The Erick van Egeraat office tower is part of an expressive high rise urban development, south of Amsterdam, named Zuid As. Located in the proximity of the city centre and with direct access to the urban network of public transport and highways, the project incorporates the potential of this unique location. The ambitious programming of a lively, high-density mixture of offices, housing, retail and public space, designed by nine international architects, all contribute to an exceptional development of metropolitan scale.
The urban concept for this location as developed by the Architecten Cie is based on a vertical layering structure with the anatomical analogy of legs, torso and a head. The Erick van Egeraat office tower challenges this masterplan further and creates an explicit tactile and emotional experience out of the stacked block structure. Both an innovative composition of shifted volumes and a transformation from a light to heavy materialization, it creates an expressive landmark which appears different from every angle. Each of the three sections of the building reveals its own character and material expression and offers space suited to potentially different tenant requirements. The lower part is transparent to allow light deep into the building and stimulate interaction with the direct surroundings. The lower part’s ground floor entrance also features the world’s tallest revolving door. The upper part is characterized by natural stone layers composed in a facade pattern which creates a variety of openings and panoramic views. Both parts are connected by a combination of transparent and printed glass elements and aluminum panels, forming a subtle transition between the two.
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