Announcing the FX Awards 2019 Winners!

UK Project of the year

Winner: WPP Amsterdam Campus, Amsteldok by BDG Architecture + Design

UK Project of the year Winner: WPP Amsterdam Campus, Amsteldok by BDG Architecture + DesignImage Credit: Gareth Gardner

Sponsored by Formation Lighting

In the largest agency move in Dutch advertising history, WPP brings 1,500 creatives together to facilitate collaboration and give clients simpler access to all talent. BDG has reworked a traditional, very large office building for contemporary creative working, with a strong focus on humanism.

On the banks of the Amstel river, the 19,000 sq m building, designed by architect Hugh Maaskant in 1973, was originally Europe’s largest office building. It was, however, deeply unpopular, and the renovation aimed to revalue and reintroduce the building to the surrounding community.

Preserving the concrete structure has allowed the building’s character to remain while reducing environmental impact. The entire building meets BREEAM Very Good certification standards – an exceptional score for a renovation project. It has rainwater buffering and retention, green roofs, advanced daylight system control, advanced climate system control, energy-efficient daylight control, a thermal storage system and a class A energy rating.

Careful renovation gives office floors maximum heights, with large, open floorplates allowing for flexibility now and in the future. The floor-to-ceiling glass allows natural light to illuminate inside, and green roof terraces encourage creativity.

The new feature staircase takes clients from reception to the shared business hub on level one. Shared facilities occupy 40 per cent of WPP’s spaces, while cafes, restaurants and bars are designed to increase staff wellbeing as well as encourage movement, creating opportunities for chance encounters. Aiming to inject a lease of life into the building, a ninth floor, 352 sq m roof terrace offers incredible views over the Amstel river and the city.

The judges said...

‘A good combination of old and new with subtle, carefully executed details throughout. Rarely seen’

Finalists & Judges’ Comments

Nagatacho Apartment by Adam Nathaniel Furman
‘Refreshing to see a design that uses colour as the concept; takes risks to develop something unique’

Hintze Hall, Natural History Museum by Casson Mann
‘Striking design and well thought-through display options’

HB Reavis UK HQ by Evolution Design
‘A great environmentally focussed scheme with a variety of spaces to encourage collaboration. Good use of biophilic design and a huge achievement to achieve the WELL certification’

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Stadium by F3 Architects
‘High visual impact that is welcoming and exciting’

Curious Brewery by Guy Hollaway Architects
‘A good take on the traditional beer hall aesthetic’

Serpentine Coffee House by Mizzi Studio
‘A beautiful design that is well-executed’

Studio 19 by Modus
‘A fun and vibrant office space that met the client brief. The concept is clear but has been delivered in a mature manner. Good use of space providing a variety of settings for the user’

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