It truly is amazing how far we’ve come in how we perceive and use space. The new office for SOZAWE (Welfare Department and Work Agency) in the Dutch city of Groningen, wastes so much potential office space in favour of open terrace, that they would have been laughed out of the room thirty years ago. NL Architects wanted to create an ‘open, inviting and sustainable place’.
To this effect, there is an open, public marketplace which fosters interaction between the department and those it serves. Additionally, the large, green terraces which make up a large part of each of eight of the nine floors, create cross relations and interaction between floors while providing workers with fresh air and views of the surrounding city- a welcome alternative to a computer screen.
Matt Davis is a Virginia Tech graduate and one of the founding editors behind Arch2O. Launching the platform in mid‑2012 alongside fellow Hokies, he helped shape its identity as an international hub for design innovation and critical dialogue . With a foundation in architectural education and a passion for uncovering unconventional design approaches, Matt has contributed significantly—both editorially and strategically—to Arch2O’s growth, ensuring that emerging architects, academics, and creatives have a space to question, explore, and elevate the built environment.