Floating Office for Waternet / Attika Architekten

Curated by ArchDaily

Architects: Attika Architekten
Area: 875 m²
Contractor: ABC Arkenbouw
Sustainability Consultants: HVTC and Search BV

This office building floats amidst the Waternet fleet of vessels that sail out daily to clean the waters of the Amsterdam canals from garbage. Its current location is the northern part of the old city harbours, left by the harbour industry, but not yet transformed into living area.

The office program was realized in and on two connected floating concrete caissons. In total the building measures 31 by 12 metres and has three floors, making it the biggest ark in the Netherlands. It contains office space on entrance and first floor level. Showers and locker rooms for the workers are located in the under water basement. A spacious double height canteen forms the heart of the building and links all rooms on ground and first floor level with the harbour.

The building’s shape is basic and bold, its skin made of reed is soft and comforting. The timber frame construction and thatched facade can be disassembled into re-usable or biodegradable compone nts completely, leaving no waste. Furthermore the reed of the facade represent water purification, being the very essence of the Waternet company.

The building has an innovative way of heating and cooling. In de bottom of the concrete caisson lies a heat exchanger, a liquid filled winding tube, like a reverse underfloor heating system. It takes heat or cold directly from the source surrounding it, water. A reversible heat pump provides warm or cool air. The energy for the heat pump comes from solar panels placed on the roof.