i29 completes vibrant revamp of Felix Meritis constructing in Amsterdam
Design studio i29 referenced the wealthy previous of Amsterdam’s Felix Meritis constructing for the overhaul of its interiors, which now characteristic vivid splashes of color.
Felix Meritis is located alongside the Dutch capital’s Keizersgracht canal and was constructed again in 1788.
Though the constructing is now a cultural occasions venue, it initially served as a base for the Felix Meritis society which celebrated the beliefs of the Enlightenment – an mental and philosophical motion that dominated Europe between the 17th and 19th centuries.
Over time, the constructing has gone on to function places of work for one in every of Amsterdam’s main printing corporations and the HQ for the Communist Celebration of the Netherlands. Within the 1960s it additionally turned the Shaffy theatre, a preferred hang-out for avant-garde music lovers.
This wealthy historical past turned a key level of inspiration for i29, which was tasked with fully overhauling Felix Meritis’ interiors.
The studio was eager for every house to boast hints of the previous but additionally have its personal “vibrant character”, very similar to when the constructing had been divided into distinctive music, commerce, literature, physics and drawing departments for the society members.
It marks the second time that the studio has labored with Felix Meritis – again in 2014 it additionally created a pop-up design retailer for the venue, which featured mirrored partitions and show plinths.
“The most important problem was to deliver this previous monumental constructing to the ‘now’, not solely when it comes to expertise, installations and acoustic services but additionally in look and expertise,” mentioned i29, which labored intently alongside native observe Math Architecten.
Within the reception space, there’s a green-hued cloth wall masking which depicts an vintage etching that was discovered within the constructing’s drawing-room. Emerald-coloured seating poufs have additionally been dotted all through.
Textile surfaces seem once more within the restaurant, the place partitions characteristic swathes of blue and pink to emulate a “typical Dutch sky”.
A clashing mixture of blue ombre partitions, cherry-red chairs and burnished-steel fixtures characteristic within the constructing’s domed lobby, which is supposed to replicate the constructing’s previous as a hotspot for uncommon, avant-garde music.
i29 makes use of multicoloured partitions and mirrored volumes to create short-term exhibition house
One of many constructing’s lounges has been fitted with sunshine-yellow seating cubicles, whereas marine-blue carpet and armchairs seem within the drawing-room.
Right here, white acoustic panels have additionally been suspended from the ceiling. Collectively they’re meant to resemble free scrolls of paper, a refined wink on the constructing’s time spent as a printing workplace.
Surfaces within the grandiose live performance corridor have been painted extra subdued tones that match the room’s unique color scheme.
Across the periphery there are a sequence of acoustic wall cupboards, which might be open and closed to soak up or deflect sound.
The house is crammed with black chairs that i29 developed in collaboration with Dutch furnishings model Lensvelt.
The chair mannequin, which has been named Felix, is stackable and has a light-weight body in order that it may possibly simply be moved round to be used within the constructing’s different rooms.
The attic has been left largely untouched however fitted with “virtually invisible” lighting and sound methods in order that it’s able to internet hosting future occasions.
Time-worn columns and wall panelling are additionally nonetheless seen in one of many constructing’s occasion rooms.
i29 relies within the Dutch municipality of Ouder-Amstel and is led by Jeroen Dellensen and Jaspar Jansen.
The studio was named inside designer of the 12 months on the inaugural Dezeen Awards, which happened in November 2018. Its roster of tasks – which incorporates the revamp of a ceramics museum and a wood-lined artwork studio – was praised by judges for exhibiting “all-round design excellence”.
Images is by Ewout Huibers.
Mission credit:
Consumer: Amerborgh / Amerpodia
Object: Cultuurhuis Felix Meritis Amsterdam
Inside/design: i29
Structural architect: Math Architecten
Restoration architect: Verlaan & Bouwstra
Tender and idea: Marcia Sookha
Administration: B3 Bouwadviseurs
Contractor: Jurriens
Inside builder: Stooff
Textile design: i29 and Buro Belen
Installations: Huisman and Van Muijen, Simple Controls and Mega Elektra
Building: SIDStudio
Acoustic guide: Peuts / Degree acoustics
Lighting guide: Koen Smits
Restauration advisors: De Fabryck, Judith Bohan
Furnishings: Lensvelt