MVRDV has unveiled images of their renovation scheme for the Tripolis Office Complex in Amsterdam, which was originally designed by Aldo van Eyck. Now called Tripolis Park, the development is scheduled for completion in 2022 and features a light-footed ‘landscraper.’
Despite its iconic status, the Tripolis complex has been struggling with high vacancy rates for some time. This design from MVRDV injects new life into the development with three main moves. The first and most major move is the addition of an 11-storey ‘landscraper’ placed on the edge of the site. The new office building bridges over van Eyck’s Tripolis, preserving its integrity while shielding it from the dust and noise of the highway. Making reference to the architecture of the site’s original buildings, a large window has been cut from the south façade of the 31, 500 m2 new office building. The southern façade further responds to the architecture of van Eyck’s buildings by echoing the curving, waving shapes. The existing and new buildings are connected via slender glazed staircases and bridges.
Next, the interior of van Eyck’s Tripolis Office Complex itself has been sensitively renovated, preserving the central staircase and natural stone floors. The offices have been made more efficient while the addition of solar panels and roof gardens help bring the building up to a BREEAM Excellent certification.
Finally, the rear of the site is transformed into Tripolis Park, an attractive accessible green city campus where innovative companies and future residents feel at home. Uber recently signed as a tenant; the company will occupy the lower floors of the new building and one of the three buildings of the original Tripolis complex. A second Tripolis building will in the future be transformed into a residential building with affordable rental apartments.
