"New Space on Old Foundations: The Aluned Headquarters"
After a devastating fire in 2021, aluminium manufacturer Aluned faced a critical question: how do you rebuild a workplace that is not only functional but also sustainable, inspiring, and in dialogue with its surroundings? HA-HA Design & Development, a Rotterdam-based architecture firm, saw an opportunity in the crisis. By retaining the existing foundations and steel structure, they designed a contemporary work environment that honours the site’s industrial heritage while embracing the landscape.
2. Project Description
“We saw the loss of the old building as a chance to show what circular and adaptive building can truly mean.” — Nima Morkoç, Architect at HA-HA
“By interweaving landscape and interior, we didn’t just blur the building’s boundaries — we redefined the experience of space.” — Nima Morkoç, Architect at HA-HA
“It’s remarkable how a limitation — the existing steel structure — became the basis for a light and open design.” — Aluned BV, Client
Background & Context
In 2021, a fire destroyed the Aluned headquarters. Instead of demolishing and starting from scratch, the project team chose radical reuse: the original foundation and steel structure were preserved. The Zwijndrecht site consists of three industrial halls arranged around a central green courtyard with a pond — a rare oasis of green in an otherwise paved industrial zone.
Design Vision
HA-HA approached the project with an integrated design philosophy in which landscape, urban planning, architecture and interior design are considered as one continuous system. Plant beds were extended from inside to outside, organic shapes were introduced, and transparent façades create a blurred boundary between interior and exterior. The existing steel structure was subtly integrated into the new spatial layout, allowing for open, flexible floor plans.
Construction & Material Use
The steel structure was retained entirely and used to enable a free plan layout. New additions — including a lightweight aluminium canopy — were detailed with thermal breaks and passive shading, boosting energy performance while maintaining spatial quality.
Material choices include aluminium, wood, glass, plaster, and biobased prefabricated timber-frame panels with cellulose insulation. The façade, partially constructed by Aluned itself, doubles as a demonstration of the company’s aluminium expertise.
Sustainability & Execution
By reusing the foundation and main structural frame, the project significantly reduced its carbon footprint. Prefab biobased materials, passive sun protection and solar panels further reduce operational energy demands. The total duration from first sketch to completion was just 19 months, thanks to a streamlined design-build process with local partners.
Innovation
The result is a future-proof and flexible workplace, adaptable to evolving ideas about healthy working environments. The spaciousness, lightweight materials, and seamless integration of landscape and architecture set a benchmark for circular transformation in the industrial sector.
