Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
'Amazingly sustainable for the time'
In the fall of 2020, the tenant moved out of office building Forum, which was designed by Atelier PRO more than 20 years ago. The distinctive building, even then progressive in terms of sustainability, was fully adapted to current requirements and expanded with additional office space.
It was special for Atelier PRO to now revitalize the building she designed 20 years ago. In doing so, she was positively surprised by the result. The characteristic building turned out to be extremely sustainable - even by today's standards. "That said, it was quite a puzzle to fulfill the wishes," says architect Hans Kalkhoven of Atelier PRO. "Could we expand by adding additional floors on the two office wings? Were the foundations sufficiently load-bearing for this? Could the storey floors enter more of the atrium? In other words, could we gain additional surface area at the expense of the atrium?"
Research showed that the foundation was strong enough for one additional storey on both office wings. The copper-clad pavilion on the north side of the atrium was dismantled, expanded and given a new facade. The heart-shaped pavilion at the front, with its entrance, was recognizably integrated into the new building that was extended slightly forward. "The total of these interventions provided over 10,000 additional square feet," Kalkhoven says. "We gave the atrium a new look and furnished it as a central space with all kinds of amenities."
The systems were renewed and adapted to the times. Heating and cooling were already regulated with the then highly innovative heat/cold storage technology. "For that time, the heat and cooling technology was excellently exploited," Kalkhoven believes. "In the new design, we built on this. The glass-roofed atrium was retained and proved to be well suited for adequate daylight on the office floors adjacent to the atrium. The wooden window frames, natural stone and parts of the copper facades were reused. Partly because of this, the project was BREEAM 'Excellent', WELL Gold and R2S 2-star certified."
The new atrium - with modern amenities - was an architectural challenge. Atelier PRO wanted to retain something of the atmosphere of the time, but with lighter wood. They achieved this by providing the atrium walls with light oak slats with high acoustic values and as many wooden facades and window frames as possible.
The permit process for the new ideas went smoothly. "The supervisor and the Amsterdam building standards committee had high expectations of us and of the new design. The end result met these and that gave satisfaction and confidence. The coupling of old elements and new extensions comes out well. With the preservation of components that have defined the architecture of this building over the past 20 years, this building is once again a high-quality addition to the
Amsterdam South Axis."
