The history of Berghaus began in 1882, when the famous Berghaus Fashion Atelier was founded in the heart of Amsterdam. After decades of growth, the company moved to Koningin Wilhelminaplein, where a modern commercial building designed by Prof. H.T. Zwiers was completed in 1964. The area developed into a bustling business district filled with fashion retailers, ateliers, and factories. Over the years, however, the surrounding area changed significantly, and the building increasingly lost its connection to the city. What was once a progressive complex became a closed-off structure with deep floors and limited natural light. The ambition arose to breathe new life not only into the building but into the entire area.
That history still forms the basis of the new design. Zwiers’ original architecture has been carefully respected and reinterpreted in a contemporary design. The characteristic horizontal articulation and rhythm of the facade have been preserved, while the original glass curtain wall has been reimagined using high-quality, insulated materials. At the same time, new additions give the building a contemporary character. The residential towers and office tower, clad in dark facade materials with gold-bronze accents, subtly reference the expressive design language of the Amsterdam School. Organic curves, rounded corners, and rich detailing create an architecture where old and new come together in balance. The result is a building that visibly bears its past but is fully prepared for the future.
