De Zwarte Hond designs an office building and training facilities with an all-timber construction to create a circular, climate-adaptive, and nature-inclusive environment with high flexibility, scalability, and modularity.
The new regional offices, designed on the Noordzeeweg, in Amsterdam Westport, are circular and flexible, with a timber construction. The ensemble consists of an office building, workshops, warehouses, test facilities, educational, and parking buildings (total of 21,000m²) for 700 employees.
Sustainable materials such as wood were used as much as possible, and harmful substances like glue, PU foam or sealant were kept to a minimum. Thanks to its detachable structural set-up, the parking building can grow or shrink. The facades are made of weather-resistant Corten steel, rendering the regional office resilient for the future.
The buildings and interspaces are positioned with rhythmic alternations on the plot, with the office building as a height accent. Work buildings and storage areas have been designed with the same care as the office building.
Inside the office building, a large atrium and wooden central staircases create an environment that encourages meetings and interactions. A unique ‘wandering staircase’ connects each floor in a different place, providing an exciting and adventurous route through the office.
The building is an example of sustainability: It is gas-free and energy-neutral with 3.435m² of solar panels and thermal energy storage. Since the construction is made of timber, 560 tonnes of CO² have been stored. Additionally, much attention was paid to cost reduction and the reuse of materials, contributing to a circular economy. Rich planting around and on the buildings (30% of the facade is green) provides a habitat for insects, birds, amphibians, and small mammals. Rainwater is stored locally on-site and is used for watering plants.
Photo credit: Scagliola Brakkee, Jacques Tillma
Source: V2com
Redefining The Workplace Experience
Figurr Architects Collective’s new head office design redefines workplaces for two innovative companies: Caivan and its subsidiary organization, the Advanced Building Innovation Company (ABIC). The design blends modern
A Landmark Development in a Historic Location
With the creation of the ‘Neuer Kanzlerplatz’ office district, Bonn now has an office complex in an attractive location that is equipped for the future. At the same time, the project has solved urban planning problems for the
A Unique Identity
Due to prevailing rules governing built-up areas, this project required a vertical tower since the ratio of built-up area permissible is 9 times the plot area. The vertical circulation core is planned on the southern side to mitigate heat gain and
A Social, Meaningful & Healthy Work Environment
The highly sustainable campus Eclipse is designed to foster an inspirational work environment. The 60-metre-high building offers approx. 27,000 m2 of light-flooded, contemporary office space with approx. 1,200 workplaces
The Misfit
Misfit]fit is a new six-storey, 32,000 sqft office building situated on a small vacant site in Toronto’s Liberty Village. The building’s program is comprised of four floors of flexible office space, retail at grade, and a rooftop sculpture garden
Reinforcing Sense of Community
Designed by ikon.5 architects, the L. Gale Lemerand Student Center transforms the Daytona State College campus. The 74,000-sqft L. Gale Lemerand student center at Daytona State College establishes an iconic presence to the campus along
Speaking A Personal Language
This 2400 sqft home in Southeast Bangalore, with parameters that go well beyond the physical and contextual realm, is a repository of memories and experiences, representing the ethos and cultural background of the family. The house evolved
Maximizing Efficiencies and Occupants’ Comfort
Xi’an, one of China’s largest inland cities, and the country’s ancient capital and historic eastern gateway of the Silk Road, has become a major hub for new technologies that include semiconductor manufacturing, robotics, aerospace
From Blueprint to Greenprint: Devising Renewable Energy in Residential Architecture
While responsible design principles remain the foundation of a sustainable building, embracing innovative strategies and harnessing the most effective tools during construction is just as essential in achieving the long-term