“This space gives you energy and inspiration. A mixture of playful designs and handmade art by Sandra and her companions give it and authentic surprising feel”- Muk Van Lil
A transformation of an industrial office building in Amsterdam into an abstract funky space mixed with waves of furry wool and colorful arty interiors. Since I work across art, tapestry, furniture design, interior and spatial design this space gave room to implement it all. While stripping the existing office building in Amsterdam back to its core the company's corporate identity was translated into a design that oozes a “maximalist bold abstract and modernistic feel”. The office was designed for a Tech company in Amsterdam called CVMaker and contains a combination of open and workspaces, meeting rooms, bar, play areas, stretch and gym area, open plan communal areas, and event rooms that can be used for events and conferences. “I love creating multidisciplinary yet funky designs, and simultaneously I feel the need to add something extra with soft layers of wool."
"Modernism with a funky twist shapes wonderfully with splashes of color and new unfamiliar objects and craftsmanship from lots leftover or vegan materials."
Informed by the beam me up scotty circle I chose a deep blue color for the walls of the office and used this deep sky blue to enhance the incoming light. Throughout the designing process it’s particular round shape and bold color has become a recognizable one. An ocean of blues and clashing bright colors with rare funky objects are the welcome space at the entrance of the office. Framed by a wooden floor, while the yellow and green surrounding meeting area, walls and raw ceiling create a colorful contrast. Several arty acoustic tapestries from my her hand, made form vegan eucalyptus yarns, have been added to the walls throughout the interior.
These are combined with her own and other craftsman next to bespoke vintage furniture design to give it and absurdist feel. A street art visual language was therefore developed to create iconography and signage so that staff and guests can easily navigate within the space. The Neon tech feel was added to create an even more wonky and weird feel, added by an even larger play room for the staff to enjoy. "I wanted to move away from the general perception of how office spaces should look like nowadays".
“A space or object I create is never just one layer. It’s a multilayered landscape with a mixture of playful designs for an inspirational feel. The goal here was to get all employees out of their tech world into a new experience every day”.
Team:
With protégé and project partner 3D interior design LeonieGoedemans and designers Teun Zwets, vintage BestWelHip, Jan JongejansWoodism, Harewood, artist Rutger de Regt and designers Schaft & Bold this space became a unique set up off craftsmanship.
Material Used:
1. Specific design and material information by Sandra Keja Planken:
Tapestry The blue Wave 500 x 300 made out of vegan eucalyptus yarns
Tapestry the green Cantaloop 240 x 240 made out of vegan eucalyptus yarns
Tapestry The Yellow untitled 160 x 140 limited edition Rose made out of vegan eucalyptus yarns
Rug the blue Wave flat 220 x 180 made out of vegan eucalyptus yarnsBarstool The sunny side up – 110 x 35 x 45 made out of leftover chipwood
Meeting room table the soft touch- 320 x 160 made out of leftover chipwood
Pendant meeting room 160 x 6- leftover copper pipe combines met led tube
Concrete wall art- wallpaper 700 x 300 from recycled paper
2. Specific design and material information by Teun Zwets:
Blue and purple cabinet from crap wood 220 x 180
Round eyes on the wall from Schaft & Bold- elastic acoestic scenery
All chairs and sofa vintage from Bestwelhip
Wooden floor re-used wood
Flooring from M2 cemento
