White Anna gets new life

Sustainable renovation makes social housing tower future-proof again

On the Stationsplein in The Hague stands a building that every traveler knows, but few really know its impact: the "White Anna," a social housing tower from the 1980s, right next to the car, train and subway lines. Today that is different. Thanks to a large-scale renovation, the White Anna shines again, not through striking architecture, but through the quiet power of technical precision, sustainable choices and careful execution.

The entire renovation was pulled by Haag Wonen, with design by KOW Concepts design development BV and implementation by Dura Vermeer. The result: 166 energy-efficient, comfortable apartments, carried out without residents having to move. Only during intensive phases did they temporarily move into guest houses.

Aesthetics and energy performance

A striking element in the updated look are the new window assemblies. Dura Vermeer chose Deceuninck's Elegant Infinity profile system, a plastic window frame with slim design, high insulation values and excellent airtightness. "The window frame effortlessly achieves the required performance during tests," says Deceuninck. "Moreover, it is low maintenance and can be processed in a circular way."

Ploeg window frames was in charge of production and installation. The windows were prepared prefabricated and delivered just-in-time to the site. This approach was necessary given the limited space on the site. Thanks to this working method, the execution could run smoothly in phases, without unnecessary storage or delays.

Implementation with an eye on residents

What makes this project exceptional is the way the renovation was carried out while maintaining the residents. The entire tower was encased in scaffolding, while most of the residents were able to remain in their apartments. Only for critical interventions were they temporarily moved to a guest unit. That takes more than planning. It requires trust, communication and a construction team that is attuned to each other. The meticulous cooperation between client, designers, contractor and suppliers makes this site an example of how things can be done in an urban context: human, structured and progressive.

Plastic with vision

Plastic window frames were once a budget choice. Today, they are anything but. Deceuninck's Elegant series proves that design, durability and performance can go perfectly together. The Elegant series offers a slim, rectilinear shape that fits in with modern architecture, without losing sight of the building physics requirements. Thanks to the wide color range and the choice between four sash types, the system also offers visual freedom.

Within this project, that was a major plus: the window frame blends in nicely with the updated facade, without violating the tower's identity.

Urban renovation with social added value

The renovated White Anna is not a spectacular icon, and that is exactly what makes the project so powerful. Here the choice was not for the fastest or cheapest route, but for a well thought-out, sustainable approach in which each party took responsibility. The result is a tower that once again has meaning: as a place to live, as an example and as a candidate for the VKG Architecture Prize. 

VKG Architecture Prize 2025

The renovation of this tower is a powerful example of sustainable transformation. Smart logistics, circular material choices and technical refinement made it possible to achieve maximum performance with minimal disruption. The window frames come from the Ploeg window frame factory and are built around Deceuninck's Elegant Infinity profile.