects. At night, the mural is lit up, as seen in this photo, luring locals and visitors alike to the buzzing commerce within.