Office Nationale Ombudsman
Interior, Furniture
2001, The Hague
Client: Rijksgebouwendienst
Status: completed
Programme: restaurant, library, staff facilities, office furniture (1100 m2)
Photography: Rick Messemaker.
2001, The Hague
Client: Rijksgebouwendienst
Status: completed
Programme: restaurant, library, staff facilities, office furniture (1100 m2)
Photography: Rick Messemaker.
The National Ombudsman is one of the five high councils of state of the Netherlands. The institution is empowered by law ‘to scrutinize the manner in which public sector authorities fulfil their statutory responsibilities’. Both the new accommodation and the interior have to be representative of this mission, emitting transparency, openness and accessibility.
The existing office block, dating from the 1970s, was renovated by architect Rob Hootsmans. Characteristic of his plan are the semi-transparent partition walls from floor to ceiling. This had its consequences for the design of the furniture; as cabinets are often placed against the wall, they had to be attractive all around, front and back.
The result is a line of furniture that can be used both freestanding or placed against the wall. Front and back are treated equally and the ‘sandwich’ is a recurring theme.
artikel de Architect (PDF) >
> Sandwich Table (project)
The existing office block, dating from the 1970s, was renovated by architect Rob Hootsmans. Characteristic of his plan are the semi-transparent partition walls from floor to ceiling. This had its consequences for the design of the furniture; as cabinets are often placed against the wall, they had to be attractive all around, front and back.
The result is a line of furniture that can be used both freestanding or placed against the wall. Front and back are treated equally and the ‘sandwich’ is a recurring theme.
artikel de Architect (PDF) >
> Sandwich Table (project)