Upon its completion in 1992, Rijnstraat 8 represented both an innovative office typology – its atriums served as conservatories – and a leading example of sustainability. Over time, the building no longer offered the flexibility required of a contemporary office space. In collaboration with the original architect, Jan Hoogstad, and in the context of a Public Private Partnership, the transformation of the complex is the first large-scale implementation of a new masterplan for the Dutch government’s offices. The design gives the building a new relation to The Hague, connecting it to the city both visually through a large glass facade, and functionally through the creation of a passage that acts as a public square. The introduction of open plan offices helps reveal the building’s internal processes. A new walkway running the entire length of the building improves one’s sense of direction and provides city views. In the process, a combination of renovation and transformation, the use of new materials has been minimized: of the 20% of the building that was demolished, 99.7% has been reused. Energy consumption has been reduced through the application of triple glass, the use of solar panels, LED lights, and a heat and cold storage...
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