Doctors Without Borders Netherlands

MSF Netherlands asked Studio Valkenier to provide services as a building and interior architect: a local architectural firm that has already left its mark in Amsterdam when it comes to clever reuse of materials. Founder Wouter Valkenier: “We keep searching for new ways of reusing materials and doing so as efficiently as possible. We look for ways to upcycle, i.e. making something beautiful out of residual products. We also look for ways to cleverly recycle building materials. We kicked off with sounding boards (sounding board sessions) at all the departments, led by Studio Valkenier. During these workshops, employees were able to give input on the layout and furnishing of the building. WorkWire was responsible for the new workspace concept. For the furniture, however, MSF had three parties bring in trial setups, which could then be thoroughly tested by all the employees. Monique: “Gispen was the outright winner.”

Meerten Castelijns, Gispen Business Manager, served as the first point of contact for MSF: “We had previously partnered up with Studio Valkenier when working on the Stadstimmertuin of the municipality of Amsterdam. In the early stages of the MSF project, Wouter and Monique visited the Gispen Inspiration Centre in Culemborg to look at different types of workstations as well as conferring and conference setups. This always gives you a good idea of the possibilities and the choices you can make.” MSF opted for a combination of different furniture collections. At the restaurant, for example, you will find versatile Gispen Dukdalf folding tables with Nomi chairs. The bar stools in the restaurant are from HAY. Gispen also provided custom solutions: four large tables with a Dukdalf base and a custom top. The conference rooms are furnished with Gispen Team conference tables in different sizes, with upholstered Nomi chairs for extra comfort. The desks that were taken over from the municipality of Amsterdam are accompanied by new Gispen TM desks, of which 20% are sit/stand models. We transformed old desktops into acoustic dividing screens in between desks. The office chairs from the municipality are accompanied by Gispen Zinn office chairs. Moreover, we installed high UT tables in the pantries.

Elements from the old interior have made their way back into the new interior in all kinds of places. Wouter: “We took old mooring posts from the harbour and made a robust counter and various planters and benches out of them, which are installed throughout the building. Old window frames have become new display cabinets that contain plants. Field workers regularly bring back thank you notes when they return to the office; they used to be scattered around the office, which made it a bit untidy. We now have very convenient built-in cabinets in the conference rooms for these notes and gifts. As a result, the offices at the various floors are more orderly. We reinstalled the existing climate control system, installed crade-to-cradle carpet and used Swedish paint based on linseed oil. Each floor has its own signature colour, which is good for recognition and orientation.”