Iron, stone, and glass, as well as elements of the Flemish Renaissance and Art Nouveau, characterize the architecture of the industrial complex.
It’s an ideal location for Wilkhahn and Interface’s new showroom where architecture and design play just a great a role as sustainability does.
Contemporary furniture and textile design in a historic backdrop
The city of Brussels identified the potential of the industrial building along the waterway in terms of sustainable urban development. Today, the site is home to Brussels’ biggest park, which offers plenty of green space for people to chill out and relax in.
Cultural events like the Brussels design market, the BRAFA Art Fair or Art Brussels take place here. Innovative companies like the PermaFungi circular economy project are also based at Tour & Taxis.
Wilkhahn and Interface’s showroom is in the Royal Depot, the site’s office and commercial complex, which is 64 hectares in size. This is where architectural heritage meets the modern workplace – the sensitively refurbished Gare Maritime offers fully customizable office space in one of Brussels’ most sustainable buildings.
Some 100 guests came to Wilkhahn and Interface’s opening
Around 100 people from the architecture, design and furniture industries attended the grand opening of the showroom. Alongside the chance to talk to other people from the industry, the get-together offered time for networking. And the showroom gave visitors the chance to look at, feel and try out the furniture and textile floor coverings.
As a special highlight, guests saw for themselves the craftsmanship that goes into Wilkhahn products. At the event, Fatma Bayrak from Wilkhahn’s upholstery department sewed armrest covers made of leather for the FS Management and Graph conference chairs.
Using the upholstery of the Graph Iconic Edition as an example, she demonstrated the structure of the upholstery and the stitching used for the cover.
Sustainable interior in the showroom
The showroom itself offers areas in different designs where various chairs and textile floor coverings are coordinated with one another.
Whether it’s design or sustainability, the two manufacturers are a perfect match. Wilkhahn’s Yonda shell-structure chair (by neunzig° design), nominated for the Federal Ecodesign Award 2022, demonstrates how materials can be used sustainably. The seat shell is made of a biocomposite that consists of recycled polypropylene and waste wood and is fully recyclable.
The textile products presented by Interface also stand apart because they can be recycled and use recycled materials.
Consequently, the showroom offers customers and architects a fantastic opportunity to experience sustainable design of furniture and floorings under one roof – a wonderful chance to forge ahead with sustainability in interior design together.
Address
Tour & Taxis
Avenue du Port/Havenlaan 86c
B-1000 Brussels
Contact for info about the showroom
Kristel Serroyen info@wilkhahn.com
Further information
About Tour & Taxis
It’s also worthwhile booking one of the themed guided tours of the site.
About Interface
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