J.M.G. Hendriks, The Netherlands
At the beginning of 1998, a team of structural engineers together with a team of architects were selected by the client to design a new head office for the Board of Directors and the Executive Committees of the ING Group.
In addition to a programme of requirements for 20 000 m2 of floor space to accommodate offices, an auditorium, restaurants, parking facilities etc, the architects were provided with several key themes:
- visiting card for the Company
- allure, class and standing
- elegant rather than colossal
- modern, stylish, powerful and innovative but also modest.
The architect used these themes as a starting-point for the design:
- an energetic, intelligent building that reflects a positive attitude to the future
- a durable building with an open and accessible feel
- an optimum indoor climate creating a pleasant working environment
- a landmark in the vicinity but on a human scale
The urban planning conditions were not straightforward &endash; an elongated area of land, close to tan elevated motorway with heavy noise burden on the facades and high emission levels from traffic.
The accessibility has been optimised by elevating the building and giving it a transparent entrance. In fact, the entire facade has been made as transparent as possible to achieve the desired openness. The structure aims to complement and, where possible, reinforce this openess.
