jvantspijker’s renovated office includes a meeting room topped with an indoor garden
all images by rené de wit

 

 

 

architecture and urbanism studio jvantspijker has redesigned a former steam factory in rotterdam, transforming its main space into an open plan office. located in the city’s delfshaven neighborhood, the project is organized around a glazed meeting room topped with an indoor garden.

jvantspijker office space steam factory de fabriek van delfshaven rotterdam designboom
the scheme is located inside a former steam factory in rotterdam

 

 

 

the scheme is situated inside a waterfront building called ‘de fabriek van delfshaven’. in recent years, the multi-tenant facility has developed a vibrant working community hosting a variety of design studios and software companies.

 

‘the central design idea behind the transformation of the office was to keep the scale, transparency and lightness in place and to connect the office to the main atrium of the building‘, explains the design team. ‘therefore the central element was designed as a hybrid between a room, a wall and a piece of furniture; it divides, connects and provides service space.’

jvantspijker office space steam factory de fabriek van delfshaven rotterdam designboom
the project is organized around a glazed meeting room topped with an indoor garden

 

 

 

behind the enclosed meeting room, a small flight of stairs leads to a garden that provides a space to relax during hectic working days. the use of large plants helps to absorb sound, creating an intimate and quiet environment. in terms of materials, only lacquered plywood and glass were used; with two steel columns proving support in the corners of the meeting room.

jvantspijker office space steam factory de fabriek van delfshaven rotterdam designboom
the meeting room is acoustically insulated from the rest of the office space

 

 

 

the rough and natural exposure of the wood contrasts with the frameless detailing of the glass, which emphasizes the floating character of the garden above. the meeting room is acoustically insulated from the rest of the office space, providing a suitable area for private meetings and telephone calls.

jvantspijker office space steam factory de fabriek van delfshaven rotterdam designboom
the use of large plants helps to absorb sound

jvantspijker office space steam factory de fabriek van delfshaven rotterdam designboom
a small flight of stairs leads to a garden that provides a space to relax during hectic working days

jvantspijker office space steam factory de fabriek van delfshaven rotterdam designboom
only lacquered plywood and glass were used, with two steel columns proving support

jvantspijker office space steam factory de fabriek van delfshaven rotterdam designboom
the scheme is situated inside a waterfront building called ‘de fabriek van delfshaven’

 

drawings

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javantspijker\'s renovated office includes a meeting room topped with an indoor garden designboom
 
javantspijker\'s renovated office includes a meeting room topped with an indoor garden designboom
 
javantspijker\'s renovated office includes a meeting room topped with an indoor garden designboom
 
javantspijker\'s renovated office includes a meeting room topped with an indoor garden designboom
 

 

 

project info:

 

design: jvantspijker urbanism architecture research, rotterdam
team: jaakko van’t spijker, paul van den bergh, julio gil, casper aussems
client: havensteder, lucidious, jvantspijker
contractor: spacecreators.nl
photography: rené de wit