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Images: Lisanne Redegeld Photography

 

A dynamic central location for an ambitious company

 

Muurbloem design studio designs high-profile office environment for Smart Industry consultant Enginia BV in Amersfoort.

 

As a Smart Industry consultant, Enginia has the ambitious goal of preparing the Dutch manufacturing industry for the fourth industrial revolution. After (1) steam power, (2) electricity and (3) the internet, it is now up to data systems that can take the manufacturing process to the next gear. After closing their western branch office, Enginia needed a central location where employees could meet. Muurbloem design studio was asked to transform the office of Enginia Midden into the Enginia Innovation Campus. An activity-based workspace where employees from all over the country can come together for a meeting and where people can also work individually before or after the meeting. A place that leads to better recruitment results and retention of employees, that also offers a representative environment to receive customers and clients. In short, a place where people want to be seen and where Enginia's ambitious corporate culture is reflected.

 

Below lead interior designer Robert Westerveld explains more about the project.

 

Images: Lisanne Redegeld Photography

Vision

 

“During the pandemic, we were able to furnish another wing of this building for Enginia. In that time we have learned to adjust our designs quickly and come up with creative solutions. The Enginia Innovation Campus was a good time for us to look back on the lockdowns and see what lessons we could learn from them. For example, in this process we have explicitly chosen to work bottom-up and to involve the employees in the creation of the design. We set up a focus group with members from each department and incorporated their input into the concept and preliminary design phases. We have developed a dynamic space where spontaneous encounters and a mix of online and offline work can lead to creativity and innovation. We have also created a classification that takes into account the activities of the permanent and variable employees, and which can also be used in the long term by future tenants.”

 

Concept

 


“With this project, our ambition was above all to express Enginia's innovative spirit in the design. At Muurbloem design studio we always have an internal theme for every project. At Enginia this was The Future is Handmade, The Future Is Digital. This phrase stems from our attention to the manual and human work involved in the process of making in this digital age. We are fascinated by the way errors and irregularities develop through processes into new forms and data. An example of this is the tiles on the wall behind the pantry. They were made by Studio GDB with a spraying machine linked to a CNC milling machine. The patterns are programmed by computer, but the way in which the pigments react with each other is left to chance, often resulting in unique results. In the same way, Enginia employees have to think in terms of processes and systems, but it also remains human work. It's people who run the factories and it's people who run the machines, all in a dynamic environment. On the one hand, the design is very much about those networks and about being connected to each other. That is why we designed and realized the large light fixture. This fits in with the grand ambitions that Enginia has for the Dutch manufacturing industry and ensures that you think upon entering ‘Wow, what is going on here?’ In addition, we have also designed reflective wall stickers that refer to the idea that every physical process in a manufacturing company must have a digital counterpart: the digital twin. On the other hand, the design is very organic and natural. The design of the open space has been deliberately offset to simulate a natural landscape. The rugs designed and supplied by us with their special shapes are like pools of water between which employees walk to their workplace or meeting place. The supporting pillars are covered with wood like tree trunks. This organic underlay gives the design a bit of humanity, which gives the bold and colourful design an element of familiarity.”

 

Images: Lisanne Redegeld Photography

Implementation

 

The implementation of the design turned out to be a complex situation with four different actors; the client, the contractor, the lessor and us as designers. This created a complex network of interests and constraints in which Muurbloem design studio played a facilitating role as a consultant in the implementation phase in the communication and negotiations between these parties. Our continued involvement in the execution phase allowed us to guarantee the quality of our work and ensure that the design was executed in detail.

 

Result


The result is a working environment where the thought leadership and ambition of Enginia is clearly expressed, but where the human dimension is also present and where people want to come. This was already evident during the final phase of the implementation, in which the employees regularly walked in to meet for an hour between the newly placed furniture. Attracted by the impressive appearance, the trainees also regularly entered the workplace to drink their coffee. Project manager Meeuwis van den Hooven of contractor OCS+ commented: “I visit many different offices every week, and at some offices you already get a warm feeling when you enter, and this design is an example of that, and that is due to the materialization , the use of color, through the organic shapes. This just feels like a place where you would like to work.' Client Paul Hörchner was also very enthusiastic about the project. He says, “Hopefully we will have another project in the future that we can involve you in!”

 

 “Hopefully we will have another project in the future that we can involve you in!” – Paul Hörchner, directeur Enginia BV

 

In this project, Muurbloem design studio has taken care of:

 

  • concept design
  • leading focus group meetings
  • writing the program of requirements
  • interior design
  • work descirption for the contractor
  • supervision of the implementation process
  • design and supply of custom rugs, curtains, textile frames and light fixture

 

Click on the link below or one of the photos for more images and information."

 

>>> click here for more images

 

Would you like to know more about our services for private individuals? Call Gonnette Smits on +31 (0)30-2714014 or send an e-mail to gonnette@muurbloem.com.


 Written by Robert Westerveld, lead interior designer