

Ministry of Economic Affairs
Location
The Hague
Client
Dutch Government Building Agency, The Hague
Year
2012
Status
Completed
Program
Ministry
Ministry of Economic Affairs
Designed by architect Gijs Friedhoff in 1956, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality is an example of post-war reconstruction architecture. This monumental complex is organized around three courtyards with the pronounced transverse wings defining the articulation of the volume. In addition to a full renovation, its large-scale restructuring included a number of essential architectural interventions. A glass arcade that connects the vertical junctions, for instance, was raised next to the building to create a new, open spatial structure that is the backbone of the entire plan. The demolition and replacement of wings 0 and 5 provided the necessary extra office space and at the same time improved circulation through the building on all floors. Finally, a new glass orangery was built over the former officer’s mess. Also accommodating a multifunctional conference centre with auditorium, this represents the new identity of the Ministry on Theresiastraat. In the interior, the original cellular organisation was transformed into a new ‘paperless’, transparent en semi-open work environment.









