About The Story

Creating new dimensions

Sometimes the best things come from thinking inside the box

Envisioning tomorrow’s workspace today

Office spaces today are not what they once used to be. Instead of being mere places where people work well, they should spark conversation, elicit new ideas, feel like second homes and connect us with our environments. With this in mind, we designed The CubeHouse. The result of a shared vision and strong collaboration, this next-generation office building embodies today’s and tomorrow’s workforce.

Located in the heart of the Zuidas, The CubeHouse gives shape to this neighborhood’s new ambitions. Originally a high-profile business and residential district, the Zuidas slowly but surely transforms itself into the second center of Amsterdam. An internationally-oriented area where living, working and relaxing go hand in hand. With its mixed-use profile, The CubeHouse matches this ambition perfectly. Here, community, connection and creativity thrive, supporting the growth of a diverse neighborhood.

The Philosophy

Whether we work for ourselves or for someone else; whether we work with our hands or with our heart; whether we work sitting down, standing up, at night or during the day: work plays a central role in all of our lives. However, optimization and productivity are no longer the sole factors driving companies. Today’s office must be a source of inspiration; a space to be more fun, more welcoming and more flexible for everyone to enjoy.

To adhere to this shift in work culture, we designed The CubeHouse. So much more than a stand-alone work spot, this leading-edge office building ensures that businesses, nature and local communities can thrive. As an inspiring mixed-use building, it sustainably utilizes resources and precious space, while connecting organizations, students, commuters, visitors and residents. As such, The CubeHouse sparks co-creation and contributes to a dynamic urban context.

About the architect

The CubeHouse is envisioned and designed by SO-IL: an internationally recognized and award-winning architectural design firm based in New York. Founded in 2008 by Dutch architect Florian Idenburg and his partner Jing Liu, SO-IL creates environments and objects that inspire long-lasting societal engagement.

Driven by their mission to create resilient architecture that inspires sustainable ways of life, SO-IL collaborates with ambitious private and public clients. The studio has completed projects in Leon, Seoul, Lisbon as well as in their hometown, Brooklyn, New York, and now: Amsterdam. The studio’s belief that design should be accessible to all, and that architecture should nurture new forms of interaction, is greatly reflected in their design for The CubeHouse. With The CubeHouse, characterized by an exciting combination of timber and wood, complexity is celebrated and shaped into forms we all can understand. A sustainable office building that excels in so many areas that it can already be labeled as unique in its kind.

Shared ambition & strong collaboration

The CubeHouse doesn’t settle for just excelling one area. As a mixed-use building, prioritizing sustainability and community, it pushes the envelope on every front. Envisioning and realizing The CubeHouse was only possible through strong collaboration between renowned real estate developer G&S&, New York-based architecture firm SO-IL, investor ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund and launching tenants Arcadis and BNP Paribas. Together, we give shape to the workplace of the future – in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas.

All five parties feel greatly committed to further developing the potential of the Zuidas, while sharing a unique, modern view on office buildings. A future-proof workplace should connect the user to his environment and provide him with optimal conditions in terms of air, light, comfort and materials. We also believe that wood construction is an exciting new development. The technology, design and facilities of The CubeHouse form the basis for this ambition to actualize ‘the new world of work’.