The Alexander
Although we often design interiors of thousands of square meters in a single project, this does not mean that an assignment of 190 m2 would get any less attention and focus. For ‘The Alexander’ we were asked to design a welcoming and stylish lobby for a multi-tenant office, located within walking distance of Amsterdam Central Station.
| Client | Real I.S., Savills |
| Program | Lobby |
| Completion | 2024 |
| Area | 190 m² |
| Location | Amsterdam |
A warm and inviting welcome
Our brief for a sustainable high-end and inviting space became a story of maximizing the unique qualities of a space and making an impact through simple means. The slanted form of the space coupled with the glass facade were great starting points to create a -welcoming lobby that could connect to the adjacent busy pedestrian street. Material considerations were also key to early design decisions, as a number of existing elements such as the natural stone flooring were to remain.
Because of the relatively shallow lobby space, the high back wall was very visible from the street. Any gesture here would be a great way to convey the ambition of the project when seen from either outside or inside. Using the slanted walls as inspiration, a zig zagging wall of stained oak was wrapped around the side and back walls. The embedded lighting in the wall added a subtle effect to the area, creating depth and allowing the new U-shaped wall to become a backdrop for simpler furniture elements that define the lobby areas’ distinct functions.
A rounded reception bar and coffee bar were carefully placed to help guide users and visitors, to create an enclosed corridor for the lobby toilets and to leave space for an informal lounge and bar seats along the facade. The rounded forms of these objects acted as a contrast with the angled wall, with the softer form being also easier to locate within a slanted floorplan.
As well as reusing and adapting many aspects of the existing interior, such as sanding the existing stone floor to create a softer, matte finish, other innovative and sustainable choices were made during the entire process. The reception bar for instance is clad with panels made from compressed, locally sourced recycled textiles such as bed sheets and denim.
Partners
This project was partly realized by many participating design partners and parties, with whom which we have greatly enjoyed working together with. Our thanks goes out to:
Contractor: Bouwbedrijf de Jonge
Project Management: Savills
Photographer: Ewout Huibers
