The Waternet office, nicknamed 'the arc,' is a three-storey building created for the company in charge of keeping Amsterdam's waters clean by Attika Architects. The Waternet office is unique in that it sails from location to location, while it is normally docked at the northern part of the city's harbor.
Floating on water, the Waternet office features a timber frame, a thatched facade and 875 square meters of floor space, which houses office space, a cafeteria and locker rooms and showers in the basement for the workers.
Waternet has previously explored outside of the box initiatives, such as their 2012 marketing campaign by ACHTUNG!, which was a portable toilet along the canals that used a virtual game to discourage tourists from relieving themselves in the water.
Mobile Floating Offices
The Waternet Office Makes the Most of Amsterdam's Canal Culture
Trend Themes
1. Floating Offices - Opportunity for companies to create mobile offices that can move between different locations, providing flexibility and adaptability.
2. Thatched Facade - Potential for innovative building materials and designs that incorporate traditional elements like thatched facades, combining aesthetics with sustainability.
3. Virtual Marketing Campaigns - Room for creative marketing strategies that utilize virtual games and interactive experiences to engage and educate the target audience.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture and Construction - Scope for architects and construction companies to explore unique designs and construction techniques for floating offices, taking into account sustainability and functionality.
2. Building Materials - Demand for new building materials that can enhance the aesthetic appeal, durability, and sustainability of structures with features like thatched facades.
3. Marketing and Advertising - Opportunity for marketing agencies to create immersive virtual campaigns that use gamification to promote products or convey important messages in an engaging way.