Amvest wanted to turn its new office into an exemplary project, reflecting its own development values. The chosen location is Krukvius, a former cargo harbor-peninsula on the east of Amsterdam's "coast", next to the Borneo-Sporenburg office of West 8. There Amvest is implementing a large new development project, and has placed its headquarters in its center.
The building itself is designed
New York bureau Rietveld Architects, but the actual office (area - 1350 m2) was decided by the local bureau Firm architects. They drew on a variety of studies showing that good interior design at work increases productivity, reduces absenteeism, and strengthens the connection between employees and the “identity” of the company. So “good design” was not a purely aesthetic exercise here.
Employees encounter this design right at the door: an elevator with an area of 20 m2 is a meeting room, fully furnished - even with houseplants. It moves very slowly so that you can admire the views through the glass walls of the mine, but this speed also forces you to use the stairs more often, which is healthier.
The eco-friendly carpet imitates concrete - in memory of the concrete factory that used to stand on this site, as the architects explain. But even without such reminiscences, it fits perfectly into the laconic interior with glass facades and shaped parts of the frame brought out into the interior. Parquet is made from recycled materials and can be reused as it is held in place by magnets and not by glue: it was specially designed for this project. Ceiling panels simultaneously cool or heat rooms and provide acoustic comfort. Indoor plants and a roof with a lawn and wi-fi, where you can work in the fresh air, are responsible for the natural part.
Height-adjustable workstations are all on the same floor so that employees have more contact with each other. The upper level is occupied by a kind of assembly hall: tables and benches for it are stored in the ceiling and descend at the touch of a button.
