nhow Amsterdam RAI is a bold architectural statement in Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, directly adjacent to the RAI Convention Centre. Completed in 2020, the hotel stands out for its stacked and rotated triangular volumes, combining sculptural form with advanced façade engineering and high-performance glazing.

The project was designed by Rem Koolhaas and Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). The concept reinterprets the idea of a vertical landmark through three shifted building blocks, inspired by the historic “Signaal” column that once stood on the site. The resulting geometry creates dramatic cantilevers and constantly changing façade perspectives, giving the building a dynamic visual identity from every angle.

The façade was engineered and delivered by Rollecate Group, who developed a highly prefabricated aluminium curtain wall system capable of handling the building’s complex rotations, irregular angles, and strict tolerances. The façade composition is reinforced with vertical aluminium elements that add rhythm, shading, and depth to the glazed surfaces.

The glazing system, supplied by Pilkington (NSG Group), covers approximately 12,000 m² of glass façade area. It consists of high-performance insulated glass units designed for both transparency and energy efficiency. Key products include Pilkington Insulight™ and Pilkington Suncool™ 50/25, selected to balance daylight transmission with solar control performance, reducing overheating while maintaining visual clarity.

A key technical component of the façade is the use of Technoform Hybrid warm edge spacer SP14, which enhances thermal insulation at the edge of the glazing units and reduces heat loss, contributing to the building’s overall energy performance.

Sustainability played an important role in the project, which achieved BREEAM-NL Excellent certification, reflecting its high standards in energy efficiency, material performance, and environmental design.

Photo Credits: Laurens Kuipers Architectuurfotografie