Liander Westpoort
Architect: De Zwarte Hond
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Type: Office
Year: 2023
Photographs: Scagliola Brakkee
Inauguration of Liander Westpoort
Alliander is now housed in their new sustainable premisses. The new regional offices on the Noordzeeweg in Amsterdam Westpoort, designed by De Zwarte Hond, are circular and flexible with a timber construction. The ensemble consists of an office building, workshops, warehouses, test facilities, an educational- and parking building (total 21.000 sqm), for 700 employees.
Sustainable regional office with a wooden construction
The following description is courtesy of the architects. Together with client Alliander, IMd, Copper8 and DGMR, De Zwarte Hond formulated the sustainability ambitions resulting in high flexibility, scalability and modularity. Sustainable materials, such as wood, were used as much as possible. And harmful substances like glue, PU foam or sealant were used as little as possible.
The office building and training facilities have an all-timber construction, designed to be flexible and create a healthy working environment. Thanks to its detachable structural set-up the parking building can grow or shrink. The facades are made of weather-resistant Corten steel. This makes the regional office resilient for the future.
Industrial architecture
The buildings and interspaces are positioned with rhythmic alternations on the plot like a barcode, with the office building as a height accent, visible from the A5. All parts of the programme got equal attention. Work buildings and storage areas have been designed with the same care as the office building and together they form a robust ensemble. It evokes memories of industrial architecture’s peak moments.
Stairs encourage meetings and interactions
Inside the office building, its interior with a large atrium and wooden central staircases creates an environment that encourages meetings and interactions. A unique ‘wandering staircase’ connects each floor in a different place and provides an exciting route through the office.
Example of sustainability
The building is an example of sustainability. It is gas-free and energy-neutral thanks to 3.435 sqm of solar panels and thermal energy storage. Since the construction is made of timber, 560 tonnes of CO2 have been stored. In addition, much attention was paid to cost reduction and the reuse of materials, contributing to a circular economy.
Biodiverse and nature-inclusive
A biodiverse landscape plan is inviting to people and animals. Rich planting around and on the buildings (30% of the facade is green) provides a habitat for insects, birds, amphibians and small mammals. Rainwater is stored locally on-site and used for watering plants.
A circular, climate-adaptive and nature-inclusive environment
Alliander consciously opted for sustainability and transparency and, with this regional office, is contributing to a circular, climate-adaptive and nature-inclusive environment. Three Alliander companies will be located here from the end of May 2023: grid operator Liander, technical specialist Qirion and provider of integrated energy solutions Kenter. Alliander’s Westpoort regional office was designed by De Zwarte Hond together with IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs, DGMR, De Urbanisten, COAREinterieur and Copper8, among others, and built by Dura Vermeer.
