Located at Lijnbaansgracht 92 in Amsterdam, 'The Alchemist’s Office' encompasses a building spanning approximately 600m2. It was specifically designed for a company specializing in the extraction, processing, and trading of raw materials for energy transition, such as uranium and cobalt.

The original horse stable at the border of the Jordaan has a storied history of transformations. Following about two decades of vacancy, the building was acquired by an investor with a vision to convert it into a city villa, a realization crafted by Architect Marc Labadie. The office features a concrete core linking all spaces and a roof structure.

Firm architects’ original brief involved transforming this residential space into an office area while reflecting the company's open and welcoming ethos. Converting a monumental building into a functional office presented unique challenges. Onsite modifications were crucial to elevate the space to meet modern office standards in terms of air, acoustics and circulation.

Reflecting the client's identity as a modern trader in raw energy transition materials, 'The Alchemist’s Office' embodies a modern interpretation of its namegiver. In the past, alchemy was a branch of natural philosophy in which scholars speculatively investigated matter. Rooted in the unpredictable investigations of matter, in the past the goal of alchemy was to attempt to transmute ordinary metals into gold, cure diseases, and prolong life on earth itself.

Design elements from ancient alchemy permeate the workspace, with blocks representing the 4 elements. These include a large bookcase, a kitchen wall, an internal bay window and the entrance wall. All meticulously clad in various metals in constructed patinas, symbolizing different experimental phases.

Copper and brass signify transformation processes, their dark interiors symbolizing the experimental essence characterized by limited knowledge. The colour schemes echo the trade's essential elements, incorporating blue and green hues reminiscent of Cobalt and Uranium. The large room dividing bookcase in the same room is depicted as a cabinet of curiosities. Polypropylene cloudlike lamp from Nemo above the boardroom table instantly becomes a whimsical nod that is often used as a conversation starter, due to the water carafe below in the shape of an Erlenmeyer.

Sustainability was integrated into the interior design in both minimizing invasion in the monumental building and reusing as much of the structure and walls et cetera, as well as material usage. Floor-to-ceiling glass wall partitioning is introduced as flexible walls, emphasizing reusability through its untreated aluminium, promoting easy recyclability and sustainability.

Various materials were repurposed in the project, including the reuse of the kitchen cabinet and kitchen elements. Existing building materials were also repurposed within the office space to maintain sustainability while honouring the building's historical value.