Mecanoo has been awarded the NRP Gulden Feniks 2025 for the transformation of De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) in Amsterdam. The national award celebrates excellence in the renovation and transformation of the built environment, recognising projects that demonstrate architectural quality, innovation, and social value.
This year’s winners include De Nederlandsche Bank in Amsterdam, De Meelfabriek in Leiden, and Kantoor Vol Afval in Katwijk. The wildcard prize was awarded to Witte Panden in Rotterdam. In total, 58 projects were submitted in 2025, reflecting the diversity and ambition of contemporary Dutch transformation practice.
At De Nederlandsche Bank, Mecanoo reimagined the once-secure and closed complex on Frederiksplein into an open, accessible, and socially engaged building. Until recently, part of the Netherlands’ gold and banknote reserves were stored on site, rendering the building hermetically sealed to the public. The relocation of the vaults presented an opportunity for renewal — transforming a fortress into a welcoming civic space.
The new design embodies DNB’s motto, “Connecting with society.” On the ground floor, a public atrium invites citizens inside through a generous interior walkway featuring a café, workspaces, and an art collection. Even lockers for the homeless have been included, reflecting an architecture of care and inclusion.
The jury praised the project as “a bold decision and a boon for the city,” applauding the way Mecanoo and its partners translated DNB’s ambitions into both program and design. The careful treatment of the existing heritage and the clarity of the architectural intervention demonstrate Mecanoo’s craftsmanship and integral design approach.
The award marks an important recognition of Mecanoo’s mission to transform institutional buildings into open, sustainable, and socially connected architecture — places that serve not only their users but the wider community.