© KLM Aerocarto
The Johnson Wax headquarters in Mijdrecht was designed by Hugh Maaskant and Bert de Bruijn between 1962 and 1966 for the American company Johnson Wax. The complex combined a European headquarters with a large industrial production facility.
The most recognisable element is the boomerang-shaped office building, which appears to float above a pond on a series of concrete columns. The elevated position gives the building a remarkable lightness despite its substantial scale.
The architecture reflects Maaskant’s fascination with American modernism and corporate architecture. Concrete and large areas of glass are combined with carefully controlled proportions and a highly expressive structural system.
The office building is connected to a large rectangular production hall measuring approximately 112 by 137 metres. A central patio brings daylight into the industrial complex and creates an internal landscape within the enormous building volume.
The building was designed as a complete working environment, including offices, reception spaces and meeting facilities. Its dramatic architecture expressed the international ambitions of its American client.
Although the office section has been vacant for many years, the building remains an important example of Maaskant’s late work. Its distinctive form and innovative structural concept earned it recognition as a national monument.
