MATE

A visual quality plan has been drawn up for Werkstad Overamstel that takes the industrial and colourful character of the current business park as its basis and further enhances it.
The plan focuses on new projects, composed of simple, individually recognisable volumes. MATE is composed of four distinct blocks. Three of these, housing the hotel and catering facilities, are stacked on top of one another. They differ in size so that they are individually recognisable.

The plan also inspires the colour choices for the new projects. These are informed by the colours of the current buildings and by the dominant colours used by the existing businesses. The current colourful palette remains, but is enhanced.
For MATE, the well-known red logo of the company currently at the MATE site has been translated into entire façades and window frames in shades of red and pink. These colours make the three blocks appear as a single tower. The office block next to it contrasts through its use of weathered wood.

With a double-height, transparent plinth, MATE seeks to establish a strong connection with the street. This is where the hotel lobby, an all-day bar and the office entrance are located. These features increase footfall and ensure more ‘eyes on the street’.
The large roof garden with a restaurant on the second floor is directly accessible from the street. This roof garden will become a green oasis where hotel guests, office users and visitors can escape the hustle and bustle of the city. The greenery at this height is clearly visible from the street and from the metro, which runs alongside at the same level. This ‘hidden oasis’ becomes visible to passers-by whizzing by: a calling card for the area.

A guiding principle in the MATE design process is CO2-driven design. Reducing CO2 emissions is one of the construction industry’s greatest challenges. For MATE, we therefore make ‘positive’ choices: the structure of the office block will be made of solid timber (GLT and CLT) and the façades will be constructed from bio-based materials. Taking a critical look at our own design choices – opting for a parking system rather than an underground car park – resulted in tonnes more CO2 savings. It underlines the adage: not building something is always more sustainable than building it.

Diverse, colourful and sustainable; MATE is set to become an icon for Overamstel.