House Of Dentons / Studio Prototype + DZAP

Architects: DZAP, Studio Prototype
Area: 6,500 m²
Year: 2020
Photography: Ewout Huibers
Manufacturers: Hunter Douglas Architectural (Europe), Arco, Artisan, Bureau Vandervorm, Creafort, Donkersloot, Doors Orange, Fest, Green Stories, HAY, Kampschreur Projectstoffering, Lensvelt, QC Lightfactory, Smeulders Interieurgroep, Studio HENK, Verwol Interieur Realisatie
Electrical Installations: Terberg Totaal Installaties
Mechanical Engineer: Van Galen Klimaattechniek
Acoustic Ceilings: HeartFelt® Baffle Ceiling System by Hunter Douglas Architectural (Europe)
Design Team: Studio PROTOTYPE
Client: Cor Appelman
Design & Build: Studio PROTOTYPE, DZAP
Execution: DZAP
Housing Advisor: Cushman & Wakefield, Cushman & Wakefield Netherlands
Construction Engineer: Van Rossum Raadgevende Ingenieurs
Fire Safety Consultant: Arup
City: Amsterdam
Country: Netherlands

Within the Viñoly Building on Amsterdam’s Zuidas, Studio Prototype and DZAP have created a workplace for the global law firm Dentons that redefines the traditional corporate office into a spatially dynamic and emotionally resonant environment. Occupying 6,500 square meters, the “House of Dentons” introduces an interior that balances professionalism with warmth, emphasizing flexibility, connectivity, and comfort. The design process, realized within a year, benefited from close collaboration between the architects, design-build contractor, and housing advisor Cushman & Wakefield, allowing Dentons to remain operational throughout construction. The concept explores the firm’s polycentric nature through a sequence of distinct yet interconnected spaces—each with its own character—designed to encourage both focused work and informal encounters. A palette of natural materials, expressive wood detailing, and thoughtfully modulated light contribute to an atmosphere that feels simultaneously open, grounded, and humane.

For House of Dentons, we composed a palette of natural materials to create richness through simplicity. Not the classic image of a law firm filled with marble, but rather an interior defined by modest materials — wood, textile, stone — whose combination produces a warm, refined, and welcoming atmosphere.
Here, materials define the atmosphere, not decoration: muted tones, natural finishes, crafted precision.
Interview with Jeroen Steenvoorden of PROTOTYPE

House of dentons / studio prototype + dzap

For the world’s largest law firm, an office must embody more than function—it must articulate identity and culture across borders. In Amsterdam, Studio Prototype and DZAP translated this ambition into an architectural narrative of belonging and adaptability. The “House of Dentons” is conceived as a microcosm of the firm’s polycentric ethos, a physical manifestation of a global network shaped by diversity and collaboration.

The design centers on an atrium conceived as the beating heart of the workspace, a spatial anchor where circulation, daylight, and human interaction converge. Around it unfolds a rich interior landscape composed of varied zones—the entrance gallery, the meeting lane, the art corridor, and a lush tribune garden—that guide employees through shifting atmospheres of concentration and communication. Each area carries a distinct tone and material language, yet all remain linked through a consistent attention to tactile quality and proportion.

Spatial rhythm defines the experience of movement throughout the office. Contrasts between enclosed, darker corridors and luminous, expansive areas reinforce a sense of progression. Studio Prototype introduced large circular wooden elements positioned strategically across the plan to frame views and delineate intimate subspaces without closing them off. These sculptural insertions not only regulate spatial perception but also establish a visual continuity that softens the otherwise linear geometry of the Viñoly Building.

Materially, the interior favors authenticity and warmth over corporate gloss. A restrained palette of woods, neutral textiles, and soft lighting shapes an atmosphere that supports calm focus and informal exchange alike. The acoustic HeartFelt® Baffle Ceiling System by Hunter Douglas contributes to the serene sound environment, while custom furnishings by European manufacturers such as Arco, Lensvelt, and Studio HENK emphasize craftsmanship and tactility.

Realized through close coordination between Studio Prototype and DZAP, the project demonstrates an integrated approach to design and execution. The accelerated timeline—less than a year from concept to completion—was achieved through phased construction that allowed Dentons to continue operations without interruption. Engineering partners Van Galen Klimaattechniek, Van Rossum Raadgevende Ingenieurs, and Arup ensured that technical precision matched architectural intent, balancing performance with spatial comfort.

The resulting interior offers a subtle synthesis of hospitality and professionalism, translating Dentons’ global stature into a distinctly local spatial expression. Rather than imposing hierarchy, the design fosters openness and exchange, presenting a workplace that feels as intuitive and humane as it is efficient. In doing so, the “House of Dentons” transforms the archetype of the corporate office into a living environment—one that reflects the evolving rhythms of contemporary legal practice in the heart of Amsterdam’s business district.