Mecanoo restore original design vision for prominent city landmark

Employees of De Nederlandsche Bank in Amsterdam have returned to work at the institution’s headquarters building on Frederiksplein, following the competition of a five-year renovation programme designed by Tenderstream member Mecanoo. Before the upgrade, the prominent structure on Amsterdam’s Frederiksplein was functionally outdated and fell short of today’s sustainability requirements. Respecting architect Marius Duintjer’s original design, Mecanoo has fully renovated the building while enhancing its connection with the surrounding community, with a new 4800 sq m of public space set to open in March.

Marius Duintjer's original 1968 design was groundbreaking at the time for its minimalist lines, understated use of materials and transparency. Through the years, the building was altered in ways that affected its original character, such as the addition of mezzanine floors, security measures and a round tower. Architect Francine Houben restored the building’s original appearance, surrounding the ground floor entirely with glass, restoring the double-storey elevation of the old Cash Hall, and preserving the original façade composition with its characteristic brown tiles. The round tower has been removed, recreating unencumbered sightlines between the Utrechtsestraat and De Pijp. 

With a total of 67,000 sq m of floor space, the building is once again the workplace for more than 2,300 Amsterdam-based DNB employees. In addition, the building boasts a knowledge hub and experience centre for both the financial sector and the general public. The relocation of the cash operations and over 200 tonnes of gold to a newly constructed Cash Centre in Zeist have made it possible to open the ground floor and basement levels to the public.

DNB President Klaas Knot stated: ‘At DNB, we are at the very heart of society, so it is also important for us to be open and accessible. Openness helps us to do our work effectively. We work for everyone in the Netherlands on stable prices, on solid and honest financial institutions, on a reliable and stable payment system – in fact, on sustainable prosperity for all. This building is going to help us tremendously in that respect.”

Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research

Start your free trial here or email our team directly at customerservices@tenderstream.com