Mecanoo was commissioned to design a new extension for Nemag, optimally aligning all work processes, as well as renovating the factory facade while preserving its industrial character. Connection is the central theme of the design: between office and factory, between departments, between people, and between indoors and outdoors.
Designed as a pavilion, the office nestles into the surrounding landscape. The expansive 15,000 m² site is inspired by the Zeeland landscape and features local plants, grasses, wadis, and native trees. Together, the building and the landscape form a striking presence in this industrial context.
The pavilion’s two-storey structure, with curves, staggered volumes and cantilevers enables sheltered outdoor terraces on both the ground and upper floors. The anodised aluminium facade is a playful reinterpretation of steel sheet piling profiles, referencing Nemag’s industrial field of work. Its warm orange-brown tone complements the renovated brick façade of the factory and creates a refined contrast with the green outdoor space.
The new extension strengthens both the physical and visual connection between the office and the machine factory. A double-height atrium with a skylight welcomes staff and visitors, and serves as the organisational heart and houses an exhibition space, kitchen, and lunchroom. A large 9 by 7 metre window offers a view into the factory where the impressive grabs are produced.
The various office departments are quickly accessible from the atrium, as is the factory itself, which is linked via a transparent transitional space featuring a distinctively designed wash basin. The pavilion encourages connection and interaction: working together, meeting, shared dining in the multifunctional lunch area, and even exercising together in the company gym.
The combination of blue PET-felt walls, steel grid ceilings, polished concrete flooring, and steel cables with end fittings from Nemag’s own factory, interspersed with timber finishes and lush greenery, gives the pavilion an industrial yet warm character.
With its extension, Nemag aimed to create an energy-neutral working environment. To achieve this, the building incorporates natural ventilation, heat recovery, and water retention on the roof and in the landscape. Thermal energy storage in an aquifer combined with a central heat pump provides gas-free heating and cooling.
Abundant daylight, extensive greenery, and strong indoor-outdoor connections contribute to a healthy working environment with optimal indoor climate and acoustics. The materials used are as sustainable and circular as possible. Plantings have been carefully selected to enhance local biodiversity, and animal-friendly lighting minimises disturbance to wildlife.