Tekenpunt / Projects / Wall opening Rotterdam
Completed project · Wall opening PLAN N°PRJ-RTM-DB-2025 / SCALE 1:50 / 2025

Wall opening in Rotterdam

A stairwell flat in Rotterdam-Noord had the partition between kitchen and living room removed. We handled the structural calculation for the steel beam replacing the load-bearing wall. Permit-free, structural engineer approved, contractor could start immediately.

TypeWall opening
LocationRotterdam
Surface areaOpen living space
Lead timePermit-free
Year2025
ResultOpen-plan kitchen-living
§01 From sketch to completion

The complete process

01 · Challenge

Load-bearing wall between kitchen and living room

The owners of a stairwell flat in Rotterdam-Noord wanted to open up the closed kitchen to the living room. The partition wall turned out to be a load-bearing internal wall supporting the upper floor and the roof. Simply removing it was not an option: the forces had to be transferred to a steel beam spanning the full opening. This required a precise structural calculation for the bearings and the anchoring into the flanking external walls.

02 · Our approach

HEA beam calculated for all load levels

We drew the existing and new situation to scale and calculated the HEA 200 beam for bending moment, deflection and support reactions. The bearings were fixed into the load-bearing side walls with a mortar bed and steel plate. Because the intervention is entirely internal and the external shell remains untouched, no building permit was required. We delivered the drawings and structural calculation as a package for the contractor.

03 · Result

Open-plan kitchen-living room, structural engineer approved

The load-bearing wall has been replaced by a slender HEA 200 steel beam. The property now has a continuous living space from the kitchen to the garden doors. The contractor carried out the demolition work and beam installation in 1 day. No permit required, no aesthetic review. The structural engineer signed off on the calculation.

Key project details

Drafting
Existing and new situation
Permit
Permit-free (internal)
Structure
HEA 200 steel beam
Bearings
Calculated in load-bearing side walls
Lead time
Drawing + calculation 5 working days

What we delivered

  • Existing and new situation drawings at scale 1:50
  • Structural calculation HEA 200 beam (bending, deflection, supports)
  • Bearing detail with mortar bed and steel plate
  • Section with finished height and sill detail
  • Permit-exempt confirmation on drawing
  • Contractor-ready package
§03 Making a wall opening yourself?

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Last updated: June 2026 Content reviewed by the Tekenpunt team · in-house architect & KIWA-certified structural engineer