Traditionally, Delft has produced two kinds of engineers: the military who had to defend the country against its human enemies and the civil engineers who had to keep out the water. Both needed topographical information. That’s why the knowledge and advisory centre of the Dutch Department of Water Management is still located in Delft.

Since 2003 this centre is housed in a well-equipped office building at the edge of the city. The ground level and second floor contain all the information and consultation services that the organization provides to the outside world. The floor plan of the six office floors above that consists of two L-shaped plans linked in the middle. The core of the building is a central hall with glass outer walls that, like the elevators, are suspended from the roof above.

The surprise of this building is that what normally counts as the darkest place, the vertical connector with elevators and stairs in the centre, here turns out to be the best lighted. Two patio gardens on both sides of the entrance represent the outside world inside.