An architect couple in Amsterdam has successfully transformed a historic brewery building into an innovative live-work space that houses both their professional offices and a modern residential addition. Steven Delva of Delva Landscape Architecture and Stefan Bennebroek of Puur Plus Architects initially planned to convert just one floor of the building into an apartment, but their vision quickly expanded into a much larger and more ambitious project.
The transformation began when the couple discovered existing plans for a modern addition on top of the historic structure. What started as a simple apartment tour led to a meeting with the building owner to discuss purchasing roof rights. According to Bennebroek, the owner was so impressed with their vision and connection to the project that he suggested they purchase the entire building. "He said, because it feels really comfortable, I feel really good, and there's a very good connection, you should buy the whole building," Bennebroek recalled.
The architects decided to establish office spaces for their respective practices within the existing historic structure while adding a contemporary residential space on top. To enhance the building's connection to nature, they added climbing vines along the exterior walls. These vines serve both practical and aesthetic purposes, naturally cooling the building while creating a striking green visual element that catches attention at street level. For industrial buildings that are typically unwelcoming and disconnected from nature, these interventions make a significant impact.
The main challenge involved creating a comfortable modern home addition while redesigning the lower levels as contemporary office spaces, all without compromising the building's historic character. Although they didn't attempt to mimic the original brick structure's architecture, both architects were committed to ensuring harmony between the new addition and the existing building.
The design process was highly collaborative, with both architects working together without clear distinctions between their individual contributions. "The whole space was like a playground for us," Bennebroek explained. Their collaborative approach was facilitated by working on initial designs directly at the site, allowing them to intuitively develop the new addition's appearance from the rooftop itself. They used wooden slats to design window divisions on-site, determining proper proportions through hands-on experimentation. While plans evolved throughout the process, they eventually created a two-level loft-like living space featuring massive windows that flood the double-height living area with abundant natural light.
Nature integration became a central design element, particularly important given Delva's expertise as a landscape architect. The abundant natural light eliminated most limitations on interior greenery cultivation. Two trees were transported into the space by crane: a 21-foot-tall Japanese Acer anchoring one side of the terrace addition, and a smaller tree uniquely positioned inside the primary bathroom. "It's such a beautiful interaction between the seasons, which are actually brought into your living area," Bennebroek noted.
The architects maintained a deliberately limited material palette to preserve the building's industrial character. "If you look at the original building, there's a lot of black elements, so we didn't want to hide that," Bennebroek explained. "We thought there was a good opportunity to work with that, but also give it our own identity." Rather than introducing numerous new materials and colors, they focused on expressing differences through texture rather than color. Black ceramic tiles provide handmade touches to the industrial-inspired palette, with each tile's unique characteristics contributing to the overall aesthetic. "Every tile is different and that makes it so nice," Bennebroek said. "It's not that you make one block of color because the color changes since it's a handmade product." Eye-catching Brescia Verde marble elevates the home design above the office spaces below.
Ultimately, the project's greatest success lies in its masterful use of natural light. "I really love that about this apartment, the change of daylight is so amazingly incredibly visible when you're there," Bennebroek said. "Even on a rainy day, you don't have the feeling that it's a rainy day, because you still have so much light and such a beautiful view." The project demonstrates how historic industrial buildings can be thoughtfully adapted for modern live-work arrangements while respecting their architectural heritage and enhancing their connection to the natural environment.
