DE CONSUMENTENBOND
Status: Preliminary Design (Competition, 1st prize), ongoing
Type: Office
Size: 11.000 m2
Year: 2015
Budget: n.d.
Client: De ConsumentenBond
The De ConsumentenBond Headquarters is located on Enthovenplein 1, in Den Haag, The Netherlands. The reinforced concrete building was designed by J. de Haan (Architectenbureau Verheijen, Verkoren, De Haan BV) and it was built in 1997. The gardens and exteriors were designed by A. de Koning. The structure is articulated in two main buildings, respectively of eight and six levels, not including the base. The lower part of the structure features a double height base on the street side, identifiable by its glass facade and white concrete columns. The building offers multiple entrances from the street, the garden, and the bicycle storage located in the basement. From Enthovenplein, one accesses the main hall, reception, and core with lifts leading to the upper floors. Public transportation is easily accessible due to the building’s proximity to Hollands Spoor train station, which also provides tram and bus connections.
Exisiting situation: main lobby
The new main lobby will feature an event area
Model of the cmpetition entry, showing the entrance to the Marketing Department
Open space along the sidewalk
The design briefs given by the Client calls for the organization of an open space of about 170m2 into the New Marketing Department of De Consumenten Bond. The main quest for the XCOOP Team is to generate an open, sustainable, and beautiful space for creativity. XCOOP wants to offer an alternative concept for the working environment where participation, collaboration, and dynamic brainstorm is key to the everyday employees activities.
Model showing the new arrangement of the elevators' lobby (competition)
The elevators' lobby
Likewise, the space ought to minimize closed spaces and instead favor a laboratory-likeenvironment that stimulates intensive activities and simultaneous meetings. Ultimately, this environment ought to inspire a unique working setting that stimulates its users to work with greater pleasure and become leaders to the re-organization of De ConsumentenBond as a whole.
Overview of the financial department
Exactly one hundred years ago, in 1915, the first Standard Method of Floor Measurement was stipulated to improve employees’ working conditions in Office Buildings. Throughout the years, the standard has been revised to reflect the changing needs of the real estate market and the evolution of office building design. This chapter provides a uniform basis for measuring rentable area in both existing and new office buildings by taking a building-wide approach to floor area measurement. It provides a methodology for measuring both occupant space as well as the space that benefits all occupants. For this project, XCOOP’s intention is to generate a space that reflects current ways of working in the office environment. We favor flexibility rather than static working stations. What we design is a setting that continually evolves and adapts itself to the various purposes and demands of today’s Office Space.
The open plan of thefinancial department
The ramp leading to the Financial Department
Credits: Cristina Cassandra Murphy, Andrea Bertassi, Siebe Voogt, Alejandro Londono, Philippe Braun. Renderings: KolaStudio
Related Projects: Alibaba, HouHai.
