The bow-shaped structure is in keeping with the nautical forms that dot the city, including Kohn Pedersen Fox’s De Hoftoren, the home of the education, culture and science ministries.

While the usual city services (administrative office, library, wedding hall) make up the building’s program, Rudy Uytenhaak Architectenbureau has topped the offices with nine storeys of residential units. The facade is clad in multi-faceted marble and glass, materials that are carried through to a spacious, light-filled interior.

The open-plan office design provides staff with unobstructed views of each other as well as other departments, emphasizing a strategy of transparency. Each floor features a common space, with interaction further encouraged by stairs connecting various public zones. Furthermore, each corner of the building is split open, offering every department a unique view of the city.