BNG
In the heart of The Hague, Kraaijvanger is transforming BNG's striking office into a light, open and inspiring building that embraces its surroundings. A radical renovation that respectfully builds on the historic structure while embodying a vision for the future. Where the existing building appeared closed and introverted, an empathetic, transparent and sustainable office is now emerging that exudes identity, well-being and social impact. A thoughtful reset from the inside out.
Light and space as drivers of well-being
We bring daylight deep into the building, right down to the ground floor, via strategically placed voids and generous new façade openings. Inside and outside are connected with each other. By cutting away floor areas, a spatial infrastructure is created that allows for air, views and encounters. Nature and outdoor space are given a place in the interior. Users feel the day, the weather, the seasons. In this way, we contribute to a working environment that stimulates well-being and activates the senses.
BNG's identity made visible
BNG is the bank of and for governments and social organisations in the Netherlands. Their mission: to provide financing at the lowest possible cost, with maximum social impact and sustainable development.
The new head office translates this mission into architecture. The design embodies core values such as connection, honesty, community, pragmatism, commitment and energy. Design decisions were constantly tested against these qualities.
The new entrance on the corner opens invitingly to the city and forms the entrance to the BNG Impactspace - a flexible place where encounters and meaning come together. Transparency in the façade, a public plinth with a café and exhibitions, and the visibility of data make the bank's social commitment tangible.
The building is more than just accommodation: it is a recognisable sign of BNG's identity and an extension of its social role.
A working environment that moves with you
The workplace of tomorrow is hybrid, dynamic and people-oriented, and that forms the basis of the new design. Instead of an open-plan office or closed corridor structure, a rich social working environment is created: a fluid whole of squares, gardens, co-working spaces, meeting zones and focus rooms. The spatial structure is designed to accommodate change, without rigid compartmentalisation.
From open, fluid zones to intimate concentration areas, everything is modular and adaptable, ready to move with people and the times. This is an environment where people not only work, but also learn, think, feel and celebrate. A place that invites discovery, every day anew.
Ecological design, responsibility across generations
The new BNG office was designed with the principle of generations in mind. Each material was carefully selected based on its origin, impact and future value. Where possible, bio-based materials were used, or components that are fully recyclable within the technical cycle.
The construction is fully demountable and reusable, with a flexible structure that can adapt to future needs – without demolition and waste. The CO₂ impact has been calculated and minimised, not only at completion but over the entire life cycle.
The result is a building that raises the bar: not only less harmful, but actively contributing to a regenerative future.
Space for social sustainability
Social sustainability forms the human core of the design. The new BNG office encourages equal interaction, collaboration and well-being in an environment that has been consciously designed to be inclusive. A rich palette of workspaces, relaxation zones and shared areas creates a social working landscape that offers space for diversity in personal working styles, generations and backgrounds. The public plinth opens the building to the city and creates a place where the bank can engage in dialogue with society. This makes the office more than just a workplace: it becomes a social hub that exudes engagement and connection.
Dealing with post '65 heritage
The head office of BNG Bank, designed by Mik Bečka and built between 1975 and 1983, is a characteristic example of post-1965 architecture: a substantial, clear office typology with a serial façade structure and a powerful urban presence on the edge of The Hague city centre. Architectenweb once described the building as a “white office colossus”.
The renovation preserves what makes this building type and location special, but brings it up to today's technical and energy standards. To soften its monumental presence, making it less “like bleached teeth”, the façade has been given a greyish tint. The original structure was carefully analysed, after which interventions were designed in collaboration with Welstand Den Haag that are both impactful and faithful to the original architectural language.
The new façade sections match the rhythm of the existing structure, but increase transparency: bay windows have been widened, simplified in form and raised over two layers. Concrete elements have been removed from the entrance and a double-height glass space has been added behind the original structure. This gives the transition from outside to inside a new spatial layering.
The building has been radically upgraded to make it more sustainable: it is connected to district heating (gas-free), equipped with PV panels and transformed to energy label A+++.
The power of contrast
The design deliberately plays with contrasts, rooted in the original architecture. The bright grey-white contrasts with deep blue, creating a field of tension full of meaning. Contrasts also arise in the forms: sleek geometry meets flowing organic lines; structuralism transitions into softness.
These contrasts are not ornamental, but conveyors of stories. They offer space for reflection and mirror the complexity of everyday life. This layering creates depth, recognition and tranquillity.
