Project NCG

Most conventional offices suffer from a certain bland uniformity. They’re typically defined by a standard structural grid, low suspended ceilings, dull gray carpeting, and rows of fluorescent-lit workstations lining the windows, with dimly lit corridors in the center. The open-plan revolution tried to shake this up by removing walls, resulting in more people per square meter – but at the cost of constant distractions, lowered concentration, and not even a single surface to pin up a calendar.

 

For the headquarters of the National Coordinator Groningen (Nationaal Coördinator Groningen, responsible for earthquake remediation efforts in the region), the design set out to achieve the best of both the open and cellular office worlds. The solution was deceptively simple: organize all partition walls in one direction only. By placing walls parallel to each other along the length of the floor plate, the design divides each level into a series of orderly, elongated zones. These zones align with the building’s existing structural grid and respect elements like stairwells and elevators. Crucially, every workspace zone now stretches uninterrupted from one facade to the other, so each team area enjoys daylight and 5 views on both sides. The partitions create a sense of enclosure and focus for individual teams, dramatically reducing noise and visual disturbances between different groups, while maintaining an overall open flow along the length of the building.

 

On the ground floor, this strategy is reversed to foster openness with the public. The walls turn 90 degrees relative to the floors above, resulting in a generous, open-plan lobby that spans the entire width of the building. This welcoming entrance area encourages visitors and staff to intermingle and makes the institute feel transparent and accessible. Throughout the upper floors, however, the onedirectional wall layout ensures a balance: it carves out quiet, focused work areas without fragmenting the space into claustrophobic cubicles. The NCG Office interior demonstrates how thoughtful spatial planning can create a work environment that is both collaborative and conducive to concentration — a far cry from the generic office spaces of old.