When APPM moved into its new office in Zwolle, the ambition was clear: to create a workplace with character. A bold interior that reflects an organisation working on space, water, energy, mobility and infrastructure, while also feeling firmly rooted in its location. In The City Post, the former PTT mail-sorting centre on Westerlaan, that ambition comes together with a layered history. The building stands beside the railway, on the site of a former harbour on the Willemsvaart, where mail, rail and water once formed part of a wider logistical network. This layered context became the starting point for the design.
The interior brings that history into the present and makes it part of everyday use. The blue glass partitions refer to the water and give the office a strong, recognisable identity. Copper accents subtly bring the railway past into the space. The paper Molo walls connect the interior to the building’s postal history, while adding an unexpected quality: softness, flexibility and movement. These are materials with meaning, but above all they are materials that work. They make the space warmer, richer and more distinctive.
The strength of the design lies in the effortless way atmosphere and function come together. Upon entering, the coffee and lunch table forms the social heart of the office. This is where the day begins, where colleagues gather, conversations start and the organisation becomes visible. From this lively central point, the space opens towards bright workplaces along the façade and more sheltered areas for meetings and concentration. The layout feels clear and relaxed: energy on one side, focus on the other, with a fluid transition between the two that reflects the way people work.
The result is an office where people genuinely enjoy spending time. A place that encourages interaction, supports concentration and makes the pleasure of working tangible. The material palette, routing and spatial structure continuously reinforce one another. Everything contributes to an environment that is open and connected, yet also offers shelter whenever the work calls for it.
Team:
Architects: 19 het atelier
Photographer: Kasper Veenstra
