Factory Apartments by Elephant: Transforming a 1970s Office Into Innovative Loft Living in Haarlem

A Sustainable Reimagining of a 1970s Office Building

The Factory Apartments project by Elephant architects breathes new life into a former Fluor office building, originally constructed in 1972 in Haarlem, The Netherlands. This monumental transformation from corporate workspace to a vibrant residential loft complex exemplifies modern adaptive reuse architecture.

The building’s original design—spanning 80 by 37 meters with 3.6-meter-high ceilings—was ahead of its time, allowing flexibility for future adaptations. The existing mushroom column structure, vast open floor plans, and rhythmic facade have now been repurposed into a dynamic environment for modern urban living.

Adaptive Reuse With a Purpose

Instead of conventional inner courtyards or double facades, the architects opted to expand the original structure’s footprint outward. This strategy retained maximum floor area and eliminated the need for a second thermal skin, allowing the team to invest more heavily in a high-performance facade system. The result: spacious, light-filled loft apartments sold below market rate, offering affordability without sacrificing quality.

The transformation emphasizes sustainable development and spatial efficiency, keeping much of the original structure intact while introducing a new life cycle for the building.

Casco Lofts: Flexibility Meets Individuality

Out of the 96 total lofts, 30 are offered as casco units, giving future residents complete freedom in designing their interior layout. Kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms can be placed anywhere—empowering residents to create truly bespoke living environments. This collaborative design process between Elephant and the residents has resulted in 30 one-of-a-kind homes, embodying creativity and personal expression.

The remaining lofts maintain the industrial DNA of the building, with exposed concrete columns and generous open-plan interiors supporting multifunctional uses like living, working, or entertaining.

A New Façade That Elevates Daylight and Openness

A standout feature of the Factory Apartments is its innovative bay window façade. Designed to bring in maximum natural light, the floor-to-ceiling glass panels open fully to convert the living space into a semi-outdoor area. These expansive glazed bays gradually shift outward as they rise from the ground floor to the upper levels, enhancing both interior volume and exterior visual rhythm.

By maintaining visibility of the building’s original concrete elements, Elephant skillfully blends transparency, reflection, and architectural memory.

Decentralized Entrances and Rooftop Gardens: Community in Focus

To promote accessibility and privacy, the building now features four new decentralized entrances, creating eight corner lofts per floor, each with dual orientations and private access. These entrances foster community interaction while preserving resident privacy.

Each entrance also connects to a shared rooftop garden, offering green communal space and panoramic views—rare features in dense urban developments. These gardens not only support social engagement but also contribute to urban biodiversity and passive cooling.

The Factory Apartments by Elephant serve as a bold statement in urban regeneration—demonstrating how adaptive reuse and resident-centered design can foster sustainable, affordable, and emotionally resonant housing. By prioritizing openness, flexibility, and community, this project sets a new benchmark for converting aging commercial structures into high-quality, future-ready homes.

All the photographs are works of Crispijn van Sas, Marcel van der Burg