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Architects: Ateliers
- Area: 800 m²
- Year: 2014
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Photographs:Moni van Bruggen
Text description provided by the architects. In the characteristic former boiler house of the Delft University of Technology, later in use as Techniek Museum (restored to its original brilliance by Cepezed architects), ATELIERS have realized a striking office and a welcoming meeting place for the members of the Connekt network organization. Connekt is an independent platform that offers space to all authorities, knowledge institutions and the industrial sector to facilitate sustainable and reliable mobility. This requires making it possible for all of these parties to meet one another.
In the Connekt café the employees can start their day with a home-made latte macchiato. During the day members of the network can meet and work together to improve mobility in the Netherlands. Conferences are organized frequently; the Connekt café caters to all needs.
The conference spaces are fitted out with custom-made trapezium tables. These tables puzzle together to various constellations, fit for conferences of different sizes, rows, or separate use. Wheels underneath 2 of the legs guarantee easy handling.
The robust natural features of basic, industrial wood (underlayment) contrast strongly with the slim, high-tech materials of the architectural finishes and thus work together to reach an almost sculptural quality. The staircase rises monumentally from the concrete flooring and pulls you upstairs to the open office in a natural way.
Upstairs not only the permanent employees have their workplace. It can also be used for short, informal meetings or even a board meeting held in the greenhouse under the high rafters. If things go well, drinks can be hoisted up from the bar with the winch. Swings are in the making for more play during the day.
By reusing materials and furniture combined with new elements a pleasant working environment with a friendly atmosphere is realized. The glass elements incorporated in the bar used to be the wall of the main conference room in the old office. A part of the huge bookcase in the same conference room was returned on the first floor. The lunch tables were also taken from the old office, and given a new coat of paint.
Carpeting is made of used fishing nets. The streetlights from the old building now light up the staircase and perhaps Obama sat in one of the conference chairs during the World Summit in the Hague in 2014. The visitors’ chairs are design originals from the nineteen sixties.
Signing was derived from the Connekt logo, the combination of the Nautilus and the subway line, to accomplish consequent, language-independent path finding.
At the end of the day the employees can tend their own bar and serve their colleagues a drink. Networking is really not working in this place!
