Office Fonds Podiumkunsten

Due to a multi-year renovation of its old office building, Fonds Podiumkunsten was forced to look for a new location. They found it: a distinctive, monumental, more than 100-year-old building on Spaarneplein in The Hague. Once the headquarters of the Postcheque- en Girodienst, it is now the new home of Fonds Podiumkunsten. 



The reuse and repurposing of existing materials and objects immediately resonated with the client. This was due to the environmental impact, the aesthetic quality of lived-in materials in such a new office, and the sentimental value of materials related to the performing arts.

Superuse and contractor Dijkxhoorn reused many different materials for the interior of the new office. To begin with, many materials from the previous office in Stichthage were reused and repurposed. Materials were also harvested from other floors, from other tenants who had to move out. These included glass doors and panels, lighting, furniture and acoustic panels. Other sources in The Hague were the contractor and the new building, where the existing computer floor became the starting point for the interior design. 



One of the most striking finds is the ‘Altaar van de Warmte’. This bronze altar was the central element of a theatre performance by Collectief Walden. Previously financed by Fonds Podiumkunsten, it has now been bought back and converted into a kitchen island. The decorative, central piece alone weighs 800 kilograms and had to be moved with a crane. The worktop on the altar is a theatre floor, originating from the Chassé Theatre & Cinema in Breda. The kitchen island is a nod to the client, without appearing gimmicky.

The building has a central staircase and stained glass windows, which creates an art deco atmosphere in the building, extending into the various corridors. It was important to establish a connection with the historical and aesthetic character of the building within the interior design. 



This is partly reflected in the overall level of detail in the design. However, the milling pattern on the Heraklith wall panels was key to bridging the gap between the historic character of the building and the rough materiality of reuse. The pattern designed by Superuse was milled into the panels by machine and is a playful nod to the Art Deco atmosphere of the building. The material comes from two different sources and, after milling and installation, was painted in the same colour to create a unity.

The previous user had left behind a raised computer floor, which we wanted to reuse. Our initial idea was to incorporate all the installations into this, but we were unable to obtain permission for the ventilation. We nevertheless decided to retain a large part of the computer floor. In the social heart of the office, we created a sunken seating area by partially removing the floor. This is now a pleasant place to have lunch and hold large presentations. It also created the opportunity to integrate planters recessed into the floor.

The zoning takes into account the dynamics of different activities. The noise level ranges from dynamic to quiet, with the stage first, then production, the oasis and finally the library, which can be used as a quiet place. All four zones have their own character and the communal areas are multifunctional in use.

Fonds Podiumkunsten

Floortje van Sandick, Jos de Krieger, Jan Munning, Matteo Bourdin, Tom van Beek, Paul Helmond

Dijkxhoorn Bouwgroep

Van Dijke

Haaglanden duurzaam

Hoogendoorn Projectbeplanting

Dydell

DGMR

Peutz

Frank Hanswijk