Office & Daycare Building - The Hague, Netherlands
Double functionality
Combining an office building with a daycare requires careful spatial choreography. In this design, both functions support each other without interference. The daycare is positioned on the highest floor to create a calm, protected setting away from office circulation and street-level noise. Parents and staff enjoy dedicated access routes, while shared building amenities—like vertical connections and central utilities—enhance operational efficiency. It creates a single building that serves working families while maintaining the standards expected of two distinct institutions.
The building follows a clear and intuitive circulation flow that separates office dynamics from the daycare’s safe environment. Vertical movement is organized around a central core that connects all four levels, making navigation effortless while supporting efficient emergency routes. Office floors are arranged in clean working zones with natural daylight reaching deep into the plan, while the daycare sits on the top level, benefiting from privacy, safety, and direct access to its own outdoor play terrace.
Spatial Quality & User Experience
Natural light, clear sightlines, and generous ceiling heights give the building a bright and open character. The floorplans emphasize comfort and productivity by reducing clutter and encouraging fluid movement between work zones. On the daycare level, warm materials and safe, soft boundaries create a nurturing environment for children. Across all spaces, the focus is on how people feel: supported, inspired, and able to work or play in a place that takes their well-being seriously.
Materials were selected to balance durability, comfort, and sustainability. High-performance facade panels resist weathering while allowing easy future replacement. Interior finishes prioritize acoustic comfort, clean maintenance, and a balanced atmosphere suitable for both professional office environments and childcare spaces. The palette supports long-term use while keeping operational costs low and ensuring a pleasant daily experience for all users.
A Safe and Playful Environment for Children
The daycare floor is designed as a bright, nurturing space where children can learn, play, and feel at home. Soft daylight fills the rooms through large, child-height windows, helping them stay connected to the outdoors while remaining fully safe inside.
The layout is organized into activity zones — play areas, rest corners, and quiet learning spaces — each designed to support different stages of a child’s rhythm throughout the day. Materials were selected for durability and ease of cleaning, while still keeping a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Safety is integrated into every detail. Rounded edges, clear sightlines for staff, and wide circulation paths allow caregivers to supervise children effortlessly. The outdoor terrace offers a protected place for fresh air and movement, giving children a safe connection to nature even in an elevated setting.
Together, these elements create a daycare environment that feels caring, structured, and imaginative — a place where children can grow, explore, and feel truly supported.
Office Spaces Designed for Clarity and Comfort
The office floors are shaped around openness, daylight, and flexibility. Large windows draw natural light deep into the work zones, creating a calm and productive atmosphere throughout the day. The layout avoids unnecessary barriers, allowing teams to move, collaborate, and reorganize their environment with ease.
Workstations, meeting areas, and breakout zones are arranged in a way that supports both focus and interaction, giving companies the freedom to adapt the space as they grow. The structural grid keeps most interior walls non-load-bearing, so rooms can expand, shrink, or shift without major construction.
Acoustic comfort, air quality, and user experience were considered at every step. Materials were chosen for durability and clarity, while circulation paths keep movement intuitive and efficient. Together, these elements create an office environment that feels both modern and human-centered: a workplace built to support productivity without sacrificing comfort.
Results
Flexibility for Expansion and Reconfiguration
The building is designed with a modular shell composed of interchangeable exterior panels, allowing the façade to be updated or fully redesigned when needed. Inside, the layout features generous open zones that can be reorganized with ease. Internal walls can be relocated to expand or reshape rooms, enabling new spatial arrangements without major structural interventions. As a result, the building can quickly adapt to a new floorplan whenever required.
Sustainable Energy Generation and Reduced Energy Consumption
To improve climate performance, the building incorporates an Earth, Wind and Fire (EWF) system that utilizes natural airflow for ventilation and assists with passive cooling and heating. Solar panels installed on the roof generate renewable energy to support the building’s electrical systems. Additionally, the green roof absorbs solar heat, reducing thermal gain during warmer periods and lowering the need for mechanical cooling.
Compliance and Health Standards
The design fully complies with Dutch building regulations and adheres to the "Gezonde Kantoren" (Healthy Offices) standards, ensuring a safe, comfortable, and productive working environment for all users.