How do you build a mixed-use wooden residential building on top of an existing structure?
Boogie Wood
In collaboration with OZ, De Zwarte Hond designed Boogie Wood: one of the largest residential buildings in the Netherlands featuring a timber structure. The project is situated on Binckhorstlaan, directly at the exit of the Boogiewoogie Tunnel, and plays a key role in the transformation of the Binckhorst from an industrial estate into a vibrant urban neighbourhood. On the site of an existing office building, a stack of volumes is rising, with a robust appearance that suits the character of the Binckhorst. On top of an existing underground car park, a residential building with social and mid-range rental flats is being constructed. The eye-catcher is the 110-metre-high Mercury Tower, topped with a striking Hague-style crown. The nine-storey timber superstructure on a raised plinth is unique in the Netherlands. Through the use of prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) and other bio-based materials, CO₂ emissions remain below 100 kg/m² — well within the Paris 2030 climate targets. Thanks to their light weight, these homes are technically and financially feasible on top of the two-storey car park. Materials from the old building are being reused in a circular manner. Boogie Wood will be energy-efficient with collective energy generation and smart systems. The courtyard garden connects to the Waterfront Park and is a place where residents can meet without compromising on privacy. The ground floor will feature affordable workspaces for creators and entrepreneurs, making this gateway to The Hague not only welcoming but also affordable and vibrant.
data
- Location
- Den Haag, NL
- Size
- 80.000 m²
- Client
- Ontwikkelaar VORM i.s.m. gemeente Den Haag en Haag Wonen
- Discipline
- Architecture
- Program
- Housing, Retail
- Period
- 2021-2030
- Status
- In Development
- Partners
- OZ Architecten
- Awards (1)
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- Gouden Hijskraan 2025
- Gouden Hijskraan 2025
The Hague
Boogie Wood
© Google Maps
View of future construction site from Binckhorstlaan © Google Maps
Transforming the Binckhorst into a dynamic urban district
The project Boogie Wood is located on the Binckhorstlaan, right at the exit of the Victory Boogie Woogietunnel. The building thus marks the entrance to The Hague via the Binckhorst for traffic from the tunnel. In the coming years, the Binckhorst will be transformed from an industrial area into a lively urban district where living and working go hand in hand. The project will be realised on the site of an existing office building at number 117 Binckhorstlaan.
A design consistent with the industrial character of the Binckhorst
Iconic eye-catcher for the Binckhorst
De Zwarte Hond, in collaboration with OZ, designed one of the largest residential buildings in the Netherlands featuring a timber structure. The 110-metre-tall building on Mercuriusweg comprises approximately 715 homes built on top of an existing car park. Boogie Wood consists of stacked volumes, each with its own distinctive architectural style that complements the rugged, industrial character of the Binckhorst. To meet the Paris Agreement-compliant ambitions and to reduce the load on the existing car park, timber was chosen as the building material. The ground floor consists of a concrete slab upon which the CLT timber homes are constructed. This concrete base has a clear height of 8 metres, creating a robust, flexible and adaptable plinth with a high-quality urban aesthetic. The ground floor will house businesses, including a large timber merchant.
Sustainable, light and circular
The stacking of nine wooden floors on a raised plinth is unique in the Netherlands. Thanks to the use of modular cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction, the project more than meets the strict climate targets of Paris 2030, with a CO2 footprint of less than 100 kg/m². The existing two-storey car park is fully reused and forms the foundation for a large part of the block. By demolishing the old building in a circular fashion, many materials can be reused in the new building. Shared energy generation and intelligent installations will contribute to comfort and minimize energy consumption throughout the entire life cycle.
On top of the concrete structure within the block will be a green courtyard with a thick layer of soil, where trees can grow and space is created for a strong urban ecology, connected to the new Waterfront Park. The façade is a grid of thin fibre-reinforced concrete, saving material and weight. The second row of façades and the inner façades around the garden will be made of wood, so that the sustainability of the design is also visible from the outside.
New entrance to The Hague
In addition to a strong focus on sustainability, quality of life and health are central to this project. The design of the apartments is intended to encourage social interaction, while guaranteeing everyone’s privacy. The plinth provides affordable workspaces where makers and entrepreneurs can develop and create jobs for the city. In this way, the entrance to The Hague becomes a hospitable and affordable welcome for new residents, makers and users.
