The National Association of Architectural Firms (BNA) has voted the Jonas complex in Amsterdam as the Netherlands’ Best Building of the Year for 2023. 

Amsterdam complex wins Best Building of the Year 2023

While previous years have seen buildings such as the Forum in Groningen and the Singer Laren Museum take home the prestigious award, 2023 sees the title return to a building located in the Dutch capital. This year, the honour goes to Jonas, which is located in Amsterdam’s IJburg neighbourhood. 

Jonas received the honour during an award ceremony at De Koepel in Haarlem, where it beat off competition from 11 other nominees. The BNA has described Jonas as an “exemplary project for sustainable, affordable and collective living in the densely populated city.”

Designed by Orange Architects and Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners on behalf of Amvest, the building was said to be inspired by the biblical story Jonah (or Jonas in Dutch) and the whale. The architects strived to create a large residential building that still felt “adventurous and cosy inside”. The building also successfully implements various sustainable systems, such as using rainwater to flush toilets and solar panels to generate electricity.

Other award-winning buildings in the Netherlands

Jonas might have been the big winner of the night, but it wasn’t the only winner. The renovation project of the Van der Pekbuurt in Amsterdam Noord by Ibelings van Tilburg architects took home the Public Prize for the team’s success in fully renovating 94 homes while at the same time honouring the history of the buildings. 

Meanwhile, HAUT in Amsterdam won first place in the Private Living Experience category, Lieven block 6 ABC and block 8 ABCD, again in Amsterdam, won first place in the Liveability and Social Cohesion category. Finally, the BunkerToren in Eindhoven took the top spot in Identity and Icon Value category, and The Art Yard in Groningen won in the Stimulating Environments category.

Thumb: Orange Architects, Jonas, photographed by Sabastian van Damme via BNA.