offices Ackermans & van Haaren

Ackermans & van Haaren is an independent & diversified group that creates shareholder value by investing for the long term in a limited number of companies with international growth potential.

In 2019, assar was asked to transform the library into a co-working space, due to a growing workforce and the need for flexible workspaces and an ideation room. Building on the colours and design elements of the existing cafeteria, we connected both spaces with a blue wall that extends into the co-working space above. Sleek, custom-made glass walls create additional flexible workspaces along the north façade. The ideation room is an open, airy space that can be used in various ways for conversations, informal meetings or brainstorming sessions.

This was the start of a long series of renovations and interior modifications, each time responding to the rapidly changing situation within this thriving company.

The adjacent building in Schermersstraat housed a subsidiary of the holding company at the time. When it moved to a new location, AvH saw this as the ideal opportunity to create additional office space for its growing staff. The building in Schermersstraat was incorporated floor by floor and connected to the main building on each level.

A ‘Whats-Up’ space was created on the ground floor: a combination of lunch and training room overlooking the courtyard garden, with a capacity of up to 40 people. The former monumental entrance staircase was rebuilt and reduced to a minimum. This allowed us to regain usable space without damaging the historical element. An open kitchen with a bar naturally creates a relaxed atmosphere. A moss wall in the distinctive green of the Ackermans & van Haaren logo serves as an eye-catcher, already visible from the new passageway. The new passageway to the main building provides direct access to the entrance and the rest of the building.

In this passageway, we designed a light wall with the theme ‘Marine’, one of the areas in which AvH invests. To prevent the corridor from feeling narrow, we opted for floor-to-ceiling light surfaces displaying satellite images of their projects. In this way, we transformed a sober connection into an experience and transition zone that announces the WhatsUp space in a special way.

The corridor previously served as a temporary location for portraits of the founders and their families. The demand for a more dignified location led to a permanent exhibition in the spacious entrance hall. The raised section—until then an empty, multipurpose reception area—was redesigned into an exhibition on the history of the company and its founders.

The custom-made furniture also accommodates models of the first dredgers: gems from AvH’s rich history, which dates back to the early 20th century. The shape of the central element subtly refers to a ship’s hull and follows the lines of the space, creating a natural circulation. Upon arrival, the two founders, Ackermans and van Haaren, immediately catch the eye, flanked by their families and the milestones that form the basis of the company. The higher position—and the ritual of climbing the stairs before entering the exhibition—reinforces the feeling that you are entering history. The dark back wall contrasts with the white front section featuring the founders. This gives you a clear overview of the story on display here, even from a distance (such as from the entrance door).

The makeover of the courtyard garden is currently being finalised, with a sustainable solution chosen by recovering a lot of material and, within the limits of what was possible in terms of stability, supplementing it with organically shaped planters in Corten steel.