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Circl

The new ABN AMRO pavilion Circl is the first practical example of sustainable and circular design. It is based on the idea of ensuring that construction has minimum possible impact on the world’s vital resources. The circular economy is waste-free and resilient, which is exactly what formed the inspiration for the pavilion.

Mainly made from wood, the building is located in front of the main bank building in Gustav Mahlerplein in Zuidas. It features a large and eye-catching glass frontage, giving it an open look and feel. The wide stairs at the side of the pavilion can be used by the public. The stairs lead to a public area where passers-by and employees can meet.
The roof is covered with earth and grass, contributing to biodiversity. The interior of the building boasts more than 2,000 sq. m. of meeting and working space, but room has also been set aside for a ‘living lab’, where the latest innovations that show promise but have yet to prove their value can be applied and tested.

For example, part of the façade has been adapted in collaboration with Delft University of Technology for the application of new materials, in order to explore possibilities of even more sustainable applications.

Examples of circular features in Circl

  • The material from which the floors in Circl are made previously had other uses: reject wooden window frames have been sawn up to make wooden floors and tiled floors have been made from ground recycled concrete integrated with phase-changing materials (PCM) to regulate the indoor climate.
  • The wooden load-bearing structure is made from fully dismountable locally-sourced larch.
  • Old jeans from bank staff and partners have been incorporated into the ceilings as insulation material.
  • The lifts in Circl are on lease rather than purchased, and will be returned to the manufacturer after ten years.
  • All the materials, parts and components used to create the building have been recorded in the form of a “digital twin”, the building’s passport, referred to as LLMNT.
  • Circl has a direct-current supply throughout the building.

Awards and nominations

  • First prize: 2020 ULI Europe Awards for Excellence
  • Nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award 2019
  • Nominated for the Dutch Construction Award (Nederlandse Bouwprijs) 2019
  • Nominated for BNA Building of the Year 2018
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Gallery

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Circl set to continue as online platform

On 2 June 2023, Circl brought an end to the programming and room hire in the sustainable pavilion in Gustav Mahlerplein. But Circl is now moving online to take an extra step towards a circular economy. The restaurant and rooftop bar will remain open.