The Westerdokhuis, a former flour silo adapted for architectural practice.

From flour silo to design workplace
The Westerdokhuis was built as a silo for handling flour and supplying bakeries throughout Amsterdam. Since 1995, it has housed de architectengroep. The office project documented in this portfolio dates from 1996-1997 and covers a gross floor area of 3,200 square metres.

The former silo in its waterfront setting.

Working within an industrial structure
The photographs show office spaces organised within the building's existing structural rhythm. Columns and beams remain visible, while glazed partitions define rooms and circulation areas. Openings between floors and internal stairs connect different levels of the workplace.

Workspace alongside an opening between floors.

Office-floor plan showing workstations, meeting spaces, circulation and voids.

Shared spaces at the waterfront
The ground-floor photographs show meeting and seating areas enclosed by large glazed panels. Timber framing and integrated shelving give these interiors a different character from the spaces within the main building. Views towards the water bring the former silo's harbour setting into the workplace.

Meeting space beneath timber framing and rooflights.

A community of design practices
Following the reorganisation of de architecengroep in January 2005, five architectural practices and the service centre remained in the Westerdokhuis. The portfolio also records the arrival of other architectural offices and related businesses. Together, they made the building a shared environment for design expertise and technical knowledge.

A circulation route through the office interior.

Interior view showing the relationship between the structural frame and glazed partitions.

Internal stair connecting the working levels.

Glazed ground-floor frontage facing the waterfront.

Entrance detail with the name of de architectengroep.