An intruder becomes a pleasant neighbour. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
08/06/2021.
[Amsterdam] The Netherlands
metalocus, MARÍA ONSINA
metalocus, MARÍA ONSINA
The De Walvis office building in Bickerseiland, a neighborhood in the center of Amsterdam, has been refurbished by KAAN Architecten to give it a more modern, industrial look in keeping with the progression and growth of the neighborhood in which it stands, full of companies in the high-tech, advertising and media sectors.
The work on the original building, part of Amsterdam's urban development project of the early 1960s, has transformed its appearance into an elegant and sophisticated sculptural form.
The work on the original building, part of Amsterdam's urban development project of the early 1960s, has transformed its appearance into an elegant and sophisticated sculptural form.
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Dominique Panhuysen
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Dominique Panhuysen
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Dominique Panhuysen
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Dominique Panhuysen
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Dominique Panhuysen
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Dominique Panhuysen
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
De Walvis by KAAN Architecten. Photograph by Sebastian van Damme
Site plan. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Level 0 plan. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Level 1 plan. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Level 2 plan. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Level 7 plan. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Level 8 plan. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Level 9 plan. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Section A-A. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Section B-B. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Facade north. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Facade east. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Facade section detail. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Void edge detail. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Transformation schemes. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Process of renovation schemes. De Walvis by KAAN Architecten
Inspired by the work of artist Donald Judd, KAAN Architecten has, through visual effects, separated the floors of De Walvis, giving a horizontal emphasis to the exterior of the building that contrasts the interior openings and the fluidity of the program for possible future modifications.
KAAN Architecten's refurbished building, De Walvis, still stands out in its surroundings today with its clean lines and envelope. In addition, the regeneration of the building has received the BREEAM Excellent certificate, a rating system that assesses sustainability and minimal environmental impact.
KAAN Architecten's refurbished building, De Walvis, still stands out in its surroundings today with its clean lines and envelope. In addition, the regeneration of the building has received the BREEAM Excellent certificate, a rating system that assesses sustainability and minimal environmental impact.
Description of project by KAAN Architecten
In historical Amsterdam, the office building De Walvis on Bickerseiland has been stripped down to its bones and completely revitalised by KAAN Architecten. The client Maarsen Groep requested a "hip and industrial feel" that would leave everyone in awe and fit with their envisaged future tenants from the advertising, media, and tech sector. Confident interventions in the structure have resulted in a sleek and elegant sculptural form.
De Walvis is a building with a history. It was part of Amsterdam's urbanisation project of the early 1960s, forced upon local residents despite their protests. Property developer F.H. Gaus announced that Bickerseiland would become a Little Manhattan. Ultimately, this became a turning point in municipal planning policies, shifting from upscaling to community-based building. The current architectural manifestation has turned the building from an intruder into a pleasant neighbour.
With circa 10,000 sqm gross floor area, De Walvis is a typical office building of the rationalist style that emerged in the 1950s-60s. It was designed by architect W.F. Lugthart (1921-1999), known mostly for his Diaconessenziekenhuis in Eindhoven, the first Dutch hospital built by 'stacking floors'. The neighbourhood did not consider De Walvis – ‘The Whale’ in Dutch, named after the old shipyard nearby – an improvement architecturally and sooner saw it as a threat to their community.
Inspired by the work of artist Donald Judd and drawing on their earlier work, KAAN Architecten has optically separated the floors of De Walvis. However, this strong horizontal emphasis is flexible on the interior since some openings have been left in the floors to potentially link them in the future. The floors now extend about a metre beyond the original building and consist of solid-looking dark bands that are actually light, hollow metal constructions.
Recessed bands of triple glazing further optimise the effect of 'floating' floors on each storey – the windows seem to go from floor to ceiling and have almost invisible vertical rebates. To avoid a sense of fragility, portholes have been incorporated into the glazing in a tight rhythm, at eye-level per floor, and all easily opened. These round pivot windows could be seen as a reference to the area's maritime history, though they also recall the pivot windows of the old building.
The load-bearing structure of De Walvis dictated a rather meagre 3 metres per storey, which meant that the necessary technical facilities could not be hidden away in the floors and ceilings. By keeping each storey as open as possible, the building appears much lighter than before – and the big windows, the views over the neighbourhood and the daylight pouring in help to achieve this lightness. This effect is heightened at night when the interior lights are on. Light, space and sightlines – these were the seeds of the early design, alongside functional clarity and elegant facades.
Additional design decisions that radically impact the sense of spatiality include setting back the ground floor lobby, richly clad in marble and appearing to detach the building from its footing, and removing entirely the heavy entablature that previously pressed down on De Walvis, giving the building plumpness.
De Walvis is still a prominent building in its surroundings, though the high-density housing on the other side of Westerdok puts this into perspective. KAAN Architecten has introduced clear lines into the building: with the load-bearing columns mostly hidden within the envelope, the protruding floors are its most expressive facet. This horizontality is the soul of the structure.
The building's regeneration has been awarded the BREEAM Excellent certificate, an internationally recognised points-based rating system that scores the sustainability and minimal environmental impact of a building.
More information
Architects
KAAN Architecten.- Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen, Dikkie Scipio.
Project team
Rita Alessio, Andreas Alevras, Sebastiaan Buitenhuis, Timo Cardol, Alice Colombo, Paolo Faleschini, Michael Geensen, Joost Harteveld, Nicki van Loon, Hana Mohar, Jennifer Nam, Laura Ospina, Katarzyna Seweryn, Christian Sluijmer, Joeri Spijkers, Aldo Trim, Ziwei Zhu.
Collaborators
Structural engineer.- Pieters Bouwtechniek, Amsterdam. Technical installations advisor, supervision installations.- Huygen Installatie adviseurs, Utrecht. Mechanical and plumbing installations engineer.- Klimaatservice Holland, Hardinxveld. Electrical installations engineer.- Van den Pol Elektrotechniek, Amersfoort. Building physics, fire safety and acoustics advisor.- DGMR, Arnhem. Building costs advisor.- Skaal, Amsterdam. BREEAM advisor.- DGMR, Arnhem. Sustainability advisor.- Laneco, Ede.
Client
Maarsen Groep, Amsterdam.
Builder
General contractor.- Dura Vermeer Onderhoud en Renovatie Midden West, Utrecht. Construction manager.- Aronsohn Raadgevende Ingenieurs, Eindhoven.
Area
10,400 sqm.
Dates
Design phase.- 2017 - January 2019. Construction phase.- March 2019 - July 2020.
Location
Grote Bickersstraat 74-76, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Photography
Sebastian van Damme. Dominique Panhuysen.
Kees Kaan. KAAN Architecten
KAAN Architecten is a Rotterdam based architectural firm operating in a global context and merging practical and academic expertise within the fields of architecture, urbanism and research on the built environment. The studio, led by Kees Kaan, Vincent Panhuysen and Dikkie Scipio, consists of an international team of architects, landscape architects, urban planners, engineers and graphic designers. KAAN Architecten believes in cross-pollination between projects and disciplines as an essential tool to fostering a critical debate within the studio.
Since the launch of the firm, KAAN Architecten has handled and supervised a wide range of projects, actively working with the private and the public sector, with project teams that become increasingly multidisciplinary and dynamic. KAAN Architecten maintains a culture of constant evolution, which is essential in a profession that changes at a rapid pace. KAAN Architecten seeks to uphold long-term relationships with its clients, consultants and partners.
KAAN Architecten’s projects transcend the traditional notion of scale and typology, ranging from furniture and interiors to urban development and from retail and offices to museums and buildings for health and education.
Selection of completed projects:
2017, B30 – Bezuidenhoutseweg 30, The Hague (NL)!
2016, De Bank – new KAAN Architecten’s office, Rotterdam (NL)
2016, Supreme Court of the Netherlands, The Hague (NL)!
2015, Provinciehuis of North-Brabant, ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NL)
2013, Dreamhouse, Rotterdam (NL)!
2013, Education Center Erasmus MC, Rotterdam (NL)!
2010, District Water Board Brabantse Delta, Breda (NL)
!2008, Crematorium Heimolen, Sint Niklaas (BE)!
2004, Netherlands Forensic Institute, The Hague
KAAN Architecten ©Casper Rila
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