Erick van Egeraat - Architects - Architectural and Design Projects - Interior De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, Mahler4 Amsterdam

Interior De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, Mahler4 Amsterdam

• Design: 2006
• Realisation: 2009
• Client: De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek
• Gross Floor Area: 30,000m²

In 2006, leading Dutch law firm De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek chose the Erick van Egeraat office tower, a landmark in the Mahler4 area at the prestigious Zuidas in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to be the new company’s headquarters. De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek assigned Erick van Egeraat for the interior design of the 22-storey office tower, also known as The Rock. In order to match the needs and demands of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, being the sole tenant of the building, several amendments were made to the programme. As opposed to the rock-like character and material expression of the exterior, the interior of the office building should be warm and comfortable as well as representative, which is outlined a.o. in the frequent use of materials such as natural stone, wood and brass. Although the offices are equipped with high-quality furniture, such as floor-to-ceiling wooden bookshelves, the finish is deliberately kept neutral. Each floor has its own pantry, adjacent to and offering a nice view into the atrium. Functions such as the restaurant facilities, the conference rooms and the library are centrally located on the first, 10th and 11th floor respectively. An auditorium, to facilitate seminars, training sessions or presentations, is located in the 22-storey atrium of the office building. As opposed to the austere lay-out of the tower, the auditorium is characterised by its highly expressive shape. Functional and elegant, the auditorium should be a comfortable place to work. Eight rows, each offering ten work spaces, are gathered along a bow-shaped brass-finish wall, thus creating private work spaces. The carpet, especially designed for the auditorium, comprises the woven-in signature of Mr. De Brauw. The mezzanine houses a court room, where trial courts can be presented and discussed. The design is modest. The walls comprise 3D wooden panels and the room has the same remarkable carpet with Mr. De Brauw’s signature. The specific programme, combined with the special design and the carefully selected materials, has resulted in a unique interior which optimally matches the need of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek.