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13 marzo 2008
«‘Kraanspoor’, ING Real Estate’s innovative office development in
Amsterdam, has today been honoured with two prestigious accolades at
the international MIPIM awards. In addition to being crowned “Green
Building of the Year”, an awarded voted for by delegates at the
28,000 strong MIPIM conference in Cannes, the development received
the highly sought “Special Jury Award”, which is given to one
project, as chosen by the jury, out of all fifteen shortlisted
candidates.
Located on the river IJ in Amsterdam, Kraanspoor began life as a
1952 concrete fitting-out platform. It was saved from demolition in
1997 by architect Trude Hooykaas, who identified the structure’s
potential for re-development and designed a three-storey, 12,500 m²
glass office building that appears to float over the old concrete
base.
The building’s indoor climate is regulated by a double-skin façade
with movable louvers and solar-controlled glazing, whilst openings
in the floor and a low-energy mechanical extraction system provide
ventilation. In summer, Kraanspoor is cooled by water from the river
below whilst, in colder months, the relatively warm water from the
IJ is used to preheat the central heating system.
Because of its location on the water, the existing concrete platform
had attracted a wide variety of water birds throughout its life. In
order to maintain this balance with nature, boxes were created
beneath the new building to provide sustainable housing for the wild
birds.
Flexible design is integral to ING Real Estate Development’s
strategy for sustainability and so Kraanspoor, now an office
building, is designed flexibly in order that it could accommodate
other functions, even housing, in the future.
Speaking about the issue of green design and the prestigious award
win, Menno Maas, CEO Development of ING Real Estate, commented:
“Creating an environment where people are happy and proud to work
should be the driving force behind any office development. As we
move towards an ever more responsible society, the property industry
must continue to push the boundaries of sustainable design to meet
this objective – creating structures that not only fit naturally
into their urban surroundings, but are also environmentally and
economically balanced.
He continued: “At Kraanspoor, we sought to create a low impact and
inspirational environment that complements its surroundings, and I
am delighted that it has received international acclaim by the
industry.”0» (CS della Società)
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