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In this light, the transformations of Amsterdam buildings take on a special meaning. From colossal offices to outdated flats and industrial silos: what was once considered written off proves, with vision and creativity, to be a foundation for a sustainable city. The twenty projects highlighted here show how renovation not only saves CO₂, but also preserves heritage, strengthens communities and enables new functions. Together they form a plea for a different vision of the future: a city that renews itself without erasing its own identity.

On an industrial estate there were office buildings that had lost their value due to vacancy. The monotony and lack of residential quality made the area unattractive.

The former Rijkspostspaarbank office near Westerpark was given a completely new life as a residential complex. Under the name “Voortuinen” (Front Gardens) the outdated office was transformed into contemporary apartments. The façades were opened up, balconies were added and the public space was given a green layout. This marked the beginning of a surprising residential district on the site where anonymous office buildings once dominated the street scene.

The housing complex on Akbarstraat, Schaapherderstraat and Wiltzanghlaan in the Kolenkitbuurt was built in the 1950s as affordable rental homes for workers. The blocks by architect Th.J. Lammers belong to Order II and thus have a special status within Amsterdam’s spatial quality. Although many blocks in the neighbourhood have already been demolished, these homes form an important remnant of the post-war reconstruction history.

Housing corporation Rochdale is renovating and making 198 homes more sustainable here. The characteristic small homes with relatively many rooms are retained but adapted to today’s requirements, with better insulation and district heating. The plinth façades become livelier by relocating storage spaces and adjusting maisonettes, making the street look more inhabited and safe. Small front gardens and better connections with the rear gardens enhance living comfort and the quality of the public space.

The Stellingweg flat in Amsterdam-North was a typical gallery flat from the reconstruction period, with little appearance and much deferred maintenance.

The flat was thoroughly renovated with new façades, insulation and a fresh layout. The project shows how massive post-war residential buildings can be adapted to modern housing needs without losing sight of affordability.

The Bijlmerbajes was for decades a notorious penitentiary on the edge of the city. The high towers were closed and impenetrable, symbols of punishment and confinement.

In the new Bajeskwartier – which is being transformed into a sustainable and vibrant city district – one of the towers is getting a second life as the “Groene Toren” (Green Tower). Here apartments are being created, with much attention to sustainability, reuse and greenery. The transformation from prison to living environment shows how drastically a building’s function can change.

The “Zandkasteel” (Sand Castle) in Amsterdam-Zuidoost, originally built for the ING Bank, was a postmodern office building with a distinctive character. After the bank left, it stood empty and seemed to become a ‘ghost castle’.

The redevelopment made it a mixed complex with homes, education and workplaces. The special architecture was preserved but given a new meaning as a lively urban place in Southeast.

In the Houthavens there were old sheds and wine silos that had lost their original function. The industrial heritage was on the verge of disappearing in the wave of new construction.

LEVS architects transformed the sheds into modern residential buildings, placing transformed wine silos on the roofs as striking eye-catchers. This created a unique combination of living and industrial heritage.

De Boel, a large residential and office building from the 1960s in Buitenveldert, became outdated and uncomfortable. The original large scale no longer matched the wishes of residents and users.

Architect Hans van Heeswijk gave the building a new façade, modern apartments and sustainable office floors. The mix of functions makes De Boel lively and attractive again, both for residents and for the neighbourhood. A roof garden has been laid out on the ninth floor that is accessible to all residents. The planting is by the bureau Karres en Brands.

The DNB headquarters at Frederiksplein was a closed fortress with concrete façades and little interaction with the city. The building symbolized the authority of the bank but excluded the neighbourhood.

The renovation focused on openness and sustainability. The façade was made more transparent, public functions were introduced and green roofs were added. The result is a building that is not only safe and functional but also connected with the city and its residents

Tripolis, designed by Aldo van Eyck in the 1990s, was a striking but under-used office complex along the A10. The distinctive shapes and patios were initially misunderstood, resulting in vacancy.

With Tripolis-Park the complex has been re-evaluated: the original buildings remain, but a new glass tower has been added that protects the old volumes. The project combines heritage with modern workplaces and positions itself as an innovative office park for the future.

At the Staalkade, in the heart of the city, stands an office building that for years lost its lustre due to dated architecture and impractical layout. It no longer matched the wishes of contemporary users.

Office Winhov transformed the building with an eye for the historic surroundings. Clean lines, high-quality materials and a light layout gave the office a fresh identity. The result is a contemporary working environment that at the same time subtly fits into the old inner city.

This enormous office in Sloterdijk, once known as the Elsevier building, was built in the 1970s and was long regarded as a grim colossus. The outdated building symbolized the anonymous office district.

The architecture firm de Cie. turned it into a hyper-modern and sustainable building, with a spectacular atrium space, abundant greenery and circular materials. EDGE Amsterdam West is now a flagship project in the field of energy efficiency and healthy work environments.

Amsteldok (formerly Rivierstaete), along the Amstel, was once the largest office building in the Netherlands. The modernist design from the 1970s was known as a heavy, closed building that lost its lustre when it became vacant in the 1990s.

Through the renovation, Rivierstaete underwent a complete metamorphosis. The façade was opened up and provided with glass, terraces and greenery. Inside, light, flexible office floors emerged. The building, once a closed bastion, is now an icon of transparency and contemporary office architecture.

The National Holocaust Museum on Plantage Middenlaan is housed in the former Reformed Teacher Training College. During the Second World War this building offered a crucial hiding place: from here hundreds of Jewish children were brought to safety. The location, opposite the Hollandsche Schouwburg, together forms an impressive urban ensemble of remembrance.

Office Winhov transformed the old school into a dignified and understated museum. The monumental character was respected, while new interventions make the building suitable for exhibitions and education. Transparent connections and carefully chosen materials emphasize light, space and remembrance. In this way the museum connects past and future, giving a new cultural and social meaning to this historic building.

Station Wildeman in Amsterdam Nieuw-West started as a school building and community centre but fell into disrepair and lost its function. The complex became a symbol of disadvantage and vacancy in the neighbourhood, while the area actually needed facilities for young people, entrepreneurs and culture.

The redevelopment turned Wildeman into a versatile neighbourhood station. Modern educational spaces, flexible offices, studios and cultural venues were created. By giving residents, students and

entrepreneurs a place, an open and lively complex emerged that strengthens the social fabric of the neighbourhood.

The Leeuwenburg building along the Amstel was built in the 1970s as an education and office complex. It was an example of brutalism: large-scale, cast in concrete and functional in nature. For years the building was a landmark for train travellers and motorists, but the closed façade and monotonous appearance meant that the building was increasingly perceived as outdated and unattractive.

With the renovation Leeuwenburg is gaining a light and open appearance. New façades with lots of glass bring daylight inside and ensure contact with the city. The floor plan is flexibly arranged for educational spaces and meeting areas. In this way the robust colossus is transformed into a sustainable education centre, in which the heritage of the 1970s is combined with the requirements of today.

On Zeeburgereiland three concrete silos stood unused for years. These remnants of the sewage treatment plant were industrial heritage without a clear function.

Elephant Architecture is currently giving the silos a new future with a mix of hospitality, culture and housing. The sturdy concrete structures were reused as frameworks for new functions and will soon form the heart of a dynamic city district.

De Henricus, a former Catholic school and church in the Jordaan, lost its original function due to secularization and changing demographics.

Berger Barnett repurposed the complex into a contemporary educational building, preserving religious heritage and historic details. The project shows how monuments can adapt to new times without losing their soul.