The design by Studio Lime in Eindhoven is based on biophilic design. Lianne Bongers from Studio Lime relates: ‘The goal of biophilic design is to increase the bond between people and nature. Take the high seating for example. They bring you up to window level, so that outside is drawn inside more. This makes the view greener too.’
What is the best way to tackle the revamp of the company restaurant as a business with sustainable ambitions? Sustainability officer Anouk explains: ‘First of all, we looked at what we could reuse, and which materials were necessary for this. It was important to us that the new materials were as sustainable as possible.’ We viewed every element in the company restaurant from a green perspective. This was followed by a search for deployable and already existing materials from waste flows in Eindhoven.
In the Eindhoven stockroom, a number of train benches caught our eye. Built for use on a stand, but as a result of the pandemic they never left our stockroom. They have reached a fitting destination now in our company restaurant. The color has been adapted to switch them entirely to match Gielissen styling.
Even the floor got a sustainable makeover. We opted for a PVC floor, free of plasticizers, with an untreated concrete look. Once the floor wears out, the manufacturer guarantees to collect and recycle it into new products.
The tables in the company restaurant are made from existing sheet material covered with Rezign® Veneer: an innovative Dutch veneer made from textile waste flows. With matching chairs from Planq®, a manufacturer of sustainable furniture and Rezign®’s big sister.
The wood paneling is made from waste panels and creates a warm mood. Above the tables, pendant lamps from previous projects have been deployed. The pantry, also repurposed, was transformed in our workshop to create a customized unit with options for sorting waste.
In the meantime, the restaurant in Eindhoven is delighting the staff and not just during the lunch break. It is also a space for workshops. For example by our creative co-worker Nicole, who teaches her colleagues to sew in the evening. Nicole also made the cushion covers that adorn the upholstery around the restaurant: made from waste materials from our exhibition projects.
Photography: Karin Verhoog
