News flash: Old newspaper office transformed into Amsterdam hotel

The Volkshotel, which opened in June, is a self-styled house of the avant-garde.The De Piijp neighbourhood building uses its past to create an on-trend collaborative commercial space ripe for future consumer and creative directions, from fashion shows to cocktails in an old journalist canteen.

As the former offices of progressive newspaper De Volkskrant for 45 years, architect Steven Steenbruggen kept much of the building as it was, so that the designers had numerous office-like rooms to play with. In addition to head designer Bas Van Tol’s 163 Standard Rooms (including one in the newspaper’s old darkroom), there are nine Special Rooms by winners of an open-call for designers, including as an explorer-themed room by Jos Blom and Jasper Eustace, named after explorer Edmund Hillary.

But visitors are encouraged to mix their intentions for being here, just as the Volkhotel has mixed its offerings and stirred up the very concept of what a hotel can be. There are forthcoming collaborations with Amsterdam Dance Event and Fringe Festival and creatives in the building can take advantage of the sauna, restaurant, café and even a rooftop hot tub.

For another example of a heritage building being revamped for hospitality purposes, read our Innovate on Bauhaus Dessau.