From a department store to an office complex

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.