Electric car manufacturer NIO has unveiled its new European flagship store, a stunning renovation by MVRDV of a seven-story building on Amsterdam’s iconic Keizersgracht. Originally constructed in the late 19th century, this historic structure now boasts a harmonious blend of past and future, making it a standout in modern architecture.
NIO’s European Flagship Store Technical Information
- Architects1-12: MVRDV
- Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Client: NIO
- Topics: Renovations
- Area: 2,700 m2
- Project Year: 2022 – 2024
- Photographs: © Ossip van Duivenbode
The exciting challenge of this project was in unifying the history of this building with the identity of NIO, a company which in many senses is interested in offering a vision of the future. In a sense, we are confronting the same challenge that Rietveld resolved so gracefully 90 years ago. NIO House Amsterdam shows how the old and the new can provide a counterpoint for one another and ultimately enrich each other.
– Jacob van Rijs, MVRDV founding partner
NIO’s European Flagship Photographs
© Ossip van Duivenbode
© Ossip van Duivenbode
A Storied Past Meets a Visionary Future
The building, designed by Jan van Looy and completed in 1891 for the New York Life Insurance Company, was one of the tallest private buildings in Amsterdam at the time. Throughout the 20th century, it housed the renowned Metz & Co department store. In 1933, it gained a significant modernist feature: a steel and glass rooftop pavilion designed by Gerrit Rietveld, a leading figure in Dutch modernism known for projects such as the Schröder House.
However, in 2013, the building’s upper floors, including the Rietveld pavilion, were closed to the public when it became an Abercrombie & Fitch store. Many original interior details were hidden, obscuring the building’s historical essence. MVRDV’s renovation has not only revived these features but also integrated NIO’s innovative spirit, creating a multifunctional space that enhances its neighborhood.
MVRDV’s Design Approach
MVRDV’s design for NIO House Amsterdam respects the building’s rich history while introducing modern elements that reflect NIO’s brand ethos. The interior is characterized by a color gradient that symbolizes NIO’s “blue sky coming” slogan. The gradient progresses from earthy tones on the lower floors to a light, airy blue at the top, culminating in the modernist rooftop pavilion.
The staircase, a central element in MVRDV’s design, reveals historic details and provides a visual anchor on each floor, helping visitors navigate the building. The space has been opened up, with internal walls removed and ceilings raised, creating a light and airy environment. An atrium connects the ground floor to the café above, enhancing vertical connectivity and openness.
A Multifunctional Urban Hub
NIO House Amsterdam is more than a car showroom. It is a multifunctional public space offering various amenities across its seven floors:
- Ground Floor: A car showcase and café with a soft yellow kids’ corner.
- Second Floor: The Forum, a versatile space for workshops, presentations, and small-scale lectures, alongside a “Joy Camp” for children.
- Third Floor: Public co-working spaces available for booking.
- Fourth Floor: An art and design gallery showcasing both NIO products and works by local artists.
- Fifth Floor: NIO’s offices.
- Sixth Floor and Rooftop Pavilion: Event spaces, including the historic Rietveld pavilion, perfect for galas and fashion shows.
Material Innovation and Sustainable Design
MVRDV’s design team selected materials that align with sustainability principles and the building’s vertical journey from earth to sky. The ground and first floors feature 3D-printed wall panels made from recycled drinks cartons, developed with Amsterdam-based Aectual, and sustainable terrazzo flooring by Duracryl’s Durabella. Upper floors feature wood finishes and eco-friendly paints, with the fourth floor’s peachy gradient drawing eyes upward to the vaulted ceilings.
The top floors transition from gold to blue, culminating in the sky-blue finishes of the Rietveld pavilion. Here, MVRDV has faithfully preserved the modernist essence with refined touches, making it an exquisite venue for high-profile events. The glass walls provide panoramic views over Amsterdam, enhancing the sense of lightness and future-forward reflection.
A New Landmark for Amsterdam
NIO House Amsterdam, the third and largest NIO House designed by MVRDV, follows the successful openings of NIO House Chongqing in 2019 and NIO House Rotterdam in 2023. As NIO’s European flagship, it stands as a testament to how historical architecture can be respectfully transformed to meet contemporary needs, enriching both the building and its urban context.
NIO’s European Flagship Plans
NIO’s European Flagship Image Gallery
About MVRDV
MVRDV, founded in 1993 by Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs, and Nathalie de Vries, is a globally recognized architecture and urban design practice based in Rotterdam. Renowned for their innovative and sustainable design solutions, MVRDV seamlessly integrates functionality, aesthetics, and environmental consciousness into their projects. Their diverse portfolio spans residential, commercial, and public spaces, with iconic works like the Markthal in Rotterdam and the Tianjin Binhai Library in China. MVRDV’s approach emphasizes collaborative creativity and forward-thinking, resulting in architectural designs that are both groundbreaking and contextually sensitive, addressing the needs of modern urban environments while honoring historical and cultural contexts.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Founding Partner in charge: Jacob van Rijs
- Partner: Fokke Moerel
- Design Team: Aser Giménez Ortega, María López Calleja, Elien Deceuninck, Egle Jacinaviciute, Xiaoyi Qin, Jiameng Li, Martyna Maciacszek, Monica di Salvo, Basak Gunalp, Sanel Beciri, Turker Naci Saylan, Giovanni Nardi, Jeremy de Hoop, Aleksandra Sliwinska, Samuel Delgado, Thiago Maso, Ela Kara
- Strategy and Development: Sruti Thakrar
- Project management: Turner & Townsend
- Engineering: ABT
- General contractor: ToBuild
- Technical installations: WeMaintain
- Interior installations: DeHaas Interior Partner
- Construction management: Original Spaces
- 3D Printing: Aectual
- Terrazzo Flooring: Duracryl
