HvA UvA Hogehilweg, Amsterdam

HvA’s relocation facilitates a shift towards hybrid work, modernizing the building with thoughtful color schemes and user-focused enhancements.

Design

Ex Interiors

Photography

Alexander van Berge

Year

2021

Transitioning to a Hybrid Future

The relocation of HvA’s premises from Amsterdam Centrum to Amsterdam Zuidoost presented both an opportunity and a challenge: to design a workplace that would draw staff and students into a new era of hybrid working. The aim was to create an environment that was not merely functional but also welcoming, mirroring the comfort of working at home while fostering professional interaction and productivity.

Preserving Structure While Infusing Modernity

In the process of refreshing an aging structure, the focus was on enhancing existing spaces without extensive structural changes. Preserving the internal construction – from walls to ceilings – was paired with a careful rearrangement of system partitions, now revitalized with a contemporary color scheme. To this existing canvas, layers of pine wood frames and recycled PET felt panels were added, chosen for their acoustic benefits and visual warmth. Complementing this, drapery was introduced to provide both a soft acoustic buffer and flexible spatial division.

User-Driven Design

Central to the redesign was a user-driven approach to color. The selected color palette maintained a consistent grey base while introducing department-specific hues to establish distinct floor identities and assist with navigation. Strategic placement of plants and upcycled furniture injected life into the setting, while the Radial PET Felt Pendant Lamp further accentuates this balance of old and new. The outcome is a modern workplace that not only respects its past but also embraces the changing needs and practices of its occupants.

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