Ministry of EZ, KGG & LVVN

Rijksvastgoedbedrijf

Studio PROTOTYPE and ZENBER Architects have recently completed the transformation of Rijkskantoor B73 in The Hague, home to three ministries: the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature; the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth; and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The project aimed to modernize and renovate key areas within the complex, creating a flexible, sustainable, and future-proof government workspace.

The challenge was to optimize these spaces for multifunctional use, with a strong focus on fostering interaction, collaboration, and connection. At the heart of the transformation lies the striking Orangerie—a lush green space where two existing pavilions and their surroundings have been reimagined as vibrant meeting hubs set within nature.

Sustainability and well-being are central to the design, which integrates biophilic principles and aligns with the WELL Building Standard. With its vertical gardens and plant walls, the Orangerie serves as the “green lung” of the complex, improving air quality, enhancing the working environment, reducing CO₂ emissions, and lowering cooling demands. The two brainstorm pods, built entirely from biobased and renewable materials, act as test spaces for innovative and sustainable products and technologies.

Oasen

Oasen Gouda

Located at Nieuwe Gouwe Oostzijde in the Nieuwe Park West business area, the site of Oasen can be seen as an oasis within an oasis. This plot is characterized by a lavish amount of surrounding greenery and water. In the design vision, the unique identity of Oasen as a water-supplying company is central; the water itself is subtly integrated not only through the tactility of materials but also by placing actual water features prominently within the meeting area.

The heart of the meeting area is the new atrium. This former outdoor space forms the natural axis between the entrance zone and the garden to the west. Covered by an innovative technical atrium roof, it subtly allows daylight, air, and spaciousness to enrich this green gathering place for employees. The materialization, green fill, and overall experience of the atrium make it a place where one feels the outdoor green environment yet remains an integral part of the entire meeting and restorative area.

The layout of the work area facilitates new connections and enables the ‘flow’ of people, thereby fostering encounters and collaboration. The design concept relies on an intuitive arrangement of floor plans ranging from quiet to bustling areas, offering a diversity of suitable workspaces and atmospheres. 

On the fourth floor, a reduced-size meeting/workshop pavilion has been reintroduced, providing Oasen a low-cost opportunity to also take advantage of this unique location with views over the city and the green retention roof for more private discussions outside the meeting area. The materialization concept uses timeless sustainable materials that uniquely complement the theme of the water landscape and add identity to the place.

House of Dentons

Dentons

Dentons is the biggest law firm of the world, with a polycentric knowledge network and branches in 73 countries. Studio PROTOTYPE has been asked to design the interior concept of ‘House of Dentons’ for their Dutch branch, with approximately 6000 m2 located in the Viñoly building on Amsterdam’s Zuidas. Studio PROTOTYPE collaborated with DZAP a design & build construction in order to get from first sketch to final realization within a year. Thanks to smart phasing by housing advisor Cushman & Wakefield, Dentons was able to keep working in the Viñoly buiding during the rebuilding.

The principle of House of Dentons is a warm & timeless interior that translates the polycentric character of Dentons into a versatile interior. The concept exists out of a variety of places with their complete own character that stimulates meeting & movement on the basis of intuition & openness. The central place within the concept is an atrium, that feels like the heart where the dynamics of the interior becomes visible. Places such as the entrance landscape, the meeting lane, art gallery and the green tribune garden are laced together in a beautiful way and create diversity in ‘ways of working’, but give a sequence of different (interior) experiences too.

The sequential experience is being strengthened by the effect of wings, by adding large wooden discs on strategical positions on the plan. They create beautiful bounded spaces with several vistas to other spaces. With ‘House of Dentons’ a work environment has been created to offer security and comfort while at the same to function as a stage for talent to excel on.

Ministry of defence

Rijksvastgoedbedrijf

The Ministry of Defence has been an important part of The Hague for many years, with its main office located on Kalvermarkt for centuries. Over time, the building grew in different stages, especially until the mid-1900s. By the early 2000s, however, it became clear that a major renovation was needed. A comprehensive renovation and modernization were required, both to update the working areas and to integrate the separate components of the building into a cohesive whole.

The solution came in the form of a bold architectural decision: covering the Ministry’s existing courtyards with a new concrete structure. This approach transformed the individual sections of the building into a unified whole, creating a new entrance system on the ground floor. The cross-shaped layout allows efficient movement throughout the building and serves as a subtle reference to the detailing of the façade, originally designed by architect and former Rijksbouwmeester G. Friedhoff, along with Rijksarchitect Hoekstra.

One of the most striking elements of the renovation is the innovative roof design. It is robust yet refined, aligning perfectly with the Ministry’s core identity. The roof’s supporting columns are strategically placed, mimicking the arrangement of trees in a forest, creating a sense of organic flow. The overall construction is based on two levels: a primary structure made from a combination of prefabricated and in-situ concrete, and a secondary grid of composite materials paired with pyramid-shaped skylight domes.

Meet & Greet

Blenheim Advocaten

Studio PROTOTYPE has been approached by Blenheim Advocaten to design a Meet & Greet area on the ground floor of the Westerdokdijk 40 building, a former home of Rededrij Gebr. Goedkoop and designed by an architect F.J.E. Dekeukeleire.

Studio PROTOTYPE has based the plan with a great respect towards the building’s original ideas. New and careful interventions reinfore the existing core values of the building. The raw character of the concrete supporting structure is left exposed and combined with new timeless materials, such as terrazzo and Cararra marble.