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Timmerwerkplaats
About Timmerwerkplaats
A former shipbuilding workshop redeveloped into creative office space, while retaining its industrial character
Along with De Smederij and other central workshops, Timmerwerkplaats was part of the former NDSM shipyard: once one of the largest shipyards in the Netherlands and the world. But ships are no longer built at Timmerwerkplaats. Thanks to redevelopment by G&S& and partners, this national historic landmark is now emerging as a unique and distinctive office space for media professionals.
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Amsterdam’s northern IJ riverbanks are developing at a rapid pace. Parts of the former NDSM shipyard have been transformed into residential buildings, entertainment venues and offices. Amsterdam’s largest shipyard is transforming into a full-fledged urban district. The same is true of the former Timmerwerkplaats. Until the shipyard closed in the 1980s, this industrial warehouse was used for woodworking and ship interiors. Due to its architectural and cultural history, it has been designated a national historic monument. While respecting its industrial elements and rugged character, G&S& - in collaboration with Max van Aerschot Architects, QuA Associates, and IBB Kondor - has redeveloped the Timmerwerkplaats into inspiring workspaces for creative media professionals.
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Old ship interior workshop
The carpentry workshop was built in 1909 and moved to its current location in 1927. The NDSM site once housed large warehouses, workshops, and slipways where thousands of workers built and repaired ships. While other warehouses were used for tasks such as steel forging, the Carpentry Workshop was where wooden interior components, such as furniture, were crafted and finished. This historic workshop, measuring approximately 45 by 60 meters, underwent a remarkable transformation into office space over the course of fifteen months. In 2007, prior to the renovation, the building was stripped down to its skeleton, which consists of a historic steel structure. The facade and skylights were also preserved in their original condition. Inside the warehouse, an entirely new space has been constructed, consisting of three floors.
Home to the media company Viacom
The renovated Timmerwerkplaats is the first project to be completed at NDSM Oost and was immediately occupied by a special tenant: the media company Viacom - formerly MTV. The building, with a total area of 11,000 m², houses a recording studio (1,000 m²), a control room, editing suites, an archive, and offices (4,000 m²) for the TV giant. In addition, three satellite dishes have been installed. The two horizontal windows on the upper floors, which extend the full length of the block, echo the transparent entrance area. With the cantilevered restaurant at the front, the building has gained a new facade facing the IJ. Viacom’s headquarters is now complete: Timmerwerkplaats now accommodates 160 employees across approximately 9,000 m².
A breath of fresh air at the NDSM shipyard
The carpentry workshop, an industrial heritage site, has been transformed - while preserving its historical value - into unique workspaces and meeting areas for the creative media company Viacom. With the renovation of this historic warehouse, which once played a central role in the shipbuilding industry of Amsterdam and the Netherlands, a breath of fresh air is sweeping through the NDSM shipyard. By preserving the cultural-historical elements while making room for the new media industry, G&S& has responded to the city’s desire to preserve the unique, rugged character of the NDSM shipyard. Together with the other historic buildings, the Timmerwerkplaats serves as a home base for today’s creative media professionals.
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