Floating Office Rotterdam, an example of full circularity in architecture
Design for people & planet
We aim to create sustainable and healthy buildings that combine minimum impact on the environment with maximum care for the mental and physical well-being of those who use them. We achieve this through carefully considered design. It is an urgent priority for us to reduce the emissions of our projects, since buildings and their construction together account for 36% of global energy use and 39% percent of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions annually.
We chose a 3,000 m2 triangular roof for Assen Station, fitting the green character of the city.
We give architecture a second life
To make our buildings sustainable, we employ the most efficient construction methods and moderate their use of materials and energy. We build circularity into our projects – allowing materials to enjoy a second life – and even design scenarios for their future. Buildings like Jakoba Mulderhuis in Amsterdam can easily change their function further down the line, so they won’t become redundant. We think beyond a building’s current life – how can it change with the times, and how can it be dismantled and reused when the time comes?
Our in-house BREEAM and WELL specialists ensure that our buildings conform to the highest possible environmental and wellness standards. We also work with external experts and often take an experimental approach that we tailor to each project, taking account of its unique site and context.
Devoted to wellness and sustainability, our Asics EMEA HQ shares a campus with Danone HQ.
Our design for Tilburg University’s lecture hall pushes the boundaries in wooden construction.
Sustainability is about good design
A timeless design ensures that a building will enjoy a long life, which is why we design buildings that people love and want to keep using. Timelessness means that buildings are enduringly beautiful and that they are adaptable through a certain pragmatic simplicity. We take advantage of the site and use natural elements like sunlight; we choose sustainable, local, and natural materials; and we implement circularity and reuse into our designs. We never forget that complicated technological solutions could become obsolete just a few years from now. By designing beautiful buildings that are deceptively simple, non-polluting, recyclable, and – above all – enjoyable, we can contribute to a solution to the climate crisis.
In essence, architects can contribute to solving the climate crisis through inspiring and innovative designs like this.’’
NdR
Valckensteyn, the largest timber residential building in the Netherlands
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