The renovation of 'Het Havengebouw' revitalises the monument with reference to the old Amsterdam harbour

‘Het Havengebouw’ in Amsterdam is one of the last buildings designed by architect W.M. Dudok. This remarkable building on the banks of the IJ-river opened in 1960. Due to transformations in the past decades the building’s entrance lost its original grandeur. N.V. ‘Het Havengebouw’ Amsterdam wanted to revitalise the building for the generations to come.

Project data

Client

N.V. ‘Het Havengebouw’ Amsterdam

Location

Amsterdam

Square

1.200

Timeline

September 2013 – July 2014

The new entrance hall offers a welcoming entrance for employees and visitors, with a prominent reception and spacious waiting area. Fokkema & Partners designed a new marble spiral stairs, as a reference to Dudok’s original stairs, that reconnects the ground floor to the restaurant, which Fokkema & Partners moved to the first floor. New energy-efficient installations contribute to the sustainable character of the interior. ‘Honest’ materials that emphasise the quality of the monument, are used in a contemporary way. Rough and robust materials, such as blued steel, Corten steel and solid wood, refer to the industry of the Amsterdam harbour and shipbuilding while classic materials, like Bianco Carrara marble, stucco and woollen fabrics, refer to the architecture of Dudok.

The coffee bar is located on the first floor, overlooking the IJ, the EYE film museum and tower Overhoeks. A steel framework, constructed out of black steel tubes, contains the Havengebouw’s ship models as if they’re boating amidst the ships on the IJ.

Photography by Horizon Photoworks.

Royal Tichelaar Makkum hand-poured, glazed and baked over a thousand ceramic tiles in three different sizes, to give the bar and buffet-island its unique appearance.