Rijksvastgoedbedrijf

Justice Office

Commissioned by the Dutch Central Government Real Estate Agency (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf), the new building for the Ministry of Justice in Zaanstad has been completed. This unique complex of approximately 7,650 m², designed by Studio PROTOTYPE and built by BINX Smartility West, marks a milestone in sustainable construction. It is largely composed of a timber CLT (cross-laminated timber) load-bearing structure — the largest CLT structure the Central Government Real Estate Agency has realized to date. The result is a functional and sustainable facility, including office, meeting, and training spaces.

project

Justice Office
location

Zaandam
client

Rijksvastgoedbedrijf
function

Offices, training and parking
size

7.500 m²
period

2021 – 2025
status

Built
collaboration

BINX Smartility, ArchiTech Company, Dijk&co icm Donker Design
design

Studio PROTOTYPE, together with co-architect Architech company
project architects

Jeroen Steenvoorden in collaboration with Jeroen Spee, Diederik Hermens
project team

Peter Rugebregt, Alicja Bedkowska, Rodolfo Siccardi, Nicolò Franchetto, Ana Vallés Gonzáles de Quevedo, Wiktoria Matysiak
photographer

Jeroen Musch

Connecting light atriums

The design is deeply rooted in the surrounding peat polder landscape of Westzaan. The clear building structure is organized around three light courts, which ensure optimal daylight access and a healthy working environment. At the same time, they strengthen the relationship between the building and the surrounding natural area. The nature-inclusive design contributes to biodiversity and climate adaptation.

For our client, the Central Government Real Estate Agency, being able to quantify the benefits of the design was essential. Together with the integrated project team, we identified parameters that were optimized within a parametric model. The façade, equipped with parametrically designed louvers, strikes a balance between daylight, energy consumption, and privacy. The result is an adaptive louver structure on the façade, positioned to limit visibility into the building while maximizing views outward and optimizing the balance between solar gain and daylight access. Additionally, the louvers contribute to an energy-efficient building with ample natural light and limited visibility from the outside. As a result, the building is Paris-proof (aligned with the Paris Agreement) and energy-generating.

In this building, safety and openness are in balance. A seemingly closed bastion opens up to its surroundings through the three green light courts. The structure of these courtyards and the layered louvered façade — behind which the offices are located — creates a protected and green working environment that fosters well-being and a connection with nature.

The design aligns perfectly with the peat polder landscape of Westzaan, with many open spaces, green courtyards, and a nature-inclusive layout that considers local flora, fauna, and climate change. The silver-gray façade material reflects the tones of the green riverbank, softening the boundary between the building and nature.