Since the year 2000, three striking canal houses in Amsterdam’s Herengracht have been the base of the Swiss luxury goods group Richemont that produces and sells jewelry, watches, clothing and accessories. Cartier, Piaget, Montblanc, Dunhill and Ralph Lauren are some of the group’s most famous brands.
Dutch interior designers M+R liaised closely with Richemont to sensitively restore two history-steeped buildings from the 18th century. They also developed contemporary work spaces for the adjacent office building from the 1950s. The Wilkhahn furniture is an ideal match for the stylishly refurbished canal houses and the visionary office atmosphere.
© Herman de Winter
© Herman de Winter, Interior Design: M+R interior architecture bna | bni
A Timeless and Sustainable Interior Rooted in History
The office building, constructed in 1953, has a total of seven floors, the top of which has been converted into a conference and restaurant lounge with a magnificent view of Amsterdam’s Old Town.
The interior design is based on natural beige tones, and the high-quality furniture is crafted from wood, brass, and marble.
The new interior reflects Richemont’s maxim that quality means attention to detail and outstanding craftsmanship.
M+R commissioned historical research into colors for the project. The findings were the point of departure for restoring the imposing canal houses and carefully selecting materials and the color palette.
Exceptionally hard-wearing, high-quality linen wallpaper was applied to the walls to match the magnificent wood paneling. Following the remodeling and renovation, the whole of the interior radiates calm and comfort.
The design is so timeless that it will have a lifespan of decades – in keeping with M+R’s vision for sustainable projects.
The modern, organic design of the furniture and lighting in the offices’ chill-out areas engender that feel-good factor that inspires people to engage with one another. © Herman de Winter, Interior Design: M+R interior architecture bna | bni
A winning combination of tradition and innovation
The particular challenge of the interior design was to create a high-quality interior that does justice to the identity of the internationally renowned Richemont brands without drawing attention to itself.
Therefore, the goal was to combine the magnificent Louis XIV-style architecture with a modern design language. The interior designers thus sought out products and materials that impress with their quality, elegant design, and meticulous craftsmanship, and that blend naturally into the prestigious spaces.
The M+R team chose high-quality wood paneling that looks warm and inviting for the interior of the office building. © M+R interior architecture bna | bni; Herman de Winter
The refurbished, newly extended office building features a chill-out area on each floor and a fully equipped kitchenette with a bar, which serves as a communicative hub and place to receive visitors. Emphasis was placed on producing a calm atmosphere and workspaces with acoustic privacy to allow deep work.
In these areas, the neutral color palette is complemented by brass accents, for example in the pendant lights above the workspaces. Custom-designed cabinets with rounded edges, plants and partitions ensure the space is quiet, inspiring and comfortable to work in. M+R custom-designed the wayfinding signs and icons for Richemont with enormous attention to detail as well.
It’s our responsibility to create sustainable attractive architecture that can stand the test of time. The power of a strong design is vision, innovation and the quality of realization.
Versa: Versatile table system for any occasion
Wilkhahn tables and office chairs also feature in some of the old buildings and the office premises from the 1950s. The modular Versa conference table by Wolfgang C. R. Mezger meets the demands of a modern working environment, where versatility and communication are so important. Bayonet mounts make the die-cast aluminum base frames easy to connect to table tops in various formats in no time – with no extra tools required.
As the innovative table system can be extended or made smaller at will, it’s custom-configurable to any setting.
© Herman de Winter, Interior Design: M+R interior architecture bna | bni
AT Mesh: Dynamic seating features a timeless design
Timeless design, ergonomic seating comfort, and a backrest frame made from 80 percent recycled PET bottles: these are the hallmarks of the AT Mesh office chair from Wilkhahn. These elegant swivel chairs are used in both the historic 18th-century buildings and the modern office complex, blending seamlessly into both styles.
The aesthetics of this office chair are striking, with a frame whose transitions are so finely sculpted that it appears to be crafted from a single piece.
From the wide range of design options, a version with a white frame and light gray seat was selected for Richemont.
The AT Mesh office chair enables healthy sitting in three dimensions and blends in organically with the natural colors and materials of the workspaces. © Herman de Winter, Interior Design: M+R interior architecture bna | bni
Eighty percent of the mesh on AT Mesh’s backrest frame is made of recycled PET bottles. In addition to its attractive design, Wilkhahn’s AT Mesh stands apart for its patented, three-dimensional ergonomics in the interests of dynamic sitting.
Further information
Used in the project
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