Fort Cortina by Karelse & den Besten

Clay bricks infused with metal shavings make up the orthogonal exterior of an office and warehouse in Amsterdam designed by a graphic design agency.

Rotterdam studio Karelse & den Besten, who usually design brochures and logos, completed for the headquarters for gift retailer Cortina alongside a construction management team from TPAHG architecten.

The wharf building named Fort Cortina is located on the site of a former shipyard and was modelled on traditional Moroccan forts.

Behind the brick exterior, three floors of offices and stockrooms surround a cedar-lined courtyard at the building’s centre.

Staggered floor plates create balconies overlooking this courtyard, while additional terraces can be found on the building’s sedum room.

A few other large buildings with brick exteriors have recently been featured on Dezeen - see our earlier stories about a community centre in Hungary punctured by square windows and apartment blocks in Prague with herringbone patterned facades.

Photography is by Sjaak Henselmans, Marcel van der Burg and Jan Derwig.

The following details are from the architects:

Fort Cortina

As a graphic design agency we already had a long cooperation with Cortina, a wholesale in gift items, before they asked us to design their new headquarters. It was our first architectural assignment.

Fort Cortina is built on the premises of the NDSM-wharf, a former shipyard located on the banks of the river IJ in Amsterdam.

In this harsh environment we designed an office and warehouse building that looks like a Morrocan fort.

A monolithic structure, rough on the outside with metallized brick walls and smooth on the inside patios that are lined with cedar wood.

The dynamic lay-out of the facades is a reflection of the different rooms that vary in height and size. A result of our intention to make an exciting interior with small and big views over the river. Rooms to hide and rooms to expose.

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A commercial building that almost fits like a home. The patios at the hearth of the building are inspired on a monastery tour.

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A space for reflection and a way to give light to the interior and to create outdoor recreation areas with footpaths on the roof, which is planted with sedum for an optimal indoor climate control.