Robert Paap
Robert Paap | |
|---|---|
| File:Robert Paap .png Robert Paap | |
| Born | 26 May 1966 |
| Other names | De gouden bril |
| Occupations | Construction contractor, skyscraper developer |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Era | Vriend Era |
| Known for | Building office skyscrapers |
| Height | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) |
| Family | Paap family |
Robert Paap (born 26 May 1966) is a German-born member of the Paap family and a construction contractor based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He is also known as De gouden bril, a nickname connected to his gold-coloured glasses. Paap is the founder of Gouden Bouwgroep, a construction company mainly known for office skyscraper projects.
Early life
[edit | edit source]Robert Paap was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on 26 May 1966. His family later moved to Rotterdam, where he grew up around building sites, bicycle routes, and the high-rise areas of the city. His interest in tall buildings started during his teenage years, when he regularly visited construction areas in central Rotterdam.
On 14 September 1982, Paap broke one of his first pairs of golden glasses after falling from a bicycle near a tram stop in Rotterdam. After the incident, the glasses became one of his most recognizable features. His nickname, De gouden bril, came into common use during the 1980s.
Career
[edit | edit source]Paap started working in construction in 1988. His early work was on concrete frames, lift shafts, and steel support structures for office buildings in Rotterdam. On 4 April 1991, he became a site foreman on a mid-rise office project near the Rotterdam city centre. The project gave him his first regular work in commercial high-rise construction.
On 18 June 1997, Paap founded Gouden Bouwgroep in Rotterdam. The company began as a small contractor for office renovations and upper-floor extensions. Its first larger project was the Paaptorens office block, which started construction on 3 March 1999 and was completed in 2001.
During the 2000s, Gouden Bouwgroep moved into larger office tower projects. On 12 May 2006, Paap signed a contract for the construction of the Maaszicht Office Tower, a glass-fronted office skyscraper in Rotterdam. The building was completed in 2009 and became the company’s main reference project for later contracts.
On 7 September 2013, Paap opened a second company office near the Rotterdam business district. From there, Gouden Bouwgroep focused mostly on office skyscrapers, commercial towers, and high-rise renovation work. Paap personally remained involved in site inspections, especially on projects with glass façades and rooftop plant rooms.
On 21 February 2020, the company began work on the Brilpoort Tower, an office skyscraper designed for multiple business tenants. Paap visited the site regularly and was known for checking the upper floors himself before the building was handed over.
Personal life
[edit | edit source]Robert Paap lives in Rotterdam. He is straight and Christian. He likes bikes, wearing golden glasses, and skyscrapers. He dislikes small people, cramped spaces, low ceilings, and breaking his glasses.
Paap is 2.03 m tall.