Studio RIANKNOP, an Amsterdam-based studio for interior architecture, designs outspoken interiors. Strong conceptual designs that tell a story in which client, users, building and architect come together. Researched from an organizational strategy perspective, designed with heart and applied driven by functionality. The headquarters of an Amsterdam-based Tech company has made a move: from a cramped building in the centre of Amsterdam, connected by narrow hallways, to a spacious former warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The new offices have been designed to facilitate the requirements of the 100 employees: a large café, and flexibility to work and gather both formally and formally in teams ranging from 2 to 10 people.
The former warehouse where the new office is housed has been transformed, by breaking open a part of the first floor to create an atrium, bringing in light and air from the shed roofs down to the ground floor. The industrial feeling is further enhanced by keeping all installations in sight. The spacious atrium is characterized by a statement steel staircase powder coated green. Slightly overhanging the atrium is a meeting room block, which gives the impression of being free-floating in the space. All the meeting room blocks are constructed from the same materials, light wooden frames and glass.
The core activity of the organization, transferring data, is captured conceptually in the design of the “cable tree”, which emerges from the first floor and branches out to provide lighting for the first floor pantries and living room, as well as the chandelier that is a key feature in the atrium, in a slightly different shade of green to offset the staircase. Sustainability being one of the requirements for the design, the floor of the café where employees and visitors enter the building is made of recycled bricks (www.stonecycling.com), laid in 2 different patterns. This refers to the buildings industrial past.
On the first floor the central block houses the pantries, toilets, and a presentation space with bleachers. This block is designed as a graphic element, with white walls and tiling outlined in black. Both floors of this new space provide ample space for employees to work, gather and breathe. "Rian has created a design that optimally uses the beautiful light and space.
Openness and peace find each other in our new office and that translates into the productivity and satisfaction of our employees" - CFO Specifications: 1800M2, concept development, color and material advice, design elaboration, custom furniture design, 3D visualization, project management, advice and purchase contract furniture, interior management, construction supervision Connecting element between the floors is the atrium with an industrial-looking steel staircase. In the same shade of green as the steel columns.
In the atrium there is a large custom made chandelier. The power supply for this chandelier comes from the cable tree, a core element of the concept.
Floating blocks serve as meeting rooms. A connecting element between floors, from where employees have a nice view of the restaurant during meetings.
The large work floor is interrupted in various places by separate, enlarged blocks of wood and glass. Informal meetings and flex working is centered in areas, creating peace in the rest of the workplace.
The solid, black and white graphic block houses toilets, a large presentation room with bleachers and both pantries. There are built in areas for smaller meetings. The floor is made of carpet tiles from Ege. Zones are indicated by applying different colored tiles that merge into each other.
The origin of the cable tree is in the living room on the first floor. An exciting way to visualize the transfer of data and electricity. The tree provides power to the entire building.
Immediately upon entry you encounter the impressive staircase, with beautiful light streaming in from the shed roofs. The industrial, sustainable brick floor from Stonecycling, the branches of the cable tree and the wooden boxes the eye-catchers. This space brings all elements of the concept to life.
Green from the cable tree and plants meets with graphic black in the open kitchen of the restaurant. The self-serve kitchen amplifies the accessible and open atmosphere in the organization.
The centered block on the first floor with graphic black and white details. Tiles in the pantry are from D-Tiles, the dark joints reinforce the graphic lines.
In the toilet areas the wall-filling sinks stand out. Functional and beautifully executed, cast in one piece in colored epoxy.