JWT Amsterdam Office by Alrik Koudenburg and RJW Elsinga ~ designcombo

JWT Amsterdam aims to ‘Seriously Surprise’, and it does, from the moment you enter. Exciting things lie in wait around every corner. Whether it’s the upside-down castle at reception, the greenhouse meeting space with huge plants, the architectural tree sculptures, or the drawings from artists such as the Dutch collective Kamp Horst or the Norwegian Anders Rockum. It just doesn’t stop. As a visitor to the space you want to go and explore. Discovering funky Skype units, Amsterdam Canal house cabinets or the profile of Holland’s greatest writer, made out of his Wiki-page text. The interior perfectly reflects the agency’s motto.

On being commissioned, design director Alrik Koudenburg teamed up with design-artist RJW Elsinga. Together the duo worked on creating a stunning space of nearly 2000sq meters, almost all custom-designed. The interior WOW effect, is created with graphics, including logos per department, a variety of unique furniture and specials such as a 2.6m high cardboard bunny to house the office’s many awards. Completing it are classics like the Eames, Friso Kramer, lights by Louis Poulsen, Tom Dixon – and also the fabulous Moroso ‘Soft Wood sofa’ and Driade ‘Nemo’ face chairs.

JWT Amsterdam, lead by Ralph Wisbrun and creatively by Bas Korsten completely reorganized the agency before their big move. Believing that our complex world calls for a new way of working, they tore down the traditional agency structure and built a new one. With 3 leaner, meaner and more agile departments: Think, Do and Make.

For ‘Think’ Koudenburg & Elsinga created an inspirational garden, where one can wonder around and let thoughts flow freely. The space includes a library and a podium overlooking the Leidse Square. ‘Think’ is the place where ideas are invented and plans made, based on strategy, technology and connectivity. — For ‘Do’ a city setup was created, which functions like a busy beehive where JWT staff organize the idea, getting it done with a team of concept producers, online- / activation- / and print producers. — ‘Make’ feels like a happy factory, being inside a creative toolbox, where digital craftsmen and women bring the ideas to life. It consists of a studio for (online) design, visualizing, film making, etcetera. The huge CMYK colored robot cabinets (2.80m high) keep everything nice and tidy.