The site for the new HourGlass building is on Buitenveldertselaan. It includes office space for the law firm Loyens & Loeff (among other tenants) as well as an apartment hotel, catering facilities and a two-storey car park.

Parties involved

The development of HourGlass was commissioned by Maarsen Groep and designed by architecture firm Dam & Partners. The work was conducted by Hurks.

Sustainability

HourGlass’s building materials were obtained from sustainable sources, and the building is characterised by its green walls, plants and wood , giving it a feeling of light, fresh and pleasant beauty.

The design maximises the amount of natural light and fresh air, making it a healthy building with a high level of comfort (climate class A). The careful choice of materials prevents the emission of harmful substances and HourGlass is heated and cooled using fully sustainable methods: heat is supplied by the Amsterdam heat network and the building is cooled using cold water from the depths of a lake.

The roofs are fitted with solar panels and an ecologist is investigating opportunities to accommodate both plants and animals on the roof (birdhouses and beehives are already included in the design).

Hurks is a member of Stichting Bewuste Bouwers (the Mindful Builders Foundation), which encourages contractors to focus not only on the structure itself, but also on the surrounding area, health and safety, employees and the environment. During construction, as many measures as possible are taken to minimise the environmental impact of the work.

Additional information