In the heart of Rotterdam, an iconic building from the 1950s has found its new purpose: where the V&D department store once served generations, a pioneering establishment for working and meeting has now been created, otherwise known as the AIR Offices.
| Type of Building | Office and administration |
| Product areas | Windows Doors Facades Sliding doors Fire and smoke protection |
| Schüco Systems | AWS 114 ASS 70 FD ADS 80 FR 30 ADS 65 HD |
| Features | Refurbishment BREEAM Fire protection Smoke protection |
| Location | Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| Completion | 2023 |
| Architects | D/DOCK,WOMO Architekten |
| Specialist company | JM van Delft & zn |
| Picture credits | Copyright Maarten Noordijk |
The project is considered a prime example for adaptive reuse, combining sensitivity to heritage with contemporary architecture and the highest standards in sustainability. The original concrete structure and the striking natural stone façade have been preserved and complemented by two newly added floors, which accentuate the Rotterdam skyline. Large, floor-to-ceiling windows in recycled aluminium frames echo the design language of Kraaijvanger architecture (which, in Rotterdam, stands for the optimistic and modern reconstruction style of the 1950s and 1960s) and bridges the gap between past and present.
Reusing existing components, opting for recycled materials, highly effective insulation and lush greenery have not only earned AIR Offices BREEAM-NL Excellent, WELL Gold and WiredScore Gold certificates, but also the title of Rotterdam's first Paris-proof building. This project is setting new standards for the transformation of existing inner city buildings and shows how cultural heritage can be combined with environmental progress in an architectural sense.
