Apollolaan 171 Amsterdam, The Netherlands office property, OMA Dutch commercial architecture photos
Apollolaan 171, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
13 December 2023
Design: OMA
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Photos by Ossip van Duivenbode
Apollolaan 171 office building in The Netherlands
Apollolaan 171 – Amsterdam’s latest high-end office building – has opened for business. Designed by OMA / David Gianotten on behalf of Kroonenberg Groep, the office architecture is defined by transparency and tactility, and responds to Berlage’s architecture from the early twentieth century in the neighborhood.
Lesley Bamberger, CEO Kroonenberg Groep: “At this prominent location on Apollolaan, we have together created a beautiful office building that makes a significant impact on the entire neighborhood. The design is tailored to its surroundings and provides a very natural integration. We take pride in this wonderful addition to the city.”
David Gianotten, OMA Managing Partner – Architect: “Around Apollolaan 171 is a mix of boutique office buildings, housing, and luxury hotels. Our core intention is to connect the new architecture with the lively neighborhood through form and materiality, in contrast to the original JP Morgan building that was more isolated due to the bank’s security needs.
In our design, the interlocking glass volumes along Apollolaan 171 give the building an inviting character, while the brick façade facing the residential Titiaanstraat evokes the historical architecture of Berlage.”
The Apollolaan is a prominent green avenue in the south of Amsterdam – a mixed-use neighbourhood characterized by historical city villas and modern buildings that accommodate housing and offices. The Hilton Hotel designed by the Dutch modernist architect H.A. Maaskant is an icon in the area. In the 1980s, the JP Morgan building with a largely opaque façade was constructed at a corner site along the Apollolaan.
It followed the competition-winning design by Wim Quist – which beat other entries including that of OMA. As the building transformed from JP Morgan’s workspace into rental offices in the subsequent years, the original design could no longer meet the new functional needs. Apollolaan 171 has been developed as a contemporary office that offers a more open work environment, integrated with the surroundings.
The form of the new five-story building is a literal translation of the original JP Morgan bank’s envelope. Contrasting materiality gives the architecture a dual character. One side of Apollolaan 171 is defined by glass volumes organized with reference to 3D Japanese jigsaw puzzle.
The volumes have been dimensioned to match the scale of the nearby buildings, while the glass brings in abundant light and extends the Apollolaan’s greenery into the office interior. The primary finish material for the lobby and the main circulation core is green marble – in sync with the lush vegetation along the Apollolaan. On the side of the Titiaanstraat, the building is cascaded and cladded with interwoven custom-designed bricks, evoking the historical housing in the area through scale, color, and tactility. The building’s form has resulted in multiple terraces, including a roof garden for use by the tenants.
Apollolaan 171 sits on the preserved basement of the old JP Morgan building, reusing the original foundation to minimize waste. Sustainability has been a focal point throughout the entire project: the design meets Amsterdam’s ambitious sustainability goals and is integrated with the surroundings marked by greenery. Features such as triple-glazed windows, green roofs with rainwater retention systems, solar panels that generate power for electric vehicle charging stations, and a state-of-the-art climate control system have been incorporated.
Next to Apollolaan 171’s entrance is the sculpture “Hendrik Petrus Berlage, 2023” by artist Xavier Veilhans – which captures the influence of Berlage on the south of Amsterdam and Apollolaan 171. The work – a bronze bust with its posture inspired by the photographs of Berlage – not only evokes the presence of architects but also gives them a tangible form.
Along the driveway leading to the parking garage, Tracey Emin’s “The more of you the more I love you” – the flamingo pink neon sign once displayed on JP Morgan bank’s opaque exterior wall – has been reinstalled. The artwork is visible to the public through the new glass facade of the building.
Apollolaan 171 has created 6,600 square meters of office space offered for partial leasing. Currently, advanced stage discussions with multiple parties interested in leasing the space are taking place.
The construction of the building was led by JP van Eesteren, with the project management overseen by vb&t Pprojectmanagement. Cie Architecten was responsible for the technical and executive design, in collaboration with OMA.
OMA’s design team was led by David Gianotten and Project Architects Vincent Kersten and Michael den Otter.
Apollolaan 171, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Building Information
Architects: OMA – https://www.oma.com/
Year: 2021
Photography by Ossip van Duivenbode
Apollolaan 171, Amsterdam, The Netherlands images / information received 131223
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, The Netherlands, western Europe
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