Strong interventions with a cheerful twist

Having outgrown their office near the Vondelpark, the young notary firm Zuidbroek Notarissen decided to move to one large floor in the recently renovated office “De Walvis” at the Westerdok in Amsterdam. The fresh interior reflects a love for design among the staff. It contrasts with the classic image of a notary’s office. By means of standardisation and straightforward detailing, we managed to realise a cost-efficient, yet unique interior in a short period of time. Highlights of the project are the eyecatcher whale bar and the application of omni-perlescent glass foils.

Project data

Client

Zuibroek Notarissen BV. Amsterdam

Location

Amsterdam – The Netherlands

Square

1.245

Timeline

Juli 2021 – April 2022

Straightforward detailing and floorplan
The layout is kept as clear as possible; uniformity combined with pragmatic detailing – easy-to-build solutions.
There is a transparent outer ring of offices and an inner ring with meeting places. In the rectilinear layout, all office rooms are arranged along the glass façade, allowing for optimal use of daylight. Simplicity, symmetry, overview and calmness form the basis of these workplaces, where employees can easily find each other.

The central meeting areas, in the warm and glowing heart of the office, are flexible in use. Thanks to curtains that can strategically screen off areas; the work café can be inconspicuously converted into a lecture hall.
Glass doors separate the client area from the work zone, allowing confidentiality without affecting the overall spatial appearance of the office.

Round elements, break the orthogonal plan and refer to the portholes incorporated in the glass façade. Like the use of omni-perlescent privacy glass films, which create a sense of wonder by reflecting various colours from different angles. An upholstered circle on the wall contributes to pleasant room acoustics.

From the start of the project, the available budget and tight schedule demanded clear design choices and strong interventions with maximum impact.

The black-coloured ducts and pipes in the open ceiling originated from the shell & core design and are continued as a graphic layer – a line pattern in the design. Uni-coloured slats on the walls provide a simple rhythm, inspired by the baleens of a whale. This playful use of lines continues in the handles of the cabinets and in the finishing of the furniture.

Whales & Tales
In the client area, the eye-catching whale bar takes centre stage.
Providing a magnificent view over the harbour, the inviting bar area offers an ideal setting for celebrating special moments with clients, and for Friday night drinks with colleagues as well.

Radiant dots break the orthogonal plan, as they seem to mind their own business.

The whale bar itself refers to the name of the building, in an area formerly occupied by shipyards. It can be used for a maximum surprise experience, that fits perfectly with the brand identity. It is made of composite stone and layers of PET-felt, from recycled PET bottles, and is whale-shaped. Inside the bar is a built-in cooler where a bottle of champagne is waiting for the celebrative moment when a client closes a deal. The spherical glass lights above it illustrate the champagne bubbles, exactly located above the whale’s oxygen blowhole!

Despite the standardisation in layout and detailing, it has become a unique office floor with striking colours, overall comfortable cosiness and interventions designed to give the working environment a quirky cheerful twist – something to travel to the office for!

Project partners
Vega Projects, Klimaatservice Holland B.V., Van Den Pol, FridayNext, Branding Office Furniture, GreenStories, M+N Projecten, Eikelenboom