Office: Mecanoo | ArchDaily

De Nederlandsche Bank / Mecanoo

Andreas Luco — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

De Nederlandsche Bank (1968) is located on the historic 'Utrechtse Poort' site close to Amsterdam's canal belt. Until 1929, this was the location of the Paleis voor Volksvlijt (Palace of Industry), designed by Samuel Sarphati, which was destroyed by fire that same year. Sarphati's vision – uniting culture, economy, entrepreneurship, and science in one place for all people – was revolutionary at the time. De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) is the independent central bank of the Netherlands, committed to financial stability, a smooth and secure payment system, and the supervision of financial institutions. The DNB building, designed by architect Marius Duintjer, was modern and functional. However, it was not embraced by the people of Amsterdam, who found that it was unapproachable and contrasted with the historic architecture of the city centre. For the complex – consisting of a low-rise, square-shaped building (110 x 120 metres) and a 73-metre-high office tower – Duintjer drew inspiration from the mid-century modern architecture of Mies van der Rohe and SOM found in the United States. At the time, the design was pioneering due to its minimalist lines, restrained use of materials, and transparency. However, that sense of transparency was soon lost due to security requirements; the building became a fortress with fences, large boulders, and armed military police. In 1991, a circular tower was added in the courtyard, and a third floor was placed atop the low-rise square. With the decision to relocate the gold reserves and banknote operations to the Cash Centre in Zeist, the opportunity arose to transform this heavily secured and overdue-for-renovation building and open it up to the greater public in a more engaging way. The circular tower was no longer needed and could be dismantled in a modular manner.

Doris Duke Theatre / Mecanoo

Andreas Luco — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The reimagined Doris Duke Theatre is approximately 20,000 sq. ft., compared with the former Duke's roughly 8,500 sq. ft. footprint. The design allows for multi-use flexibility, so that the building can support performances, events, residencies, and more, sometimes simultaneously. The flexible seating configurations can accommodate 220 - 400, depending on the size of the performance space, with an array of seating and stage configurations.

Perth Museum / Mecanoo

Hana Abdel — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 07:00:00 +0000

In the ever-evolving landscape of architectural restoration, Mecanoo continues to carve its name with transformative projects that honour history while embracing modernity. Following in the footsteps of our acclaimed renovation of the New York Public Library, Mecanoo undertook the challenging task of revitalizing Perth's former City Hall—a structure that epitomizes the grandeur of the Edwardian Period, dating back to its inauguration in 1914.

Kaohsiung Social Housing / Mecanoo

Andreas Luco — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In a groundbreaking initiative, Mecanoo, introduces a innovative social housing project in Kaohsiung, marking a significant milestone as the city's inaugural venture into communal living solutions. This undertaking not only addresses the pressing need for affordable housing but places a unique emphasis on the role of collective spaces in enhancing the quality of life for its citizens. The housing complex in Kaohsiung hosts 245 units between 25 and 75 m2, designed for a large variety of users, from young couples to families with children, students, the elderly, or people with special needs.

One Silk Street / Mecanoo

Paula Pintos — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000

One Silk Street sits in the heart of the Ancoats area in Manchester, a significant historical landmark associated with the Industrial Revolution. It contains the highest concentration of Grade II and II* Listed mill buildings in Manchester. As part of the city's expansion plan, aimed at enhancing the quality of life and driving change in its boundaries, particularly in the Ancoats area, Mecanoo designed a new mixed-use project called One Silk Street. This innovative development encompasses a variety of housing options and commercial facilities, tailored to meet the evolving needs of contemporary residents and users.

Villa BW / Mecanoo

Paula Pintos — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Where the rolling dune landscape flows into the lower-lying polder terrain of the hinterland, the naturally sloping landscape embraces Villa BW, with a building volume characterized by a double-curved roof coupled with an unmistakable expression of the facade. The twisting roof is created as a result of two overlapping shapes. A gable roof is designed on the dune side, also characteristic of the street scene on the Oorsprongweg. In contrast, a horizontal roofline is designed for the polder side.

Unilever Benelux Headquarters / Mecanoo

Paula Pintos — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0000

In the heart of Rotterdam on Hofplein, the new Unilever Benelux headquarters occupy six floors of an existing building from 1960 by architect C.A. Abspoel with a striking concrete structure. The new Unilever facility will accommodate around 750 employees.

Heungkuk Tower Busan / Mecanoo

Luciana Pejić — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 22:00:00 +0000

Located in South Korea’s second-most populous city Busan, the Heungkuk Tower serves as an office building and sits adjacent to the coastline and close to the city’s high-speed rail network.

World Port Centre Rotterdam / Mecanoo

Paula Pintos — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The World Port Centre in Rotterdam (WPC) overlooks the city and surrounding harbor from its prominent location at the far western point of the Wilhelmina pier, next to Mecanoo’s iconic Montevideo Tower. Designed by Norman Foster and completed in 2000, the WPC facilities were no longer fit for purpose. Mecanoo was commissioned to upgrade the ground floor and part of the first floor of the 32-story office building. Good accessibility, improved connections to the outside, social interaction, and an inviting street level are principles that guided Mecanoo’s renovation.

KAMPUS Apartments / Mecanoo

Paula Pintos — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000

KAMPUS is a new neighbourhood located at the former Manchester Metropolitan University campus in the heart of the city. Utilising the qualities of the existing built structures – Victorian brick canal-side warehouses and the 1964 concrete tower – presents the opportunity to develop at the city block scale, creating new connections and a new destination. A melting pot of buildings and spaces, KAMPUS will celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of the city with respect to the historic quality of Canal Street.

Taichung Green Corridor / Mecanoo

Paula Pintos — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 07:00:00 +0000

The 1.7 km-long former railway line crossing downtown Taichung was an important catalyst for the development of the old city. The railway’s historical value plays an important role in the revitalization of the urban realm on which it sits.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library / Mecanoo + OTJ Architects

Paula Pintos — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 04:00:00 +0000

After a three-year transformation by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo, working in collaboration with OTJ Architects, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (MLKL) has re-opened in Washington D.C. The library, which opened in 1972, is reborn as a contemporary lifelong-learning hub that reaches out to all communities. It was the only library designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, one of the twentieth century’s greatest architects, and was subsequently named after Dr. King, the towering civil rights leader who was assassinated in 1968. Francine Houben, principal, founding partner, and creative director of Mecanoo, says: “We have been guided by Martin Luther King’s timeless values and implemented them in this, the most important library for the people of America’s capital”.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library / Mecanoo + Beyer Blinder Belle

Paula Pintos — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +0000

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL) is New York’s new central circulating library. Built within the 1914 shell and steel frame of the Mid-Manhattan Library which it replaces, the 16,722 m2 (180,000 sq. ft.) building is topped with a spectacular angular roof and public rooftop amenities to make a new urban icon on Fifth Avenue.

Tainan Public Library / Mecanoo + MAYU Architects

Paula Pintos — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 07:00:00 +0000

The oldest city in Taiwan, Tainan has a rich history influenced by different cultures. There are remnants of maritime trade with Europe in the 17^th century, of the Chinese Ming Dynasty, and Japanese settlements from the beginning of the 20^th century. The city is rich in temples, including the famous 17^th century Confucius Temple with its cantilevered roofs and beautifully carved ceilings. The new library takes from this history, is inspired by the local culture, and has been designed for the tropical climate of Tainan. It is home to the city's cultural heritage, modern art, music, films, and over a million books, including more than 16,000 from the Japanese occupation period, and of course, is equipped with the latest technologies of a modern library.

Hulme Living Leaf Street Housing / Mecanoo

Paula Pintos — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 10:00:00 +0000

The area around Leaf Street in Hulme, just outside Manchester city centre, has a history of urban renewal. The typical Victorian terraced houses were demolished after World War II to make room for the infamous Hulme Crescents, the largest social housing project in the United Kingdom at the time. In the 1990s, the ‘Crescents’ were demolished and a large part of the neighbourhood redeveloped. Hulme Living on Leaf Street is a fourth-generation urban renewal housing development that combines apartments and single-family homes in one building mass.

University Key Worker Housing / Mecanoo

Paula Pintos — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 17:00:00 +0000

The North West Cambridge Development (NWCD) transforms a 150-hectare site of University of Cambridge farmland into a community with residential buildings, academic facilities, public amenities, and open green space. Mecanoo worked alongside NWCD to deliver 232 affordable housing units for researchers and key university employees.

Villa Vught / Mecanoo

Paula Pintos — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 06:00:00 +0000

The Villa in the Dutch countryside near Vught gives a contemporary twist to the local farmstead typology. Traditionally, the Dutch ‘hoeve’ is an ensemble of farmhouses and living quarters loosely clustered around a courtyard. The central open space is protected, yet open to the surrounding landscape. This spatial arrangement guided the design of the Villa. The Villa’s functions are distributed within three distinct volumes, shaped to resemble the vernacular of a small village. The two lower volumes are shaped like typical gabled barns directly connected to the surrounding gardens. The higher volume captures the view of the wide landscape and forms a striking contrast with the lower buildings.

The Place Hotel / Mecanoo

Paula Pintos — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 12:00:00 +0000

The Place, like its name, brands itself as a hotel that creates a unique visitor experienced that embodies the specific identity of each place. This specificity of place is central to Mecanoo’s “People, Place, Purpose” design philosophy, which emphasizes users, a holistic understanding of the social, historical and physical context, and a response to current and future building functions. For each assignment, our goal is to seek out the secret of the location to create a unique design that strengthens the distinct identity of the context.