Concrete Studio Juxtapose Old and New at Amsterdam’s HOPPA! Brewery

With the increasing popularity of local microbreweries, Amsterdam is returning to the craft and simplicity of beer brewing with the opening of HOPPA!. The new brewing house is mixing old recipes and authentic methods with a fresh twist of ingredients. To parallel HOPPA!’s old-meets-new philosophy, Amsterdam-based Concrete is serving up an intimate space in the historical Odeon building (once a brewery itself) that juxtaposes modern design accents with old-world architectural elements. 

Led by founder and creative director Rob Wagemans, the designers at Concrete boldly dipped the museum-like space in shocking neon orange, crafting an interior that reflects the balance between yesterday and tomorrow. The lavish ornamental details such as the ceiling artwork & marble fireplace and ornaments form the basis for the interior. Comprised of only 430 sq ft, the focal point of the venue is the high blue steel and authentic Dutch white tiled back bar. The beer taps are integrated into the back wall, as they did in the old days. The rest of the wall features twenty-eight growlers hanging on hooks, reserved for returning customers who want to have a growler available at any time. Copper colored nametags personify the wall. The growlers can be filled via the modern dispensing system, which makes HOPPA! a popular destination for those looking for fresh craft beer to go as well.

The bar counter is made of solid Jatoba wood, which lends a warm and welcoming feel to the space. The robust, chunky abbey inspired standing tables, made of the same Jatoba wood, have a perfect height to lean on and feature storage space for glasses, which makes it easier to share your growler with friends. In front of the window stands a wall-to-wall, bespoke black stained wooden sofa, upholstered with black leather. The Pipe chairs and tables – designed by Jasper Morrison for Magis – also have a black stained wooden finish. HOPPA! truly offers a creative balance between old and new – both in ambiance and brew.

Photography by Wouter Van Der Sar