New World Campus, Den Haag

After a circular renovation of the monumental building on Spaarneplein, New World Campus opened its doors in May 2015. Here, a broad network of professionals meets to collaborate, share knowledge and inspire each other to innovate for issues in the field of national and international sustainable development. The housing, a monumental office building that is being revived, fits within this vision. Reuse, sustainable materials, circular financing constructions and social sustainability play an important role in the renovation.

To accommodate the Campus properly, the outdated office furnishings had to be thoroughly overhauled. A conscious choice was made for an approach that does justice to the organic and flexible character of the Campus and that enhances the monumental character of the building. A number of sustainable principles were explicitly formulated for the renovation, such as limiting waste through reuse, as much sharing as possible instead of ownership, social impact and materials that are good for people and the environment.

Reuse

The existing carpet has been reused to a considerable extent, both as floor covering and in furniture. New carpet has been added in a number of places, made from fishing nets that local fishermen in the Philippines use for fishing or from beans that grow on the most barren pieces of earth in Africa, providing the local population with a source of income.

Recycle

Released materials such as facades, ceiling elements and doors were taken and sold or used by a sheltered workshop. In the total renovation (ca 2500m2), very limited material was ultimately disposed of as waste, no more than 1.5 containers (8m3).