After 30 years the famous American Book Center in Amsterdam exchanged its location at the Kalverstraat for Spui. The American Book Centre had very ambitious ideas about their new bookstore, which led to an intense and energetic design process.

Because the foundation of the existing building had to be renovated any way, there was a great opportunity to develop a very expressive design for the whole of the building. Although elevations maintained their white plastered appearance, the floor layouts were drastically changed. The renovation resulted in the typical open ambiance of the new bookstore. The three floors are gradually flowing into each other: the visitor climbs the big stairs while strolling through the book shelves organized around the stairs in an organic way.