Fontys University of Applied Sciences, De Rondom

The interior design of Studio Groen+Schild served as a starting point for Gispen in order to select the separate, fixed and custom-made pieces of furniture. The Gispen project team, including project manager Isabelle Fiddelers and account manager Maarten Houdijk, worked closely together with Fontys on the interior design. Maarten Houdijk: “The fantastic teamwork and very open attitude of all participating parties was quite remarkable. Not an unnecessary luxury in such an extensive project, which also had to be completed within a short timeframe. An additional request of Fontys was that we moved all the old furniture out of the former buildings. This meant that we had to determine what could be reused and refurbished from the different locations. We took this very far in this project.”

A few examples of clever reuse: no fewer than 265 office chairs were reupholstered and technically improved. Gispen made custom covers for 250 old plastic folding chairs; these are now used as conference chairs. The uncomfortable plastic shells of 109 computer chairs have been replaced with upholstered shells from the Gispen Triennial chair collection. Isabelle Fiddelers: “Fontys takes the reuse of materials and furniture very far. The old shells of the computer chairs are now being used elsewhere and the old whiteboards have been donated to a less affluent (educational) institution. We have also managed to convert used coach seats of different sizes from the former buildings into 150 metres worth of coach seats that look like new!”

The most striking feature is the steel ribbon that runs through the entire building. The steel construction serves as a common thread through the five-storey building. Different panels can be placed against the frame of the ribbon. This allows the programmes to highlight their own space and identity. Isabelle Fiddelers: “They can decide for themselves which panels they would like to install. There are wooden panels, perspex panels in the colour schemes, there are panels with moss, bulletin boards and monitors. The programmes have also been supplied with additional panels, so that they can change their design whenever they would like to; a temporary change can be made for displaying graduation projects, for example. The size of this project and the freedom of choice that Fontys offers the (sub)programmes is what makes De Rondom truly unique.”

In the meantime, the three technical programmes and their students have started working, studying and conducting research at De Rondom. Does the interior inspire people and does it bring about interaction? Maarten Sars: “From what I have heard, people consider it a pleasant, airy and lively environment to spend time in. What is quite special is that everyone thinks that everything is brand new! I personally take this as a great compliment. Especially when knowing how many materials and furniture pieces were reused and refurbished. Moreover, we hardly had any follow-up deliveries or delivery issues. This is all thanks to the fantastic teamwork and thorough preparations that were made by Gispen.”

Photography: Chris van Koeverden