KAAN Architecten's new office is located in the heart of Rotterdam, situated along the Maas river just a few metres from the iconic Erasmus bridge. The project has transformed 1.600-sq-m of the former De Nederlandsche Bank premises into KAAN’s new open-space headquarters, which encompasses more than 80 workspaces. For this reason the new office is called ‘De Bank’.

The space is housed in the piano nobile of a quintessential historical building originally designed by Henri Timo Zwiers in 1950-1955. The brick façade on Boompjes Street stands out against the river skyline and is characterized by an entrance hall enriched by the mosaic of Dutch artist Louis van Roode.

The beating heart of the project is an extensive working area dedicated to architects. This space is blessed by intense daylight on both sides and offers a unique view of the surrounding waterfront. With its clear proportions, the rectangular floor plan is designed to effectively connect working, meeting and leisure spaces through several long monumental corridors and passages, enhancing fluid interactions between employees, visitors and partners.

Spatial rhythm is generated by the finely restored industrial concrete structure. The rustic essence of the material is balanced by a counterpoint of elegant dark walnut wood, which constitutes the main component of the interiors.