4_DiscoverBenelux_Issue17_May_2015_Q9_Scan Magazine 1 28/04/2015 13:10 Page 33
Discover Benelux & France | Special Theme | Interior Design Solutions
feel and experience something special and exceptional; reflecting the brand’s philosophy. In only 32 square meters we created such an experience.” Schilder and Scholte translated and combined the Chinese tea culture with western design. The architects initiated a special feature, a mural (by artist Roger Cremers) painted with different strengths of Chinese tea. Schilder: “Chinese and European retail concepts merge in this store. It should move you.”
Pani community centre Another project close to the hearts of Schilder and Scholte is their pro bono project Pani community centre in Rajarhat, Bangladesh. Scholte: “The starting point for this project was: ‘What can we learn from another culture?’ Together with only local craftsmen and materials (as well as close to zero electricity), we’ve realised a regional vocational school. The building has everything; classrooms, a workshop with a store, collective lavatories with a courtyard and a water pump for the local people.”
She continues: “Everything is placed under one large corrugated iron roof supported by a bamboo frame. The final design has only a western nuance. It’s like a large house composed out of separate buildings. Children can play and locals can gather and shelter from the rain and sun for example. It’s hyper-functional, but a public friendly building for the whole area.” The design of the Pani community centre is a finalist for the 2015 Az Award in Toronto, Canada.
Design without finery SchilderScholte Architects designs from a human functional vision. A purposeful dialogue with the client or user is indispensable. Orientation, well-being, material expression and colours have an important role in their work. “‘Ordinary’ can also be ‘particularly,’” says Scholte. “Less truly is more sometimes. We want to create wonderful places for the user(s), places that makes someone happy and proud. Not so long ago, we were asked to create the interior of a vastly growing communications company in Rotterdam. They wanted the office to be industrial as well as homey. We came up with the plan to create a huge room divider (32 metres long, 3.2 metres high), constructed from several hundred Ikea Lack tables. With these simple square tables we were able to divide the space for different uses, without losing the spacious feeling, and still keep the corporate identity in the design.” Besides the special room divider they also created an exceptional floor pattern. The carpeting throughout the office represents the Rotterdam skyline. Schilder: “There must be recognition. As a result we believe our designs should achieve a sense of happiness and meets the need. All we really want is making our client happy.”
www.schilderscholte.com www.zenslifestyle.com
Gerrit Schilder and Hill Scholte
Award winning design by zens
Issue 17 | May 2015 | 33