surface: 320m² | architect: de bever architecten, Eindhoven | team: Stefan de Bever, Wim Poell, Jasper Ponjee | interior design contractor: Smeulders Interieurgroep, Nuenen | used materials: glass walls, orange painted MDF furniture
The head office from the end of the eighties of Donatus in Rosmalen looks, although finished in luxurious materials such as natural stone, rather old fashioned. The many office rooms in which employees sit minimize internal contact and from the secretariat, there is no visual contact with the entrance of the building. For clients, it is unclear where to report upon arrival: not a nice welcome.
In order to refresh the interior of the office, several walls have been removed and replaced by two long glass walls that are placed in line. The new office floor is much more spacious and communication between entrance and secretariat is established.
All the cabinets that had accumulated in the office throughout the years have been replaced by a small family of bright orange-colored furniture. The furniture gives the dated architecture the much-needed kick and creates different zones on the office floor: the secretariat becomes the center, with on the sides the repro and a meeting room, and next to it the office floor with an island in the middle and workplaces around it.