Public introduction to the new Rabobank Gouwe district of Kraaijvanger Architects
An inner city super transparent and multifunctional office building with flexible workplaces suitable for Rabobank, tenants and local users and where interior and exterior are designed integrally within a Design & Build contract; this assignment resulted in an iconic inviting building for Gouda with a window on the city designed by Kraaijvanger Architects. With this, the Rotterdam based architectural firm takes a step in designing flexible, sustainable and timeless office buildings that contribute to the city.
With an official opening and a well visited open day in the past weekend, the public got introduced in a festive way to the striking new construction of Rabobank Gouwestreek. The desire of the client to stay firmly in the center of the multifaceted sustainable society was architecturally translated by Kraaijvanger into a sustainable building responsive to this context; On the railway side, it manifests as a massive stone sculpture with an immense window; on the city side it is open and transparent.
Design & Build contract
The design was realized within an integral Design & Build design team consisting of Kraaijvanger Architects, BOAG, IOB, and DGMR with the contractor DuraVermeer as the formal client.
Sustainable icon for Gouda City
The building is an anchor in the city and is a model for the new Rabobank of the future. In a world where digital techniques allow more and more people to communicate remotely with the bank and each other, Rabobank has created a sustainable icon where customers and businesses, stakeholders, schools and non-profit sector can come together. Open, transparent and sustainable (BREEAM Excellent). The classic bank hall with counter is exchanged with a customer contact center in a building plinth that contributes to the activation of the inner city space.
Meet and connect
Central to the design is the theme of 'connecting' at different levels. For example, the involvement of local parties in the realization of the building has been taken into account. Literally, the theme is translated into the heart of the building where the meeting with customers and guests takes place. By giving space to a public program in the form of an inviting high building plinth, the connection with the city is strengthened.
Interior and materials application
The intelligent use of exterior blinds that also serve as window cleaner balconies makes it extremely durable yet transparent. The stone wall is made of long strips of black granite; the layers have different thicknesses and had different treatments. This provides the solid wall with a distinctly subtle character. The stone strips play a breathtaking game with light and shadow. The large hole in the wall, a technical feat, has a stone ceiling with suspended slabs to enhance the sculptural effect. It looks as if it has been hewn out of the stone. The flexibility of the upper floors has been maximized by incorporating all of the obstacles (such as toilets, shafts and elevators) in the ‘rock’ wall on the railway side. This wall keeps noise, sun and dust out of the building. Large open spaces with optimum layout flexibility are situated along this wall. They have level ceilings that have been prepared to allow new layout forms. All technology has been smoothed away to contribute to a perfectly serene working environment that is free of unnecessary obstacles.
