The Library of Utrecht

Visitors will enter the monumental hall from the lively Neude square. The square has become an extension of the city where people meet up, read a magazine or newspaper and get a cup of coffee at café ‘Meneer Potter’. Roy: “The ground floor is characterised by an abundance of details and heavy ornaments. On the upper floors, the interior is more understated and functional.” Each department has its own, recognisable identity. From the children’s section on the first floor to the various adult sections and offices, workshop areas, cinema and ‘Stadsstudiehuis’ (study area) on the second and third floors. Roy: “All the fixed interior components have been given fairly neutral colours and combine well with the existing architecture. This allows for more vivid colours throughout the various departments, and ensures adaptability and flexibility in the future.” Playful elements add character and distinguish the different departments from one another – from a large Miffy character and bookcase house at the children’s section to a piano or bicycle desk elsewhere in the building. The furniture adds to this.

Client Elza van der Lee: “We wanted the building and its occupants to shine. The building itself is already striking. There is so much history to be found in the main hall alone! This is why we were searching for furniture that was somewhat understated; furniture that is straightforward, functional and timeless. In addition to a number of specials such as the Utrecht Armchair by Rietveld – with a reference to the city – we installed many of the same furniture items for a uniform look and peaceful environment. The fact that the furniture matches the interior so well is a direct result of the colour schemes. Choosing the right colours and upholstery is something we deliberated on continuously with Gispen and ZECC during this project.”

Merel van den Heuvel, Gispen account manager: “We supplied all kinds of striking furniture pieces such as Shaker chairs from Atelier van Lieshout at the children's section, Maarten Baas chairs at the lecture hall and we even reupholstered two Gispen 1407 armchairs. Furthermore, we supplied furniture that matches perfectly with this characteristic building, such as the wooden Artisan Fin chairs in the main hall; timeless and modern at the same time.” Gispen supplied and installed all the furniture for the public areas, including reading tables and lounge areas, as well as for the offices and restaurant. Merel: “The Library of Utrecht asked for our advice on the office section; this was quite a challenge.”

The objective: install as many workstations as possible in a limited space, provide good acoustics, allow employees to concentrate and make the area multi-functional in use. Merel: “We supplied Gispen TMNL Dual workstations for a total of 60 people across two office spaces, with half of the workstations being sit-stand variants. The TMNL programme is very versatile and sustainable, and the desks support a healthy and ergonomic posture. Office chairs that were already owned by the library were still in good condition and were reused. Gispen SDK cabinets with planters form green office partitions, while dividing screens provide good acoustics. On the second floor, one will find a very large McArt screen that shows images from the Rijksmuseum, truly eye catching.” The restaurant features IC tables that are equipped with power outlets to allow people to work and confer here outside lunchtime. The glass-surrounded workspace of the director is also used as a conference area. The IC table with manual crank handle can easily be adjusted to the desired height.