The dismantling of the iconic round tower at the head office of De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) in Amsterdam has begun. The entire concrete shell (floors, columns and stairs) and most of the façade and installations will be reused elsewhere in the city, as it is given a new lease of life as a function-free construction, a building with a social purpose.
The tower, designed by Jelle Abma (1921-2009) as an extension of the DNB building has to be relocated due to the renovation of the complex, designed by Mecanoo. In the new design, there will be a public garden where the tower once stood.
After the tower has been carefully disassembled, the materials will be transported by electric boat to a storage location in Amsterdam-Noord, where they will be prepared for reuse. RE:BORN, a development investor, is the new owner of the materials and initiator of the redevelopment at an alternative location in Amsterdam. RE:BORN state that dismantling the tower is more costly than demolition, however in the long-term it will be 30%-40% cheaper than new construction, saves significant CO2 emissions and preserves the emotional value of the building.