Felix Meritis: The home of the curious

Keizersgracht, 1788: A hotspot for creativity and crossover between scientists, artists, entrepreneurs and thinkers, a 4500 m2 Louis Seize-style building, christened Felix Meritis (translated: “happy through merit”), was built during the Age of Enlightenment. Commissioned by the investment group Amerborgh, the award-winning studio i29 redesigned the interior of Felix Meritis 2020, with MATH Architects responsible for the structural renovation. The result is a distinctive and charismatic design inspired by the building’s rich history.

Then as now, Felix Meritis is considered one of Amsterdam’s most important listed buildings. The contemporary interpretation of the property experiments with programs for curious audiences in technology, entrepreneurship, science and art. The designers’ starting point was therefore to show diversity and give all the spaces their own identity. Intense and contrasting colors on acoustic walls, as well as special custom designs – such as a bar area clad in rough steel sheets – characterize the spaces. The past always in view: Accentuated, minimal changes were intended to preserve the building’s raw character as much as possible.