Amsterdam, The Netherlands – OMA / David Gianotten has designed a high-end office building on Apollolaan, one of Amsterdam’s most prominent green avenues. Commissioned by Kroonenberg Groep, the five-storey Apollolaan 171 replaces the largely opaque JP Morgan bank office building from the late 1980s. It is a design that is at once transparent and tactile, responding to its neighbourhood defined by the historical architecture of Berlage from the early 20th century.

Apollolaan 171 is located at a corner site in the city’s south side, with a mix of high-end offices, housing, and luxury hotels in its surroundings. The building sits on the preserved foundation of the demolished bank, with its shape following the zoning regulations closely. The side facing Apollolaan is defined by interlocking glass volumes resembling a jigsaw puzzle, which reveal the contemporary high-end office along Apollolaan, and create a pleasant public area at the building’s front door. Towards the residential area, the building is terraced, with a façade cladded in custom-designed bricks. Tactility evokes the historical housing in the area.

Internal organisation of Apollolaan 171 is lucid, and transparency of the facade brings in light and offers views to tenants. Green marble is a primary finish material for the main circulation core, echoing the abundant vegetation along Apollolaan. In the lobby, this material is used for cladding to mark the building entrance.

Demolition of the original JP Morgan bank building has begun. Construction work will start in the autumn of 2021, and the building is scheduled to be completed in mid-2023.