For the multi-tenant office building Liberty in Amsterdam, cepezedinterieur designed a completely new fit-out and layout for the shared spaces. A geometric interplay of lines, derived from the bird in the Liberty logo, forms the basis for the newly designed chandelier, reception desk and planters. cepezedinterieur not only developed the interior concept, but also demonstrated a strong command of craftsmanship and detailing. The result is a pleasantly varied yet highly defined high-end office lobby.
space & overview
Liberty Office is an existing thirteen-storey building dating from 1999. After having been fully occupied by a single company for many years, the building has now been repositioned as a multi-tenant office. The first three storeys are set back slightly from the upper floors, creating a logical location for the new shared facilities: an entrance lobby and restaurant on the ground floor, and shared meeting rooms on the first floor. A key intervention was the removal of a long gallery corridor, which made the entrance hall appear even narrower than it already was. The resulting space also improves visual clarity and orientation.
unique lighting fixture
The three principal objectives for the interior design were an upgraded appearance, clear routing and sustainable solutions. The spectacularly high wall revealed by the removal of the gallery has been fully clad in timber by cepezedinterieur to emphasise its presence. To underline that this is the core of the building, housing the lifts and sanitary facilities, the timber cladding continues around the corner. The height of the space also provided the opportunity for an artistic installation of suspended LED rods: a unique lighting fixture that, from a specific viewpoint, forms the bird logo of Liberty Office. Viewed from other angles, the composition becomes an intriguing abstract image due to the constantly shifting perspective. The geometric lines of the logo also served as the starting point for the reception desk and planters with integrated seating elements. Resulting in polygonal volumes finished respectively in brass and stainless steel.
sustainable choices
The design achieved a BREEAM In-Use Excellent certification. Existing ceilings were replaced with climate ceilings and LED lighting was applied throughout. An additional sustainable feature is the innovative PCM energy buffer, which absorbs peaks in cooling demand and eliminates the need for oversized building services installations. The many and notably large plants in the entrance hall are a major contributor to the atmosphere. They are positioned in slender planters against the timber wall behind the reception desk, in zigzagging stainless steel planters in front of the glazed façade, and cascading from long planters beneath the balustrades of the two floors overlooking the entrance hall. The remarkable triangular floor plan of these levels — a direct result of removing the gallery — further enhances the jungle-like atmosphere, alongside the fragmented bird-shaped lighting fixture and the metallic bird brooch mounted on the wall behind the reception desk.
high end
That cepezedinterieur nevertheless succeeded in maintaining a strong sense of calm within this rich composition of elements is due to the carefully balanced use of colour and materials: timber, brass, bronze, stainless steel, moss green, yellow, white and black. The meticulous craftsmanship of cepezedinterieur’s furniture designers also contributes to this effect: although the furniture has a certain ‘wildness’, the design remains precise and coherent throughout. A new white steel spiral staircase with oak treads playfully connects the restaurant to the first floor. The restaurant serving counter has likewise been designed with great care, including a recessed ceiling feature that further accentuates the area with integrated lighting.
