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In The Hague, KCAP and Kraaijvanger Architects (for the interior) delivered in 2022 the renovation and transformation of the Stationspostgebouw, the former postal sorting center and national monument, into the new PostNL headquarters. Area: 30,000 m². Budget: n/a Press release.
KCAP and Kraaijvanger Architects transformed the Stationspostgebouw, a former postal sorting center located next to Hollands Spoor Station in The Hague, into a sustainable and social 21st century working environment while respecting the original architecture. The renovation of the national monument was commissioned by LIFE, SENS real estate and PostNL, the national post office and former occupant. The building once again houses PostNL, which now serves as its headquarters.
The Stationspostgebouw, designed in 1939 by chief government architect GC Bremer, is of great historical, architectural and urban significance. The 30,000 m² building, considered a classic example of functionalism, was once completed one of the most modern postal sorting centers in the Netherlands.
It is distinguished by its distinctive pale brick facade, with curved shapes and glass block windows, which hides high but deep floor areas. Designed as the most important building along the railway line, it has always been a landmark for and within the city of The Hague.
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KCAP designed the architectural transformation for property developers LIFE and SENS, while Kraaijvanger Architects was responsible for the interior design on behalf of PostNL. One of the main results of the transformation is the increased access to natural light, achieved by modifying the facade and inserting voids. However, due to its monument status, it was not possible to make major structural changes.
An additional challenge was to renovate the building in order to restore its monumental character. Therefore, the restoration concept focused on the main supporting structure, keeping the existing beams and columns intact. Especially since the Stationspostgebouw is one of the first examples of the use of prefabricated concrete columns in the world.
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The glass block windows, combined with the dormer windows, originally provided great light to the building. However, due to the depth of the floors, this proved insufficient for a modern office environment.
To increase the amount of natural light on the lower floors, KCAP inserted voids throughout the building. These staggered voids, sometimes wide and sometimes narrow, create a lively interaction between the single-height and double-height floors, resulting in an impressive atrium that opens up the building and allows people to “ to see and be seen » – the vibrant heart of the new building.
This intervention also recalls the grandeur of the machines that once dominated the space. “ The atrium, surrounded by cascading floors and crossed by bridges and staircases, can be read as a metaphor for the conveyor belts and sorting machines that were once used to deliver mail directly from the station », explains Irma van Oort, partner at KCAP. These informal routes allow you to get together but also explore the space individually, promoting a pleasant and spontaneous atmosphere.
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The first floor houses the “Community Centre” with a reception, café, common areas, meeting areas and workspaces. The upper floors have a flexible configuration, which allows a variety of working concepts to be offered and organized according to the needs of different users.
Efficient floor plans and innovative technical features also enable flexibility for the future. “ Crucial to the transformation is creating an office building for a new way of working, making the work environment feel like a living room: widely usable, but also secure », soulful Irma van Oort.
@Ossip van Duivenbode @Ossip van Duivenbode
The interior design by Kraaijvanger Architects responds to PostNL’s need for this new way of working, with a focus on flexible collaboration, multi-use and employee well-being. “ The spatial layout and atmosphere of the monumental building are unique: the glass block facade, deep floor surfaces and powerful structural elements. Coupled with KCAP’s bold intervention to open up the concrete floors, these qualities were instrumental in mapping out the different areas of the interior “, says Chantal Vos, partner at Kraaijvanger Architects.
A particular challenge was retaining as much natural light as possible while dividing the very large floors into smaller, more intimate units. The result is a social work landscape focused on exchange and connection. “ Our environment has a major impact on the way we learn, work and live, think and feel. Many offices are too closed and isolated or completely open and too exposed. A good workspace is all about balance, an environment in which people feel at home », continues Chantal Vos
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This is why Kraaijvanger Architects applied the typology of a house to the Stationspostgebouw. Primarily, a house has partially defined spaces and a diversity of room sizes, which are connected to each other in different ways with different levels of privacy. Using this principle for an office space, inspiring spaces have been created for a variety of activities, both small and large groups. By connecting informal and formal, open and closed spaces, the new spatiality of the building was preserved.
Kraaijvanger Architects sought a representative architectural language to reinforce the monumental palette. Since the materials and functional design speak for themselves, these were applied in an undisguised and undecorated manner. “ The result is a powerful collaboration of constructive expression, a unique blend in which the monument and its interior enhance each other. Together, they form a unique visual language that appeals to young and old alike. », concludes Chantal Vos.
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KCAP is also responsible for the overall urban vision of HS Kwartier, the Stationspostgebouw is the first project completed under this plan. “ The transparent and accessible design ensures that the building blends seamlessly into its surroundings », indique Irma van Oort. “The Stationspostgebouw thus acts as an important stimulus for the animation of HS Kwartier and guarantees its human scale. This is exactly why the return of PostNL as a user of the building is of great value for the neighborhood’s DNA », she concludes.
#Hague #Netherlands #transformation #Stationspostgebouw #office
