Offices of De Utrecht Insurance Company: Overall view, building at center with sculpture and awnings

Although Mendes da Costa became particularly known for his small sculptures, he also sculpted on and in several buildings, thus realizing his ideals of the unity of architecture and sculpture. He worked on several buildings with H. P. Berlage, including the Koopmansbeurs. In addition he worked with the architects A. J. Kropholler and J. F. Staal on the offices of the life insurance firm Utrecht, for their branches in Amsterdam (1904-6) and Utrecht (1909). The building has owls, orangutans, chameleons and baboons (Javanese references) under the gables and full size figures at street level.