Close Project
Jumbo Shipping’s new head offices are located on the banks of the New Meuse River with views over Rotterdam city centre. The site was the ideal spot for this maritime shipping giant to locate its new base of operations. Naturally, our design for its two buildings were heavily influenced by the water – buildings that now provide workspace for 275 members of staff.
Location
Schiedam
Project completion
2013
Client
DHG Vastgoed
Jumbo
Wärtsilä
Building surface
10,000 m2
Solutions
Offices
The site’s maritime character heavily influenced our design process. Buildings ultimately took on a shape that reference the water and the industries in the surrounding docklands. Entrances to the building are located on a square at the end of Havenstraat. Here, you can enter the office building or drive into the car park. The garage is not visible from the street, but can be seen from the water, which means motorists drive into the garage at water level with a view over the river. Although offices are interspersed across staggered levels to create a depth effect, we made sure that the overall appearance remained compact.
Not only were we responsible for its exterior design, but we were also assigned the task of designing the building’s interior, as well as its furnishings and fixtures. We opted for open-plan workspaces. An atrium connects all adjoining areas to create a friendly and inspirational working environment. It also encourages interaction between the company’s various departments. All the company’s core functions are located around the atrium, which can be reached via a wide steel stairway. These include the boardroom, convention hall, communal areas, gardens, a restaurant and canteens. Wall space around the atrium is adorned with storey-high pictures depicting various aspects of Jumbo Shipping’s operations.
Two wide outdoor stairways on the west side of the building lead to a large deck and patio area. We also built several other large patios on different levels that create mezzanine levels between the building’s staggered floors. These spots in and on the building provide panoramic views of the New Meuse River, passing ships and the adjacent docklands.
Materials and colour schemes selected for office interiors blend perfectly with the building’s exterior design and Jumbo’s identity. Bamboo has been used in several areas to create a warm, comfortable feel.