A friendly powerhouse

06.04.2020
NautaDutilh’s conference room with Wilkhahn’s Graph conference chairs and conference table with a view over the rooftops of Amsterdam, photo: Peter Baas

International law practice NautaDutilh called itself a “friendly powerhouse” during the briefing for the design of its new headquarters in Amsterdam. Casper Schwarz Architects were given the commission and cleverly translated the leitmotif into a multi-faceted interior. They designed and came up with different rooms and atmospheres for the headquarters, which are around 10,000 sq m in size. The upshot was a subtle combination of a prestigious flair with warmth and artistic expression.

Conference room with integrated multi-media outlets, Wilkhahn’s Graph conference chairs and a view over Amsterdam’s skyline, photo: Peter Baas

The interior designers created the building’s key feature, a spiral staircase to connect the firm’s two floors with one another. The staircase plays both functional and other important roles. It forms the centre of the office and serves as a meeting place for impromptu chats in the lobby. At the same time, it encourages people to move, demarcates the different levels, is an appealing sculptural element and attractive eye-catcher. As a result, the traditional cell-like structure of the office environment is enhanced with the addition of a spacious, informal area to work and interact. Casper Schwarz Architects picked Wilkhahn chairs for the formal communication spaces and ON cantilever chairs in various colours furnish the large training and seminar room. They chose an even more prestigious conference chair for the conference rooms on the executives’ floor where Wilkhahn’s Graph (design: jehs+laub) is used in various settings.

Large seminar room at NautaDutilh with Wilkhahn’s ON cantilever chairs in various colours, photo: Peter Baas

The smart chair is a fascinating mix of fluid and streamlined form as well as opaque and transparent areas. Graph’s distinctive design also offers superlative comfort – despite its slender shape. At NautaDutilh in Amsterdam, it comes in a smart version of beautifully soft, natural brown leather. Consequently, it matches the interior designers’ colour scheme and material concept for the law firm with natural shades of red and brown plus natural white and light grey. Eucalyptus veneer, unpolished natural stone, laser-cut steel and minimalist glass profiles produce a luxurious ambience that is based on an exciting combination of purist materiality and high-tech finishing.

 

Interior designer Casper Schwarz explains why he selected Wilkhahn’s Graph conference chair as follows:

We were looking for a high-quality conference chair for Amsterdam-based NautaDutilh’s prestigious conference rooms. We wanted a chair that expressed the same sort of attention to detail and value that NautaDutilh places on its own work ethic. At the same time, the style of the chair was to integrate with the classy, organic architectural language of the building and the interior design. And Wilkhahn’s Graph complied with both specifications to the letter.

Casper Schwarz, interior designer and CEO of Casper Schwarz Architects, Hilversum

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