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The Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organization (NVAO) is a quality assurance organization that guarantees the quality of higher education in the Netherlands and Flanders in an expert and independent manner and that promotes the quality culture within higher education institutions in the Netherlands and Flanders.
After a search for a new building, a building on the other side of the old building was eventually found as new accommodation. In collaboration with Cerius, we have set up a workplace concept for this (total 2400 m2). Central to the look & feel are the house style colors and a friendly and hospitable appearance. We filled in the various spaces with as much design from Dutch soil as possible. In addition, we were again able to design a number of beautiful custom furniture, such as the reception desk, rounded pantry, cheerful kitchen and the acoustic wall panels in the boardrooms.
The assignment was to design a solid, high-quality and hospitable office. The challenge was, among other things, the cultural differences between the Dutch and Flemish employees, whereby our Southern neighbors appeared to be somewhat more conservative in their vision with regard to the design of their workplace. We have therefore opted for classic elements, but these, for example, executed in distinct colors or increased in size. As a result, we have been able to introduce recognizable but at the same time more daring interior parts. By blowing up timeless geometric shapes, a modern image was created in which everyone could agree. The walls of the "classically" furnished boardrooms feature art work in the form of acoustic Pet felt, carved in inflated circles and arched arcades. We also looked for clear, round shapes in the choice of furniture: Pastoe's Amsterdam Twist is a good example of this. It is a timeless design from 1978 and reintroduced a few years ago with a "twist" by tilting the cabinet into a contemporary sideboard. Because of the implementation in, for example, the duo tone combination Ruby with Blossom, you simply fall in love with it immediately. The Dick Bruna-like Beech Chair from DUM also fits well within this design language. It is precisely such an uncomplicated chair with its nice thick archetypal shape provides balance next to the more serious and classic items in the interior. In the kitchen, we blown up a traditional terrazzo pattern and used it as a design for the cabinet fronts, resulting in a cheerful kitchen with a wink. The geometric round shapes can be found in the customization, such as in the deep red coffee bar and reception desk, which of course stand on a classic high shiny plinth!
Architect: VOID interieurarchitectuur
Project management: Cerius Project BV
Client: NVAO
Year: 2019
Surface: 1600m2
Photography: Stijn Poelstra