How do you build a mixed-use wooden residential building on top of an existing structure?
BoogieWood
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
- Photography
- John Bosch
- Partners
- OZ Architecten
- Awards (1)
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- Gouden Hijskraan 2025
- Gouden Hijskraan 2025
© Google Maps
View of future construction site from Binckhorstlaan © Google Maps
Transforming the Binckhorst into a dynamic urban district
The project BoogieWood 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. BoogieWood 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 timber floors on a raised plinth is unique in the Netherlands. Through the use of cross-laminated timber (CLT), the project comfortably meets the Paris climate targets for 2030, with a carbon footprint of less than 100 kg/m².
The existing parking garage is fully retained and reused, serving as the foundation for a large part of the building block. Materials from the old building are also recovered through circular demolition and reused in the new construction. Collective energy generation and smart building systems enhance comfort and reduce energy consumption throughout the building’s entire life cycle.
A green courtyard garden with a deep soil layer sits atop the concrete structure within the building block, providing space for trees to grow and supporting a rich urban ecology. The garden connects to the new Waterfront Park. The façade consists of a grid of slender fibre-reinforced concrete elements, reducing material use and weight. The second façade layer and the inner façades surrounding the garden are made of timber, making the design’s sustainable material choices visible on the exterior as well.
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.
Section
Ground floor
4th floor
12th floor
The Hague
BoogieWood
