TANK: Winner of World Design Awards 2025. With connection at heart & mind, thought-leading advertising agency Ace opened its doors to their team, their clients, their colleagues and their new neighborhood.

The newly built building in Amsterdam’s harbor area (the Houthavens) hosts 12 different advertising-related agencies that are combined into one super-agency; Ace. The foundation of Ace is bringing different people together on creative challenges for brands; people from different backgrounds and with different areas of expertise. Because when people get together, the true magic happens; cross-pollination of great ideas and visions. Ace’s new office perfectly translates their Club-philosophy where work and social gathering seamlessly blend by inviting employees and clients to meet each other in areas of interest beyond work. An enticing, inspiring and flexible place to be that complements working from home.

About the space

The ground floor is fully designed to make things happen – ‘create waves’ – and make a positive impact on society. Anything should be possible. You may attend a lecture, have drinks at the bar, hang out, present your work, meet new people, put products on show, feel energized and inspired, throw a party from time to time, attend workshops, withdraw with only you and your laptop or have any kind of meetings. A hyper-versatile floor that meets your needs, whatever your mood.

About the design

Key-words to help designing and defining Ace’s space are ‘authentic’, ‘bold’, ‘cultured’ and ‘energizing’.

Except for adding a huge void to allow for the central staircase, the architecture was left untouched and the interior was added to the building as a separate layer.

TANK chose a toned down color palette, combined with authentic materials like timber and hemp. The bright red staircase at the core of the space is the bold statement that emphasizes connection and opinion.

The use of biophilic design resulted in abstracted islands with surrounding paths that could be interpreted as water and walls with hemp finishing that refer to layers of sludge.

Upon entrance, a clear path guides you through two XL-timber seating islands, following its way under the eye-catching staircase, straight to the round, concrete bar. To easily make your way and feel at ease, all shapes are either rounded or have rounded corners.

But it’s not all nature and zen that spin the space, funky and cheeky interventions are all around:
The reading table is adjustable like a scissor lift so it can either be a table for weekly meetings, a product display-area or even become a catwalk.
The round conversation pit allows for closed off meetings and can be transformed into a central stage
The giganormeous chandelier over the bar is the obvious gathering point
The chef’s table serves to have lunch but works as a meeting table or workshop-bar too.

Other than that, of course functional single-use spaces are available as well. A sound studio, a prayer room, a pump room, meeting rooms, a wardrobe and gender neutral toilets support Ace’s unique event space at ground level.

About the offices

Just want to work like you used to, at your own table within your own company? On the first and second floor, dedicated offices are created for the 12 individual agencies. Each agency was given a set of elements to express its own identity. Anything you need besides your desk and chair is organized around the void. Printing, having a drink or a wastebin encourages people to move. Again, to meet others and allow for unexpected encounters and spark conversations.

TANK’s take on office design

A world in which people actually want to come to the office. Imagine that. People work better when they feel good, so let’s challenge our preconception of the workspace. Scratch that. Let’s unlearn everything we know about the conventional office and create workspaces that recharge and uplift, rather than suck us dry.

Adaptability, inclusivity and diversity are key pillars at TANK. Therefore our workspaces are safe-havens for both the extravert and the introvert. Those who rockup for dynamics, will find plenty of social hangouts with an an emphasis on togetherness. Meanwhile, quiet zones help others find focus to make deals, deadlines and to-do’s. A natural flow between private and public zones ensures room to consult and collaborate. And room to concentrate with Me, Myself and I. Perhaps a subtle detail may spark an idea. A burst of nature might remind you to take a deep breath. Or a bold design statement will nudge you to take the damn stairs. Those who know TANK, won’t be surprised to find an art installation, when what they asked for was a TV. And you if you think boardrooms are boring, we should talk.

TANK balances the playful and professional, so that people can do their thing. From the the office loudmouth to the office mouse. From vip clients to karaoke coworkers. Welcome to your favorite spot. Today, we slay.

Credits list
Client: Ace, Rogier IJzermans (CEO)
Creative Direction brand identity: Smörgåsbord Studio
Creative Director: Vincent Venema
Creative Producer: Roeland de Ponti
Woodwork: Motion design
Thndr: Audio design
Interior builder: Brandwacht & Meijer
Bespoke lighting: Vantot
Carpets: Donkersloot
Furniture: BigBrands
Plants: Bloei
A/V equipment: Aviste
Smart installations: Mega Elektra
Kitchen equipment: Beuk Horeca
Coffee & Machines: Lot61 Catering: Vermaat

Project Details:-
Firm
TANK

Designer
Sanne Schenk

Project Name
Ace

Project Category
Office Building Interior (Built)

Team
Miriam Zuurbier, Eva Trip

Project Location
Amsterdam

Country
The Netherlands

Photography ©Credit
©Teo Krijgsman

TANK

What is it about a TANK space? One look should tell you we prefer interesting over perfect. Bold over beautiful. Surprise over safety. 

For over 20 years we’ve been breaking the rules to create hotels, restaurants, bars, offices, gyms and homes that find unexpected ways to bring people together. With roots in hospitality design we strike a balance between thrilling aesthetics and smart functionality to create spaces you can’t wait to visit, and never want to leave. Team meeting, workout, or dinner  – we believe the future is hyper-communal. This means environments have the power to create stronger networks and greater wellbeing. Founded by hospitality experts Sanne Schenk and Tommy Kleerekoper, our team of architects and interior designers are here to revolutionize how we meet, eat, sleep, collaborate, workout, chill, strategize, dream, cook, make love, negotiate, play and be together.