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De Smederij
About De Smederij
Historic, monumental warehouses transformed into an extremely sustainable and inspiring place to work and stay
De Smederij is located in the heart of the NDSM shipyard, formerly one of the largest shipyards in the world. Ships and ship parts used to be forged here, but today shipbuilding has given way to a different kind of manufacturing industry. G&S& joined forces with partners to redevelop this historic production warehouse into a striking hotel and an inspiring work environment, making it one of the most sustainable repurposed projects in the Netherlands.
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The NDSM shipyard in Amsterdam-Noord is developing at a rapid pace.
From a former shipyard - a rough, run-down area - it is evolving into a modern, creative neighborhood that matters to all of Amsterdam. The Smederij is also undergoing a large-scale transformation. In this historic production warehouse, characterized by its riveted steel structure, ship parts were once welded together. Together with partners Group A (architect), IBB Kondor, and Kondor Wessels Amsterdam, G&S& has brought the Smederij back to life. The building, consisting of a large forge hall and five smaller, adjoining shed-style structures, now houses contemporary office spaces and a hotel.
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Top 25 most sustainably renovated buildings
The Smederij, a national historic monument, consisted of a main warehouse dating from 1909. This 36 by 45-meter hall marked the beginning of the manufacturing process that took place at the NDSM shipyard. Here, ships and components were forged, and large, heavy semi-finished products were transformed into finished goods. As a result, it holds great cultural-historical and architectural-historical value, thanks to its monumental steel structure with a robust industrial appearance. During the redevelopment of this main warehouse into an inspiring workspace, the original exterior was preserved and restored in consultation with historic preservation authorities. In part due to the reuse of materials and the preservation of historic structures, the environmental impact has been minimized as much as possible. The Smederij also has low energy consumption: the building uses only wind energy generated in the Netherlands, resulting in CO₂ emissions that are 50% lower than average.
As a result, the renovated building was ranked among the top 25 most sustainably renovated buildings in the Netherlands in 2015. It is telling that Greenpeace is one of the Smederij’s tenants—the environmental organization chose the Smederij as its headquarters because of the building’s sustainable features.
Hotel as a landmark
In addition to office space, the redevelopment of the Smederij has also resulted in a striking tower housing approximately 90 hotel rooms. The DoubleTree by Hilton consists of nine stories and features a glass exterior. The hotel’s rooms and lobby are furnished in a luxurious style. The top floor is designed in keeping with the adjacent Puntloodsen and complements the historic character of the Smederij and the NDSM shipyard. The hotel’s dining facilities are located in the adjacent main warehouse of the Smederij. This industrial hall with a steel roof structure will become the heart of the building - the place where various functions, accessible via two new entrances, converge. With its sleek, modern facade, the hotel provides a striking contrast to the existing old warehouses and serves as a landmark for the surrounding area.
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Productivity thrives
In addition to the main warehouse, the original Smederij consisted of five gabled warehouses dating from 1938, known as the “Puntloodsen.” At the time of the restoration, the Puntloodsen - a nationally designated historic monument - were in poor condition. In close collaboration with the historic preservation authorities, the original exterior was restored, and the sheds were fully returned to their original style. The original roof trusses and doors have been reused in the workspaces.
The exposed masonry, concrete floors and metal structure also ensure that the historic character of the sheds has been preserved. The fifth Puntloods has been placed on the hotel’s roof as a design feature and raised 30 meters. This has created an elevated element, visually connecting the city and the shipyard more effectively.
With the transformation of De Smederij, Amsterdam has gained a new place to work and stay. This fulfills the city’s desire to preserve the unique, rugged character of this part of the NDSM shipyard. The Smederij is a prime example of repurposed industrial heritage where productivity can flourish. Here, craftsmanship, the circular manufacturing industry, new media, culture, entrepreneurship and technology converge in a unique urban work environment along the IJ.
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Let’s collaborate
for better.
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