Erick van Egeraat Office Tower “The Rock”
Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Erick van Egeraat office tower is part of an expressive high rise urban development, south of Amsterdam, named Zuid As. Located in the proximity of the city centre and with direct access to the urban network of public transport and highways, the project incorporates the potential of this unique location. The ambitious programming of a lively, high-density mixture of offices, housing, retail and public space, designed by nine international architects, all contribute to an exceptional development of metropolitan scale.

The urban concept for this location as developed by the Architecten Cie is based on a vertical layering structure with the anatomical analogy of legs, torso and a head. The Erick van Egeraat office tower challenges this masterplan further and creates an explicit tactile and emotional experience out of the stacked block structure. Both an innovative composition of shifted volumes and a transformation from a light to heavy materialization, it creates an expressive landmark which appears different from every angle. Each of the three sections of the building reveals its own character and material expression and offers space suited to potentially different tenant requirements. The lower part is transparent to allow light deep into the building and stimulate interaction with the direct surroundings. The lower part’s ground floor entrance also features the world’s tallest revolving door. The upper part is characterized by natural stone layers composed in a facade pattern which creates a variety of openings and panoramic views. Both parts are connected by a combination of transparent and printed glass elements and aluminum panels, forming a subtle transition between the two.

Country
Netherlands
City
Amsterdam
Function
Commercial
Size
33,500 m2
Assigned by
Mahler 4 VOF
Status
Completed in 2009
Design in 2000

Progress

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Awards

2009
Best stairs of the year
Winner
2009
IAA International Academy of Architecture Award
Nomination for annual prize

Blueprint

Materials

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Composite natural stone panels
Facade cladding
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Silk screen printed glass
External window
More
Aluminium panels
Facade cladding

Publications

The Rock / Erick van Egeraat

The Erick van Egeraat office tower, also known as The Rock, is part of an expressive high- rise urban development south of Amsterdam, named Zuidas. Located in the proximity of the city centre and with direct access to the urban network of public transport and highways, the project incorporates the potential of this unique location.

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Kantoortoren in Amsterdam door Erick van Egeraat

Op de Zuidas in Amsterdam is een nieuwe kantoortoren verrezen, ook wel bekend als The Rock. Erick van Egeraat heeft een zeer tot de verbeelding sprekend ontwerp gemaakt, dat voortkomt uit het stedelijk concept van deze locatie.

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Architecture: Top-heavy

One of Amsterdam’s office high-rise sets a fundamental law of nature topsy turvy: namely that the greatest mass must be closest to ground level. As far as the façade is concerned „The Rock“ seems to stubbornly defy this principle: the remarkable 94 m-high construction carries its glazing and aluminum siding near ground level and stone cladding aloof near the top.

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