Tall & Urban News

The renovation and transformation of Tripolis Park, originally designed by Dutch modernist architect Aldo van Eyck, has been completed by MVRDV for developer Flow. The project involved restoring two heritage buildings according to Van Eyck's designs and adding a 12-story "landscraper" to shield the site from the nearby A10 highway. This new structure, positioned close to the highway, acts as a protective barrier, creating an intermediate space where new and old elements interact.

Tripolis Park originally consisted of three office buildings comprising a total area of 25,000 square meters, connected to Van Eyck’s Amsterdam Orphanage, a significant Structuralist project from 1960. In 1986, the orphanage faced demolition threats, prompting an international campaign that eventually led to the adjacent land being granted for development. Van Eyck, along with Hannie van Eyck, designed the new office complex in 1994, saving the orphanage in the process.

Despite its historical architectural significance, the original Tripolis struggled commercially and remained vacant for years. The expansion of the A10 highway further threatened the site with increased noise and pollution. In response, MVRDV restored the façades based on Van Eyck’s initial plans, using wood cladding and retaining the multi-colored window frames. Inside, the renovation maintained signature elements like staircases and natural stone floors while modernizing the space for contemporary office use, focusing on open and collaborative environments.

The redevelopment aimed for sustainability, incorporating greenery and pavilions on rooftops for events and interaction, and installing solar panels to achieve BREEAM Outstanding certification. The new 34,000-square-meter “landscraper” building, named “The Window,” features a large opening in its southern facade, framing a view of the original complex and emphasizing the heritage connection.

With Tripolis Park, the development has attracted major tenants like Uber and law firm De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek. Future plans include work on the third original building and the ongoing greening of the site, which will become accessible via paths connecting it to the Zuidas area and a nearby metro station, further establishing a park-like campus that preserves Van Eyck’s architectural legacy.

Learn more at MVRDV