Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
Punkt Architecture is giving Van Mossel's Volvo branch in Amsterdam-Zuidoost a solid quality boost. The high-profile location along the A2 motorway will be transformed into a bright, warm and inviting showroom that fully embraces the latest Volvo brand identity. The design comes from Punkt Architecture, which has meanwhile developed into one of the established partners for automotive architecture within Europe.
“Our core business is automotive,” says director Wilco van Engelenburg. “We have now done about a hundred projects for Van Mossel. That collaboration has been going on for years, so we know exactly what works.” With a team of fifteen colleagues, the agency works daily on multiple projects simultaneously, from new construction to complex renovations.
Punkt Architecture is known for designs that are right from the first step across the threshold. Van Engelenburg: “With us, you always see a logical routing, lots of space and a practical layout. A building has to work pleasantly for everyone who walks around in it.” The Volvo location in Amsterdam-Zuidoost required a thorough approach. “Little had been done to it for decades. Then you can't half renew it. The facade, the technical shell and the climate: everything goes with it.”
The new design exudes the Scandinavian Volvo signature. Think warm wood accents, calm earth tones and generous daylight. The facade will have a semi-transparent milky glass effect that immediately attracts the attention of motorists on the A2. “The aim is to make you wonder, ‘what's going on in there?’ And then when you've taken the exit, you immediately experience the peace and warmth that comes with Volvo.”
The showroom will remain open during the renovation, which requires tight coordination between all parties. “The time frame is sharp, because everything is taking place within six months,” says Van Engelenburg. “That requires focus. You have to get ahead of problems, shift gears quickly and keep each other on their toes.” The cars, of course, remain the key players. “Volvo has a very well thought-out showroom concept. Every car gets exactly the same attention. We make sure that the building supports that set-up optimally.”
For Punkt Architecture, this project is more than just another remodel. “This is our first full Volvo project,” says Van Engelenburg. “We recently did our first Mercedes project, next year our first Kia, and we are currently working on buildings for new fast-growing brands. These new challenges make the profession incredibly fun. The market changes quickly, and we move with it.”
That clout, according to Van Engelenburg, comes in part from the permanent team of partners Punkt Architecture has worked with on Van Mossel projects for years. “As a result, we can handle many projects at once. We are fast, clear and we all really love this work.”
